Standard III.C: Technology Resources

Technology resources are used to support student learning programs and services and to improve institutional effectiveness. Technology planning is integrated with institutional planning.

 

III.C.1. The institution assures that any technology support it provides is designed to meet the needs of learning, teaching, college-wide communications, research, and operational systems.

 

In the Spring of 2004, the Information Technology Department at Mission College was restructured according to the Technology Master Plan, which was approved by the College Council to ensure that the needs of learning, teaching, college-wide communications, research, and operational systems are met. The Technology Committee determines the needs of hardware, software for students, faculty and staff based on the technology surveys done in 2003. In addition, IT staff evaluate servers, switches, electrical resources, cabling, and other network equipment related needs of the campus. Also, the chair of the Technology Committee is on the College Council and is made aware of any technology issues being discussed on campus .

 

III.C.1.a. Technology services, professional support, facilities, hardware, and software are designed to enhance the operation and effectiveness of the institution.

 

Descriptive Summary

A number of campus and district committees have played an integral role in guiding the planning, acquisitions and support of technologies. At the district level, the District Technology Committee recommends computers and network equipments and also provides network guidelines, district application information and procedures to college technology. The college Technology Committee sets forth the technology plans and goals for the college. Most of the hardware standardization, network security and network applications have been district driven. The college Technology Committee has been instrumental in recommending new policies and procedures related to technology to the college . These recommendations and procedures are approved by executive staff or Academic Senate. The integration of technology into the student learning process, administrative services and teaching includes faculty and staff access to technology and student access to technology.

 

EVAL

In general, having the district tech committee recommend new policies and procedures to the campus has been beneficial. (Hanh please fill in more here.)

 

Planning: (Is there a plan to change the way recommendations are made to the college?)

 

Faculty and Staff Access to Technology

 

Spring 2006, the college hired a professional expert to develop Web-based enrollment reports to enable faculty, especially department chairs, to check student enrollment and compare the current year enrollment with the previous year enrollment. The Curriculum Committee is posting all final copies of submitted curricula online, which allows faculty to view curricula anywhere there is internet access . The Curriculum Committee is also able to revise and upload to the college server the Proposed New Course Request form from off campus. Curriculum information is now centralized in database server on campus.

 

EVAL: As the first college in the LACCD district to provide web based reports, there was considerable excitement at Mission when this was implemented. Department chairs and administrators particularly enjoyed having this information available so quickly and easily. Eventually, it would be nice to have a way to link this information with registration and other information.

 

PLANNING: IT staff are working on improving the data by providing students with information such as what classes are available at certain times. A long term plan is to implement a campus pipeline that will allow a combination of several services together, such as class availability, assessment info and registration to help students succeed...…. (please fill in more Hanh)

 

 

Prior to October 2005, the college web sites were hosted by an outside vendor. This outside service limited the space usage per user and number of web pages for faculty. Since then, the college had addressed the problem by bringing websites back to campus. All full time and part time faculty members are able to have their own pages for their classes.

 

EVAL: Initially, there were some issues with campus web hosting, such as…. In general, hosting our website on campus has been (fill in more please.)

 

Plan: Mission College will continue hosting the web site on campus.

 

Microsoft Exchange 2003 has replaced the Lotus CC:mail system and is available to all full- and part-time faculty members. The conversion to Microsoft Exchange 2003 has streamlined the communication and activities scheduling among the faculty, staff and administration. All faculty computers with Pentium II, Pentium III or Celeron have been upgraded to Pentium IV and are connected to the college data communication network.

 

EVAL: The transition to MS Exchange was fairly smooth. Most users have been able to quickly adjust to the new system and are using it both from LAMC and their homes. One issue has been spamming. CC:mail had very little spam since most spammers weren’t targeting that kind of system since it was not supported by Corel. MS Exchange is used so much that spammers target it profusely. This has led to incoming spam, most of which is clearly labeled spam when it comes in. IT staff are filtering spam and identifying it.

 

PLAN: (what is it?)

 

 

The college Information Technology staff developed how-to guides, handouts for new email and Secure File Transfer Protocol. The IT staff provided one-on-one computer and email support in the faculty offices for ten hours each day during the first week of semester. A series of Outlook and Outlook Web Access workshops from basic to advanced levels have been scheduled throughout the semester to faculty and staff. These workshops were taught by voluntary faculty and staff. The Staff Development Coordinator provides online self-learning to staff and faculty. (should this part be with training?)

 

The district determines campus administrative network application to ensure compatibilities and a standard district wide interface. SAP enterprise is a well known large application. The SAP financial module went live in July 2002. The human resource module went live in May 2006. All staff, faculty computers configured with standard software application now included Microsoft Office 2003 package products, SAP, Symantec Anti Virus, Adobe Reader, File Transfer Protocol programs, and Internet access.

 

EVAL: Unfortunately, the implementation of SAP has really been a headache and extremely costly for LACCD. There have been many problems and incorrect pay or other issues.

 

Plan: These are being addressed by staff and consultants at the district.

 

NetTrack software package is the new student tracking system being deployed in the Learning Resource Center and the Math center to track the student hours in the lab. The new system allows students to track lab time for their class credits; faculty is able to view the student lab usage reports at any time on campus via the browser. The system also provides the statistics of student activities by discipline or subjects to instructors, lab managers and department chairs.

 

EVAL: NetTrack, like any program, has had some quirks that are being ironed out as we use it, but has really been great for the college. It has improved the student log-in procedure, helped digitalize the counting of non-credit FTES tutoring, and is being expanded to include tutorial reports, surveys, and other features.

 

Plan: To implement NetTrack in as many labs as would like to use it.

 

The classrooms in the new Collaborative Studies Building contain mounting LCD projectors and electronic screens, so more faculty members are able to use newer technology in their classrooms. The new high resolution LCD projectors in LRC 205 and 234 also assist teaching. Thanks to Title V grant money, the Math Lab has 36 high end computers supporting math software. It also includes the smart board, document camera and mounting projector to assist teaching through technology.

 

EVAL and PLANNING: How can we evaluate these?

 

Audio/visual materials and equipment is located in the Campus Center. The hours of service are from 7:00 AM to 7:30 PM Monday through Friday and occasionally Saturday 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM. The Instructional Media service offers a wide variety of equipment and services to the campus, such as VHS duplications, CD duplications, audiocassette duplications, PowerPoint presentations, Word documents, and Excel databases. This also covers a wide scope of instructional equipment, such as Public Announcement Services, Television equipped VCR/DVD cart, closed circuit broadcasts, Teleconferencing services, satellite Downlink broadcasting services, and media carts which house computer, LCD projector or overhead projector. Faculty members can make a reservation on line to have equipment delivered to their classrooms, or they can pick up equipment at their own discretion. One of the new features added to the Collaborative Studies Building was the addition of electronic screen projection, mounting projector and media cabinet to each room. The instructors can now go to their classes and use state-of-the-art audio/visual equipment in the classroom. The Information Technology department supervises the audio-visual technician, supports media equipments needs and maintenance the contracts on an as-needed basis or through other contracted maintenance agreements.

 

EVALUATION: The AV area is very small and often overcrowded with equipment. Moreover, frequently the one full time staffer feels overwhelmed.

 

Plan: Is there a plan to move AV to a larger area? Will the college hire more staff? If not, we should explain why not.

 

A total of twenty high-end multifunction services, including network printing and digital copying, will be installed in most of the buildings, offices, faculty offices, the library and the Learning Resource Center.

 

EVAL: Some of the copiers have been overused, which has caused them to be down and unusable. This is especially true of the one copier that was in the faculty office area.

 

Plan: To improve the current printing and copying services, Faculty cluster office and reprographic office will have two new high end machines for each location.

 

 

Students Access to Technology

 

Departmental computer labs related to specific curriculum has led to an increase in the number of computers and audio/visual equipment.

 

Eval and Planning: How are we keeping track of all the computers, including laptops on campus? Does this need to be improved? Do we need more lab space? Yes. The ESL lab will be in a room in the INST building.

 

 

The Chemistry Lab has seven computers for students, two overhead projectors, and one Television that are used in instruction. The Biology Lab has seven desktops that students use to enhance their learning of human anatomical parts through A.D.A.M.S. software, to perform physiology simulation experiments through BioPac and PhysioEx software, to conduct research on scientific literature using the Internet, and to work on their laboratory investigation reports.

 

Can we have John do an eval and plan for this?

 

The Computer Application Office Technology Lab has fifteen black and white laser printers and 57 workstations for students to use while learning computer applications and office technology. This lab also has a part-time assistant. The Computer Science lab has three different computer labs. Two of them have newer computers, while the third really needs new computers. These labs are central to the Computer Science program and are used throughout the day by classes and for open lab to the computer students. The Computer Science department has two full-time lab assistants.

 

Can we have Jim do an eval and plan?

 

In 2004 the Natural Science Department purchased the equipment needed to modernize the Physics Lab to computer based lab (CBL) capability. The seven new DeskPro computers with flat-panel monitors are for data acquisition. The data are collected by a complete set of Labpro sensors, including five sets each of accelerometer, motion detector, microphone, photogate timer, pulley attachment and dual-range force sensor. This brings the Physics Lab into the 21st century. In 2005, the astronomy discipline purchased three new telescopes: 8-inch Newtoninan reflectors with Dobsonian mounts.

 

Can we have Richard do an Eval and Plan?

 

Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSP&S) provides students registered in the DSP&S office the training needed to access the technology and software resources. The DSP&S initiates these efforts in the High Tech Center located in DSP&S office to assist their students developing of computer basics skills which will use in the campus instructional computer labs and classrooms. The DSP&S Access Technology Specialist works with campus Information Technology and Learning Resource Center personnel to make the Learning Resource Center accessible and ADA compliant.

 

Can we have Adrianne do an Eval and Plan?

 

Prior to 2003, the library had twenty student computers. In 2003 those were upgraded and eight more were added. Now there are 28 student computers. Students have access both on campus and at home (with a password) to the various databases to which the library subscribes. The library also has Microsoft Office on the computers so students can type and print their papers (especially when the Computer Commons is closed) In June 2005, the library upgraded its online catalog to Sirsi. Students can now also access the catalog through the Internet at home.

 

Let’s have Sandy do an eval and plan

 

The four Multimedia Labs are multi-computer teaching facilities dedicated to multimedia students. These labs house 30 personal computers, 25 Power Mac G4, video and sound editing software, digital cameras, projectors, scanners, and dedicated MAC and PC servers. This equipment supports students and faculty who use computer workstations to produce graphics, hypertext, video, animation, and sound. Twenty-five of the 30 existing computers are insufficient to run multimedia software.

 

Multimedia to work with eval and plan

 

Writing lab has 18 Pentium IV stations with ESL software to assist students with improving vocabulary, grammar, writing and reading. The Math lab has 38 workstations with math software. This lab is also used as the teaching classroom.

 

Who could write eval and plan?

 

 

In addition to these discipline labs, the Learning Resource Center is the only lab open to students on campus that provides multiple subjects support, including Internet access. Software installed in the LRC assists students in basic skills in subjects, such as math, ESL, grammar, and science. In 2004, the college purchased 108 new Pentium IV computers equipped with 108 flat panels for the LRC. In 2006, the college upgraded an additional 18 computers from Pentium II to Pentium IV. Currently, the total number of Pentium IV computers in the LRC is 126. The computer common area of the LRC lab is open from 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM Monday through Thursday, closed on Friday, and open only 4 hours on Saturday from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM.

 

EVAL: The new computers in the Learning Center Commons expanded the computing use.

 

Plan: To continue

 

Online course status reports are available for students to check the status of classes prior the enrollment. IT is in the process of developing a student events link on the college website to announce all student activities or campus related student events.

 

Microsoft FrontPage and Dreamweaver are the main web development tools to design the college web pages. The web pages are static, requiring manual uploading an entire page after modification. The college lacks web-based services, which are now in high demand. These services include online counseling, online surveys, online work requests for Plant Facilities and Information Technology and online audio/video equipment reservations.

 

Eval and Plan of programs being used, features on the website, and other web issues

 

Distance learning classes are becoming more common each year. These courses are offered fully or partially online.

The LRC lab and tutoring hours are limited, especially for full-time working students who need to do their homework in the late evenings, Fridays and Saturdays.

 

 

Self-evaluation

 

The college needs an interactive video mode, such as WebCast and PodCast to support interactive lectures to students. The Distance Learning Director and IT staff are working together to have the devices by 2006 if time and funds allow.

 

In order to support students in learning and using technology, the hours of the Computer Commons and tutoring should be extended during the weekdays and Saturday, especially during the final exams.

 

Planning Agenda

 

§ The college will address the lack of interactive web pages, web based applications, by requesting the new position Web designer to develop and maintain campus in-house web-based applications and re-design the college web pages.

§ The technology Committee will develop a series of technology surveys to faculty and staff to address the workshop topics and technology issues in workplace or classroom.

 

 

III.C1.b. The institution provides quality training in the effective application of its information technology to students and personnel.

 

Descriptive Summary

 

Technology training for students, staff and faculty is addressed at many levels by many different sources. Students receive training in academic programs, Co-op Education and vocational programs offered at the college. The college provides training to students in specific laboratories such as chemistry lab, biology lab through instructional orientations. Students are also trained through the college computer labs, which are open for walk-in usage. Staff members at the LRC also provide orientations to students in the Computer Commons, LRC 205, LRC 234 and tutoring areas on how to use computers, printers and basic academic software.

 

Additional computers in the library with library resources are available for students use. Library personnel provide instructions to students on how to conduct research using database resources. The library offers six different information competency workshops (This was one of the nine general education goals/Student Learning Outcomes that the college adopted in 2003) during the day, in the evening, and on Saturdays. The workshops take place in either LRC 205 or LRC 234. The topics of the workshops are Research Strategies, Searching for Books, Locating Journal & Newspaper Articles, Internet I-The Basics, Internet II-Searching & Evaluation, and MLA Format. Each student is asked to complete an exercise at the end of each library workshop. In an attempt to measure whether the students can apply the skills learned. The library also offers assignment-specific orientations when requested by an instructor. The library always has a reference librarian on duty when the library is open, so students can get help finding books, using the Internet or databases, or using Microsoft Office. Students also receive further training from their instructors on how to search the Internet, use Etudes, and email, even if the class is not a computer-related class.

 

Providing training workshops to faculty and staff is one of the most notable accomplishments in the past four years . Because of the room limitation at Mission College, the LRC 234 becomes a hub of training and learning for faculty, staff and administrators. It acts as a faculty/staff development center where faculty and staff receive workshops and technical training, such as using FTP to upload web pages, using Outlook Web Access, designing their own web pages, and using Word, Excel, Access, and other college web applications. With district specialists, the college conducted several training sections to provide on-campus training and retraining for administrative assistants and department chairs with the use of district applications, such as Protocol, SAP, and Business Warehouse training. To provide support and increase the interest of faculty in distance learning, the distance learning coordinator cooperated with the director of ITV by putting together the plans of training for trainers, and proposing the stipend for online teaching. In addition to the actual classroom training, the staff development coordinator frequently emails all users the self-paced Microsoft online trainings and other subjects that benefit employees.

 

Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) practice exams are also available at LRC 234. This will allow all classified staff to take pre tests before the real MOS exam. Staff members who improve their skills and become MOS certified receive a stipend.

 

To engage students, staff and faculty in the use of the technology in classrooms and work environment, the college had purchased an unlimited admission package at the Tech Education 2006 at Pasadena College.

 

To provide support desktop users, hardware, software, and network application, the college also purchased a one-year package at New-Horizons training center; all training courses will enhance and reinforce technical skills of IT staff in many areas such as email services, database services, student application services, web services, and new hardware.

 

Self Evaluation:

 

Staff and faculty alike will function effectively in their workplaces if they know how to access technology comfortably. While all full time faculty and staff have computers, printers and access to the Internet, the need for a staff and faculty development center is also necessary. Currently, faculty and staff workshops have scheduled to use in LRC 234, LRC 205 or Math Lab. Scheduling workshops is difficult because of conflicts with room usage and conflicts between academic versus administrative software. Encouraging faculty and staff to use technology without training is a major issue that the college should address. The college could improve technology training for faculty and staff by offering the workshops at the times and that do not conflict with LRC student sessions.

 

 

Planning Agenda:

 

§ By the time of this writing, the LRC 234 and adjunct faculty in the Instructional building areas are approved by WEC, and Academic Senate to establish the two locations called Center for Excellence of Teaching. A Title V grant provides funds to purchase equipments to support the two centers such as computers, a smart board, a document camera, scanners, an LCD and all necessary equipment.

 

III.C.1.c. The institution systematically plans, acquires, maintains, and upgrades or replaces technology infrastructure and equipment to meet institutional needs.

 

Descriptive Summary:

 

Information Technology maintains the network infrastructure at Mission College in the lower level of the Library and Learning Resource Center. IT is responsible for network computing, web technology, audio/videos, telecommunication services and equipment for students, staff and faculty. The IT staff coordinates with the district IT staff to configure and design the Wide Area Network to ensure the security and integrity of the network especially the connectivity from college to district and among colleges within the district. The network infrastructure is a part of district network. Thus, most of the Wide Area Network equipment is purchased and configured from a holistic system approach. District IT is responsible for maintaining routers and the firewall. The firmware of this equipment is upgraded frequently. CENIC maintains the Internet access. In November 2004, the college coordinated with Verizon, CENIC and District Office to plan and install the broadband service (T3) project.

 

Currently, IT consists of one IT Manager, three computer network support specialists, three assistant computer network support specialists, one media specialist and one temporary multimedia developer. IT provides day-to-day support for all computer users, including basic computer skills for staff and fauclty, software support for both local applications and network applications, and hardware support. It maintains computers, printers, servers, switches, PBX system, all audio/visual equipments and the Learning Resource Center computer lab.

 

Since the turn of the century, technology at the college has changed significantly. Until 2002, the campus backbone was based on 10Mb hubs and category 3 wiring. In 2002, 50% of wiring was updated to category 5 and 5e; most of the 10Mb hubs were replaced with 100 Mb switches and with fiber backbone. The college understands the need for a strong, dynamic infrastructure to ensure support for existing technology requirements and to prepare for the expansion of the campus and for inevitable new technologies

 

In anticipation of funds from the recent passage of Bond AA measure, the college has analyzed the existing campus infrastructure and proposed a strategic plan for the future growth of the college. The IT campus-wide infrastructure project is expected to start in the late summer of 2006. This project will rewire and upgrade all Ethernet cables from category 3, 5 and 5e to category 6 and replace old Extreme switches with new Cisco layer 3 technology switches. The acquisition of new equipment provides for future growth and expansion of services for the next five to seven years and improves the network security and bandwidth usage. Wireless hot spots will be installed in all student activity areas and classrooms. IT is also working with the PlanNet and GSE consultants of most future campus projects to ensure that any technology plans are coordinated and at the current campus standards for technology; these projects are as follows :

· Campus network infrastructure standards.

· A cyber café where students can relax and check email or surf the Internet,

· Campus services, which will house most of the student services, such as Financial Aid, EOPS, Admissions & Records and Counseling,

· A multimedia art building that provides more teaching classrooms and multimedia labs,

· A PE and fitness center to bring the existing PE and fitness center from the Foothill area to the main campus.

 

Video conferencing, Intranet portal services, wireless technologies, and a storage area network are now within reach. The college also upgraded to Windows Active Directory at the end of 2005. This upgrade improved the centralized network management significantly and improves the security and messaging systems on campus. The college also invests in Scheduling and Reporting System (SARS) to automate student appointments and telephone calls for registration. The software also allows students to electronically schedule their academic advising and other appointments. This project is expected to be implemented in the summer of 2006 and to be installed in the fall 2006.

 

The IT department began managing the telephone system in the summer of 2005. The current telephone system is more than 10 years old. One IT person, one Plant Facilities person and/or Altura technician provide the telephone support to campus users. The system combines analog and digital lines. Most employees still have analog lines, and these analog lines will not support many features requiring digital lines, such as ......( Hanh will write something here).

Self Evaluation:

 

The college needs to address policies and procedures for maintaining technology to ensure software, hardware up to date. Recommendations for and the establishment of computer lab usage policies and staff/faculty network access policies are also needed. Computer replacement for students, staff and faculty has not identified specific sources to support the three-year replacement model from the state chancellor office. The college needs to develop a multiple-year plan for technology purchases including hardware, software and servers, both academic and administrative, and prioritize the list of program and technology needs for the divisions and campus-wide. However, identifying the resources to support the technology needs is always a challenge.

 

Recently, the IT Department developed an inventory of College hardware, software, and data communication equipment so that we can make better decisions on upgrading. For example, high on the list is the need to upgrade all faculty computers and monitors in the faculty cluster; the need to upgrade all servers in the data center, the need to rewire, upgrade switches in all telephone communication rooms, and the need to purchase a Disaster Recovery System.

 

These listed items are critical to support the communication channels on campus. Each year, the college technology committee will evaluate our progress in maintaining and upgrading hardware and software to ensure state-of-the-art learning and working environments to students, faculty and staff. The evaluation will be based on the result of the future on line survey.

 

The IT staff member who managed the telephone system retired in October of 2005. Two of the Computer and Network Support Specialists have split their duties to provide the telephone support. The Data Network support has become shorthanded. The existing telephone system lacks several features to accommodate the technology needs and will not support the growth of the College. To take advantage of the revenue from the Bond AA measures, based on the 5-year analysis of the consultant the College will go forward to transform the existing telephone to IP telephony. By the time of this writing, the College, Plannet and GSE consultants are working on the Voice over IP project proposal.

 

Other critical problems include security, documentation of networks, and managing warranties. The Mission College network lacks separation of administrative and academic networks, which has caused security threats. In the past, the IT staff has had difficulty with troubleshooting and/or fixing problems because of poor labeling and cabling management of the wiring systems. Neither network documentation nor network diagrams had been correctly recorded. All servers are out of warranty, which caused the disruption of the use of computers in the LRC for a few days in 2005 when one of the servers had a dead power supply.

 

Planning Agenda

§ Taking advantage of the Bond AA measure funding, the new IT manager explores the coming projects of Campus Wide Infrastructure and Infrastructure Standardizations to ensure the projects include network security, standardized labeling of the wiring system, and upgraded the network documentations which will begin in the fall of 2006.

§ The IT Manager is proposing to purchase of a disaster recovery system for all critical servers and planning to have it installed by the end of 2006.

§ Recognizing the need of technical support for the coming Voice over IP project, IT manager proposes including one FTE for the Voice over IP project.

§ To identify the technology needs on different areas on campus, the college technology committee will put together the new technology faculty/staff and student surveys in the fall of 2006.

 

III.C.1.d. The distribution and utilization of technology resources support the development, maintenance, and enhancement of its programs and services.

 

The acquisition of computer equipment falls to each department on campus. IT coordinates acquisitions to make sure they meet campus standards. The goal for upgrading computer labs is a three-year cycle, that is, no computer should be more than three years old. This has been very difficult to implement fully due to budget limitations in the past few years. However, under shared governance, the administration, the Technology Committee, the Academic Senate, and the College Council approved using block grant resources to upgrade computers for students, staff and faculty. As a result, the college purchased 90 new computers to replace and add on to the LRC; the older computers have been distributed to faculty and staff. Also IT maintains an inventory database of voice and data communication equipment. IT uses information from this database to provide reporting capabilities to assist in assessing equipment and decision making to purchase the new equipment for student computer labs and computers for faculty and staff

 

The office managers, directors and the respective vice presidents decided upon and manage administrative budgets, including student services and business activities. Most funds spent on student services computers are through federal funds or special funds. For instant, EOP&S and financial aid offices have their own funds. Administrative employees in areas that are not associated with funding resources included Plant Facilities, who typically end up with roll-down equipment from student computer labs or from faculty computers. Due to the requirements of SAP enterprise system, a few administrative areas included payroll, personnel computers had old computers which were upgraded with newer computers by the general funds.

 

Distance Learning at Mission College has evolved over the past five years. Current Distant Learning programs include an online learning implementation using Etudes course management software. Distance education technology equipment and the new version of Etudes are discussed and defined in various levels of district and college committees. Distance coordinators, faculty and administrators of all colleges have attended these committees to define budget line-items.

 

The academic discipline computing labs on campus are self-supporting for technology related areas. The college has not adopted a plan to support Macintosh systems. The Multimedia Department has outsourced Gene 9 to provide technical support to their student labs. The computer science labs, the CAOT labs, and the engineering labs have their own instructional assistants to support the student labs.

 

IT has a number of agreements and contracts with vendors. The Microsoft agreement provides MS desktop software upgrade yearly; the Symantec agreement provides Symantec Anti Virus, and a Brightmail software upgrade every three years; the TAMIS contract provides software support for Plant Facilities and IT on line work requests. College general funds and TTIP funds pay for these services. The district resources provide standard communication equipments such as routers and firewalls housed at Data Center of college IT department. The General Fund of the College provided a new email administrative system and new servers.

 

Self Evaluation:

 

The college will continually assess the contribution of technology to student, faculty and staff services. The campus infrastructure includes data lines, fiber optics, and voice, video and network equipments, which continue to be updated. Among the on-going and incoming projects, the network will incorporate the newest technologies implemented by Cisco. The network will have full redundant core switches and will provide 99.9999% uptime. The power systems will be also in placed in the event of power loss. This will protect servers and core switches from power outages. The upgrade will provide students, staff and faculty with a reliable and sustained network infrastructure.

 

Planning Agenda

 

§ By sharing the governance process, the college will revise the Technology Master plan for the next five years to incorporate with the Education Master Plan and the Facilities Master Plan.

 

§ The IT department and Multimedia department will work together to bring the support back to campus.

 

§ In additional to Etudes-ng, Distance Learning program will use the moodle open source e-learning as a backup due to the high cost of Etudes-ng.

 

III.C.2. Technology planning is integrated with institutional planning. The institution systematically assesses the effective use of technology resources and uses the results of evaluation as the basis for improvement.

The college technology committee is a shared governance committee and is responsible for prioritizing and implementing the use of technology on campus. The college Technology Committee is a part of the College Council which is the central planning committee at LAMC. Technology is a key component of the college’s institutional plans at the administrative, departmental and division levels. As an example, the top two goals of the college for 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 include reorganization of the IT department and hiring a new IT manager.

 

The College evaluates the replacement of technology in various ways. The IT department keeps an up-to-date inventory of equipment, and subcommittees ensure that a fair and just evaluation of computer needs is made and that new equipment is put in the right place. The college has Webstar, which employees use to make work requests. After someone sends a Webstar request, a member of the IT staff addresses the problem. The typical average response time to a Webstar request at this point is two days. If IT staff sees that requests repeatedly come from certain computers, they are replaced or fixed.

 

For the LRC, this is a campus-wide effort, but for the CAOT, Multimedia, Engineering, Science, Computer Science, DSP&S and Biology labs, lab assistants and instructors who are familiar with their needs are responsible for evaluation of their areas. Currently, a computer network support specialist or IT manager reviews hardware and software for compatibility and feasibility. The college adopts the computer standards from the District Technology Committee (DTC); The College IT manager attends monthly DTC meetings to collaborate and align the college technology with the district technology. District IT provides direction and support to campus technology initiatives, which the Vice Chancellor at the district office coordinates.

 

IT is involved in the planning of new facilities and making sure that the network connectivity and technology services are the best for the college. The college has special Propostion A and AA funds for new buildings. All new buildings will have smart classrooms. The current IT manager works with college consultants on developing special projects to make sure they coordinate them well with the technology staff.

 

Self Evaluation:

 

One problem for the college’s technology is that the college does not consolidate technology from different areas on campus. While some make an effort to keep the campus technologically up-to-date, the efforts are not coordinated. This situation will be addressed through the college technology committee who present from different divisions. This committee will identify and recommend technology needs to the college and also will ensure all technologies are fully supported. With the last year hired Manager of College Information System position, the technology coordination, roles, responsibilities should be move forward and accomplished.

 

Planning Agenda

 

§ The college will establish procedures to ensure that all academic programs and services have appropriate equipment, necessary software, adequate training, and essential technical support personnel.

 

Standard III.C: Evidences and documentations

 

III.C.1.a

 

http://academic.lamission.edu/curriculum

 

http://academic.lamission.edu/reports/enrollment/

 

http://academic.lamission.edu:81

 

III.C.1.B

 

http://www.lamission.edu/it/workshops.html

 

http://www.propositiona.org/college_mission.html