IT Strategic Planning

From Technical Dreams to Institutional Reality

Dr. Carl R. PowellVice President

Cuyahoga Community College

Copyright Cuyahoga Community College, 2005

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CCC Background

• Ohio’s oldest and largest community college– Opened in 1963

• 62,000 students enrolled annually

• Over 70 career programs– 27 allied health career programs

• Eight locations– Includes two Corporate Colleges

EDUCAUSE 2005 Current Issues1. Funding

2. Security and identity management

3. Administrative/ERP systems

4.4. Strategic planningStrategic planning

5. Infrastructure management

6. Facility development, support, and training

7. Distributed learning/teaching and learning strategies

8.8. Governance, organization, and leadershipGovernance, organization, and leadership

9. Enterprise-level portals

10.Web services and web-based systems

Strategic Planning for IT1.1. SponsorshipSponsorship

– Do you have active support from the institution’s executive and faculty leadership?

2.2. Collaborative developmentCollaborative development– Does the planning process include cross-

institutional involvement from all constituencies (faculty, staff, students, and community)?

3.3. IntegrationIntegration– Does your IT plan support the institution’s goals?– Does it emphasize student learning as well as

institutional growth and expansion?

Strategic Planning for IT4.4. FlexibilityFlexibility

– Can your plan adapt to changing conditions and requirements?

– Is it open to mid-cycle innovative ideas or new programs?

5.5. Institution-wide planInstitution-wide plan– Academic/instructional programs– Administrative/operational services– Infrastructure improvements

Strategic Planning for IT6.6. Chronological prioritiesChronological priorities

– Short-term projects (< 1 year)– Near term endeavors (1-3 years)– Long-term objectives (> 3 years)– Do the short-term projects support the long-term

strategic objectives?

7.7. ResourcesResources– Will you be able to provide sufficient funding for

one-time and ongoing expenses?– Do you have staff available with the appropriate

technical skills and expertise?

Strategic Planning for IT8.8. ImplementationImplementation

– Do your project teams include more than just IT?– Are project plans and timelines documented and

reviewed?– What needs to change in the current

environment (technical, instructional, and operational)?

9.9. Feedback/validationFeedback/validation– What metrics do you use for assessment?– Is there an annual review to learn from setbacks

and to celebrate successes?

Developing an IT Strategic Plan• Mission, vision, goals

– College strategic plan

• Review of IT environment– Technology infrastructure overview– Technology organizations– Technology committees

Developing an IT Strategic Plan• Environmental scan

– IT industry• Information Week “Outlook 2005”• Gartner hype cycle for emerging technology and IT services

– IT in higher education• EDUCAUSE Current Issues Committee report• ECAR reports• Campus Computing Project• Gartner hype cycle for higher education

Developing an IT Strategic PlanObjectives

(Now)Goals

(1-2 years)Aspirations(3+ years)

Academic/Instructional

Administrative/Operational

Infrastructure

1. List individual choices (3 per box)

2. Each individual selects 10 per category

3. Tally and prioritize

4. Ensure chronological linkage

Implementing the Strategic Plan• One-time

– Project proposal/charter

• Monthly– ETSC meeting

• Quarterly– Project summary

• Annually– Collegewide “IT Outlook” presentation– Review strategic planning– Review project budget allocation

Why have an ETSC?• Shared purpose of technology vision

– Integrate academic and administrative technology– Align IT with College’s academic/business goals

• Systematic approach to technology planning• Collective decision making• Consolidated prioritization, funding, reporting• Standard approval/review process• Executive communication• Multi-campus integration

Who is on the ETSC?• College Executive Leadership

– EVP, Academic and Student Affairs (CAO)– EVP, Administration (COO)– EVP, Finance and Business Services (CFO)– EVP, Continuing Education

• Information Technology and others– Vice President (CIO)– Distance Learning– Campus Technology– Faculty Development

Typical ETSC agenda• Two hours every month• Acceptance of previous meeting minutes• Consent agenda for project updates

– Project summaries reviewed ahead of meeting

• Review Capital Project funding status• Main discussion topics

– Scheduled project updates (15-30 min each)

• Action Items• Next meeting date and agenda affirmed

Dr. Carl R. Powell

Vice PresidentTechnology Systems and Resources

Cuyahoga Community College

carl.powell@tri-c.edu(216) 987-4596