Twenty-first century architecture

Strategic plan is blueprint for information technology

Indiana University's efforts to become a national leader in the application and use of information technology will be guided by the "Architecture for the 21st Century: An Information Technology Strategic Plan for Indiana University."

The strategic plan includes 10 general recommendations and 68 proposed actions focusing on the design, development and application of information technology and is the result of an intensive planning process involving input from more than 100 faculty, staff and students who served on various information technology committees and task forces, as well as additional input from the broader university community.

The plan looks toward transformation of teaching and learning, research, service and the conduct of university business, and it was presented to the Trustees of IU in June by Michael McRobbie, vice president for information technology at IU.

"Information technology is becoming as important as more traditional infrastructure, and IU must plan for its development on a regular basis, both technically and financially," said J. Michael Dunn, chair of the University Information Technology Committee that prepared the plan.

Plan highlights:

• Recognition of the transformational power of information technology in teaching, research, service and administration and proposes ways in which this process can be better harnessed by the university.

• Endorsement of the critical importance of good access by faculty, students and staff to IU's information technology resources, both on campus and off, and of more information technology-ready classrooms.

• Calls for increased investment in research computing, data storage and collaborative technologies. Coordination of IU's information systems is seen as important, as is the development of a new student information system.

• Major benefits to the university of new all-digital telecommunications are highlighted, and a uniform student computing environment, both on campuses and in the residence halls, is made a priority.

• Emerging importance of digital libraries also is given strong support. The plan has been distributed for discussion in various forums throughout the university, and implementation will begin toward the end of the year.

Read the plan at this Web site:

http://www.indiana.edu/~ovpit/strategic/

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