Kent State University Network and Information Systems Study STRENGTH STATEMENTS The Network and Information systems Study team identified many strengths as well as problems during the process of soliciting information from students, faculty, and staff. This section of the report presents a series of strength statements for each of the categories along with a list of associated consequences. The next section outlines the major problems. MANAGEMENT, ORGANIZATION, POLICIES, PLANNING Kent State University has made steady progress in the support and implementation of information technology during the past decade. As a result: Members of the University community are increasingly using information technology to fulfill their scholarship, research, instruction, support, and administrative requirements. A mixture of software package and in-house developed systems has been implemented to address complex and growing internal, state, and federal reporting and accountability requirements. Mainframe technology has been updated to support expanding demands for administrative systems, academic support, and research activities. An internal Computer Equipment Services group has been established to service and maintain University computer equipment. A backbone communications network plan has been developed and partially implemented. The NOTIS library system has been implemented to provide greater public access to Library resources as well as the integration of ordering, cataloging, managing, and circulation of materials. Computer literacy-among students, faculty, and staff has increased steadily. The University successfully converted all administrative and academic systems from Honeywell and Burroughs mainframe computers to IBM and Digital Equipment computers. Kent has developed an environment of excellent staff cooperation across and -tong departments. As a result: In many offices, this spirit of cooperation is demonstrated by individuals communicating and working together to complete projects and support common efforts. Individuals with strong experience in technology are generally willing to help colleagues with lesser experience. Individuals are generally willing to learn new applications. INSTITUTIONAL INFORMATION AND ACCESS Many University departments have successfully installed local "PC-based systems" to satisfy information technology needs. As a result: Information access has improved because local systems supplement the mainframe computer and provide easy access and manipulation of local information. PC-based word processing, spreadsheet, and data base products have improved productivity in many University departments. University departments are developing a better understanding of how technology can help them perform their jobs more effectively. Many in-house systems produce vitally needed information. The Regional Campus staff have been innovative in their use of technology and have developed administrative systems that are responsive to local needs. As a result: Regional Campus computing is distributed between the Regional Campuses and Office of Student Information and Records in the Lincoln building. The distributed environment for Regional Campus computing allows each campus to meet local student and program needs while maintaining information in the central and official University student information system data base. Each Regional Campus has a student information system designed to meet its particular needs which, in turn supports personalized advising. The Geauga faculty and staff use electronic communications extensively on their campus and actively promote the concept of a paperless environment. Most Ashtabula faculty and staff use computers with connections to their local area network. This has increased communication, reduced paper, and become a part of the campus culture. Ashtabula offers distance learning capabilities through its support of interactive television between the Ashtabula Campus and area high schools. The Department of Computer Resources within the Business Services area has implemented a number of very effective systems to support its internal operations as well as the AUXILIARY unit. As a result: A debit card system has been developed and installed to provide students with an efficient means of paying for food service and book store purchases. Systems have been developed and installed to address auxiliary requirements for specialized information, e.g. inventory control, personnel management, invoicing, purchasing, etc. resulting in improved student service and increased staff productivity. A comprehensive transit management system (including bus routing, fleet management and charter management) has been developed and installed for Campus Bus Service. The Human Resource System (HRS) is a successful application that is used to facilitate much of the administrative work in the personnel, payroll, and budget areas. As a result: Most personnel staff feel they can readily access needed information. Staff are provided with more and better information through HRS than they were able to get through the previous system. Ad hoc reports are easier to produce in the complex personnel database environment where new reports are frequently required. A system has been implemented for the Office of Student Financial Aid that automates the student loan process. As a result: The system automatically looks at student need, academic status, prior loan history, and other information required by state and federal agencies. The system automated a previously manual process of over 15,000 loan applications per year. The new Alumni Development System, installed in fall 1992, is expected to meet the needs of Institutional Advancement for the nest two to three years. As a result: Institutional Advancement has the system infrastructure and tools to maintain a comprehensive and accurate data base for alumni, students, parents, and friends of the University. The Alumni office has the potential of consolidating many of the alumni name and address data bases. Fund-raising efforts may be enhanced because of a more comprehensive support system. The Career Planning and Placement Center "Touch Tone Telephone Interview Sign-up System"" was the first in the nation. The system, which uses GPA and Major in its scheduling algorithm, allows students to register for interviews without coming to campus. As a result: Approximately 700 staff hours and 15,000 student hours are saved each semester. Students do not have to stand in line (from two to four hours several times a year) to sign up for interviews. The University has received acclaim for this system in local newspapers as well as the Chronicle of Higher Education. The Career Planning and Placement Center "Touch Tone Telephone Job Search System" allow alumni to search vacancies by interest and geographic area. As a result: Relationships with alumni are strengthened and alumni support for University efforts is enhanced. Alumni can search Job vacancies in specific occupations within a specified geographic region. The "Student Flow Model" (Student Tracking System), developed by the Office of Resource Analysis and Planning, has been recognized as one of the most comprehensive student tracking systems in the country by American College Testing (A.C.T.). Many other universities have used this system as a model for developing their own tracking systems. The model tracks nine cohort populations {including new freshmen, transfers, conditional admitted freshmen, etc.) over a seven-year period to monitor retention, college mobility, academic progression, and graduation rates. As a result: Many cohort populations such as athletes can be tracked for academic progress and other NCAA requirements. Special retention activities such as EASS can be assessed for impact on academic performance and retention. Retention data on students from any given high school can be obtained and used for planning and feedback. High risk student populations can be monitored to determine when early advising and intervention is necessary. The implementation of the energy management automated system at Kent is considered to be one of the most effective in any university in the country. As a result: Classroom occupancy is monitored, allowing for equipment shut down when rooms are not in use. Class schedule data is downloaded directly from the student information system to the energy management system to provide the necessary data. Monthly electrical charges are minimized through the energy demand limiting program which prevents campus electrical demand from exceeding predetermined "peak capacity" guidelines. COMMUNICATIONS AND NETWORKING Many effective Local Area Network (LAN) environments have been developed across the University System. As a result: Numerous LANs are operating successfully throughout academic and administrative areas. Electronic mail on these networks has helped reduce paper flow and improve communications. Many local area networks allow access to important resources in a shared environment. A portion of the University wide Network Plan has been implemented and satisfies many of the communication needs of key academic areas and selected administrative offices. As a result: The University has installed significant sections of a communications network backbone. The science complex has high speed access to important external resources such as the Ohio Supercomputer Center, Internet, Bitnet, etc. The Schwartz Center has a fiber link directly to Computer Services that supports over 200 administrative terminals for student service systems. The College of Business Administration has a gateway from its PC-based local area network to the University network. "Corporate Tie," a user-friendly software system for transmitting files to-and-from the computer, is available on the IBM SNA network. As a result: File uploading and down loading is more widely used. Data can be transferred directly to the mainframe from personal computer word processing, database, and spreadsheet files. TRAINING AND SUPPORT Computer Services has a dedicated staff that is committed to providing effective service and technical support. As a result: Departmental demands for support from Computer Services staff exceed the availability of technical resources. The expertise and technical support provided by Computer Services staff is considered a strength by most departments. Computer literacy and sophistication of computer applications is improving within the Kent environment. As a result: There are several experts around campus who can be called upon for assistance when problems arise. Many departments have technically competent individuals to operate their local systems. Individuals seem more willing to look beyond the present environment and consider new ways of doing things. There is a strong core of individuals who hold considerable network expertise. RESOURCES AND EQUIPMENT The Kent State University mainframe computing environment is current and uses mainstream technology. As a result: The mainframe computing software environment can support a wide variety of mainstream educational and administrative software products that are available for higher education. Individuals with the technical skills required to operate and maintain the current computing technology are available. The Computer Center staff is proficient with using and supporting current software and hardware technology. Departments with work stations connected to the University network can communicate to the Office of Sponsored Programs and the National Science Foundation. As a result: Faculty are able to submit proposals in electronic format to agencies such as the National Science Foundation. Faculty can receive on-line information on grant opportunities. OTHER INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY STRENGTHS Steady progress has been made in the implementation of system support for academic programs. As a result: Many of the classrooms and large lecture halls are equipped with data projectors which can be used with portable computers. The Library's on-line system has been well received and also has demonstrated the value of an integrated approach to online system applications. The Library maintains work-station access to the Internet. [ Table of Contents | Next page | Previous page ]