Developing an Academic Technology Strategy

A planning guide for Plymouth State University

Four years after its reincarnation as a regional comprehensive university, Plymouth State finds itself trying to sustain growth, ensure academic rigor and maintain its competitive edge.

Abstract

Current economic factors, combined with changing student population trends are working to propel this issue to the forefront of campus strategic planning.

Abstract

This guide intends to lay out the process by which we shall engage and enervate the three primary campus communities: students,

Abstract

faculty and administration, in the common goal of creating a vision for and the implementation and growth of a vibrant and integrated academic technology strategy.

The

ChallengeDevelop a

community

based strategy

for the

initiation and

development of

a sustainable

academic

technology

vision for the

campus

Engage our administration, faculty and student body in the process of determining the future

Starting with a campus wide discussion

Leads into sub-community working groups

Funnels into a cross-community development team

The Plan

The Community

Stakeholders=

Team

Academic Affairs

Students

Admin &

Support

The Players

ProvostLibrary

Director

Students

Academic Affairs

Student Senate

Faculty

Admin & Support

CIO CFO

Create and tell a compelling story

Develop a narrative that identifies the need and evokes a sense of personal meaning to listeners

Cultivate approval and buy-in within the three campus communitiesAdministrationFacultyStudents

The Process

The Process

Engage at the “local,” “regional,” and “national” levels

Students (Undergraduate, Graduate, Commuter)Faculty (Departments, Schools/Colleges)Administration

Build the Community

The Process

Boil It Down

Bring together a team which represents each of three communities and• Review data• Boil off the sap to get to the

syrup• Identify themes and goals• Create a vision and

action plan for getting there

Create and tell a compelling story

Engage The Administration

Seeking Preliminary Approval

CIO

Library Director

CFO

Provost

Executive Steering Committee

Engage the Faculty

Building Support

Library Director

Departmental Chairs

All Faculty

Departmental Faculty

Engage the Students

Building Support

Library DirectorOr CIO

Student Senate

Graduate Student Body

Undergraduate Student

Body

Build the Community

Building the Student Community

Student Community

Data Warehous

e

Commuters

Graduate studentsUndergraduate students

Building the Academic Community

Faculty Community

Data Warehous

e

Departments

Schools & CollegesOther Academic Programs

Building the Administrative Community

Admin & Support Community

Data Warehous

e

Administrators

Functional OfficesSupport Staff

Building the Community

Environmental Scan

Data Warehous

e

Admin

Faculty

Students

Boil It Down

From the flood of data must be derived some trends and common needs

This will require a working group comprised of members of all three campus communities

Boil It Down

Boil It Down

Synthesis

Data Warehouse

Goals, Objectives, Measureab

le Outcomes

Bottle the Results

This process should result in:Institutional trends and generalizations

From which are derived:Specific GoalsSpecific ObjectivesMeasurable OutcomesDeployment and Assessment strategies

Bottle the Results

Guiding the Journey

From the tap to the table

Environmental ScanSWOT Analysis based on

Internal knowledge – what are the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats within ourselves?– local issues

External factors– what are the threats and opportunities which will affect us over which we have no control?– Trending– Future

Know Your Sugar Bush

4-D Cycle

Guiding the Journey

Discover

DreamDestiny

Design

Steps to Create an Ideal Future Vision (Haines, p. 111-136)1. Shape Your Organizations Vision Statement2. Develop A Realistic Mission Statement3. Develop Your Core Values4. Identify Desired Position For The Future

Guiding the Journey

Codify Your Core1. Write the Vision Statement2. Write the Mission Statement3. Identify Your Beliefs (i.e. Core Values)

4. Draft 3 to 5 Primary Goals5. Identify 3 Objectives for each Goal6. Identify 3 Strategies for each Objective

Guiding the Journey

Reap the Rewards

Publish, Deploy and Refine Your Plan1. Guiding Text

(Vision, Mission, Goals, Objectives and Strategies)

2. Implementation Plan3. Integration & Funding4. Execution5. Appraisal6. Assessment7. Refinement

Guiding the Journey

Haines, Stephen G. (2000). The Systems Thinking Approach to Strategic Planning and Management, Florence, KY: Taylor/CRC.

Kouzes, James M. and Posner, Barry Z. (1993). Credibility: How Leaders Gain and Lose It, and Why People Demand It. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, Inc.

Patterson, Kerry. Grenny, Joseph. Maxfield, David. McMillan, Ron and Switzler, Al (2008). Influencer: The Power to Change Anything. Vital Smarts, LLC., McGraw-Hill, NY.

Keene State College Strategic Plan Initiative Proposal 2007-2008http://www.keene.edu/planning/

Literature Review

Slides 1-4 – Photos by John Martin Slide 5 – Flickr Creative Commons photo by kazatzka Slide 6 – Original Flickr Creative Commons photo by kanaka Slide 7 – Photo from Microsoft Clipart Slide 8 – All images from Microsoft Clipart Slide 10 – Flickr Creative Commons photo by Barack Obama Slide 11 – Photo from Microsoft Clipart Slide 12 – Photos by John Martin Slide 13 – Flickr Creative Commons photo by vincealongi Slides 17 – Flickr Creative Commons photo by lunaspin Slides 18-21 – All images from Microsoft Clipart Slide 22 – Photo by John Martin

Credits

Slide 23 – Photo from Microsoft Clipart Slide 24 – Flickr Creative Commons photo by suzannadu Slide 25 – Flickr Creative Commons photos by

Maple Sugar Candy – jessamyn Maple Sugar Bottles – lunaspin

Slide 27 – Flickr Creative Commons photos by Buckets – Barbara Ganley Pancakes – premshree

Slides 32 – Flickr Creative Commons photos by krhamm

Credits