Information Task Force Subcommittee Report

Information Task Force Subcommittee Report

October 13, 1998

Summary of Recommendations

* Change in organizational structure
Director of OIS reports to Vice President for Academic Affairs
* Reassignment of staff
Reassign staff from existing positions in the Office of Information Systems and Instructional Media to establish within each College the positions of:

1. Technical Support Specialist

2. Instructional Support Specialist

Change of Organizational Structure

To create a greater focus on academic computing and to better support the application of information technology to teaching, learning and scholarship, the Office of Information Systems should be moved from its current position within the organization to the office of academic affairs.

Reassignment of Staff

To better utilize existing staff, eight positions within the Office of Information Systems and Instructional Media should be reassigned to the colleges in the positions as defined below.

Technical Support Specialist

Job Description:

Provides technical assistance with information technologies and other equipment appropriate for academic offices, computer labs, and classroom settings. Responsibilities include:

* provide network setup of new and reconfigured equipment;
* provide network support for College faculty and staff;
* perform software and hardware installations;
* perform software and hardware upgrades;
* develop hardware and software specifications to support acquisitions;
* perform preventative and routine equipment maintenance;
* troubleshoot technical problems and oversee those repairs that must be done off-campus;
* perform other responsibilities as identified by the Dean.

Preparation Level:

The preparation of these individuals would be at least at the two-year level, and preferably at the four-year level. Exceptional technical expertise would be an appropriate substitute for academic preparation.

Placement within the Organization:

Technical Support Specialists would be members of the OIS staff on permanent assignment to a College. The existing model of OIS programmers assigned to the business office or registrar would be adopted for this position. Evaluation of these individuals would be the joint responsibility of the College Dean and the Director of OIS. The College Dean would be responsible for day-to-day direction of this individual.

In addition to maintaining regular and meaningful contact with OIS as individuals, the Technical Support Specialists should meet as a group with the Director of OIS on a routine basis.

Allocation of Technical Support Positions:

Instructional Support Specialist

Job Description:

Provides assistance to faculty in their efforts to enhance teaching and learning, with specific emphasis on the use of information technologies in the classroom, laboratory, and academic computer labs. Responsibilities include:

* support College efforts to plan for the use and acquisition of technology;
* develop multimedia components for classroom use;
* assist in the delivery of mediated instruction within the classroom;
* supervise the resources and staff associated with the College’s academic computer labs;
* train faculty and staff on the use of hardware and software;
* develop and manage College and department web sites.
* support faculty development of web resources;
* support the use of IDL by College faculty;
* perform other responsibilities as identified by the Dean.

Preparation Level:

The preparation level of these individuals would be at the M.S. level, and they should possess a content background within the College of their assignments.

Placement within the Organization:

Instructional Support Specialists would be members of the Instructional Media staff on permanent assignment to a College. Evaluation of these individuals would be the joint responsibility of the College Dean and the Dean of Learning Resources. The College Dean would be responsible for day-to-day direction of this individual.

Allocation of Instructional Support Positions: