An Overview of the ACS Vision & Long Range Plan
I - Overview
In putting together a vision for the future and the building blocks of a long-range plan, Academic Computing Services (ACS) has focused on three main directions as a means of achieving a successful transition to the new campus, and of realizing an increase in the quality and effectiveness of services & resources made available to the academic community. The assessment process ACS has undergone during the past year has proved invaluable in identifying critical areas that require resources for continued development and enhancement, as well as new directions that are driven by user needs and a fast changing technology landscape, (please see assessment documents). All initiatives are derived from services currently offered by ACS, and the ideas presented in this document exemplify a natural extrapolation (progression) into the future.
Another exercise that finalized and solidified our vision, and helped us in the prioritization and selection process of worthy initiatives, was aligning our projects with the university's long-range strategies and goals. A remarkable fit was achieved, with all of our projects aligning with at least two or more strategic directions, and with several goals within each strategy.
Below please find a narrative description which describes each theme we focused on, that complements the more detailed breakdown of the projects, which is attached to this document and includes information as to outcomes, performance indicators and resources needed.
The first direction revolves around basic end-user & infrastructure services, and involves making available a stable, secure & productive computing environment for all end-user profiles within the community, utilizing the latest technological advances in the field. This includes ensuring the availability of high-quality & timely technical support, necessary software & tools through licensing agreements & open-source initiatives, open access labs & service centers with appropriate equipment & configurations to support different activities & modes of interaction, and the effective delivery of computer training, regarding general-purpose productivity tools or specialized tracks within a certain discipline.
The second direction involves services offered by ACS to the community that are more directly linked to academic activities, and provide a platform for supporting teaching and research. Such services include administration & support for Learning Management Systems, Content Management Systems, Data Repositories, Applications, Web and Multimedia development.
The third direction involves ‘value-added’ facilities, such as the establishment of a Computer store that facilitates the purchase of hardware and software to faculty and students, as well as Adaptive Technology setups which are aimed at providing computing facilities to the disabled.
Strategic Theme 1: Academic Excellence Goal 3: Foster Continuous Improvement of Academic Standards & Integrity[Also relates to: Theme 4 Goals 1 & 5, Theme 5 Goals 1,2 & 3, Theme 6 Goals 2, 4 & [new] Goal[1]]
Objective 1: Support the licensed use of software
Outcomes / Proposed New/Change Programs/Initiatives / Performance Indicators / Time Frame / Resources
O.1.1 Enhanced Licensed Software Library offered by ACS to AUC / · Increase campus-wide software agreements for Windows & Macintosh
· Include technical support within the agreements
· Add 'home use' within the majority of the agreements
· Allow CD copy & home use for students
· Centralized software at ACS for all software products utilized across different departments & units / · Increase in software packages offered in library
· Ease of use from home / 2007 -2009
2007 -2012 / · Budget to cover agreements (centralized in ACS)
· Credit card to facilitate online software delivery
Strategic Theme 4: Service Goal 3: Link research & training to community needs & national development priorities
[Also relates to: Theme 1 Goals 1 & 3, Theme 2 Goal 5, Theme 3 Goal 3, Theme 4 Goals 1,5 & 6, Theme 5 Goals 4 & 5, Theme 6 Goals 2 & 4]
Objective 1:Conduct certified training; Objective 2:Offer online training courses; Objective 3:Training service for general public; Objective 4: Acquiring advanced training facilities
Outcomes / Proposed New/Changed Programs/Initiatives / Performance Indicators / Time Frame / Resources
O.1.1 Offering of Certified Training Courses to AUC Community / · ACS training staff attain Microsoft, Adobe (inc. Macromedia), SPSS & WebCT certification
· Form agreements with vendors
· Provide certified training materials / · No. of certified trainers
· No .of trainees certified / 2007 -2012 / · Obtain a grant from Microsoft & Adobe to conduct this service
O.2.1 Availability of Online Training / · Use Horizon Live to make online courses
· Establish system to manage user access / · No. of online courses
· No of registered users / 2007 – 2009
2008 – 2012 / · 2 Servers
· Horizon Live s/w
O.3.1 Establishment of Cost Center / · Extend the training to the general public outside official working hours / · Announcements for the outside community / 2007 -2012 / · Marketing campaign
· 0.5 FTE
O.4.1 Establish an advanced technology training lab equipped with the latest state-of-the-art equipment / Design & implement a high-tech lab that helps students & faculty get in touch (with hands-on experience) with the latest computer technologies available in the market / Statistics that show the number of users of the advanced technology lab / 2007 - 2009 / · High-end PCs
· Latest software
Strategic Theme 6: Student Experience Goal 4: Further develop co-curricular & extra curricular programs & opportunities
[Also relates to: Theme1 Goals 4 & 5]
Objective 1 prepare undergraduate students for future career opportunities
Outcomes / Proposed New/Changed Programs/Initiatives / Performance Indicators / Time Frame / Resources
O.1.1 Expanded Technology Internship Program / · Expansion of ACS Technology Internship Program to include more departments
· Survey market annually & propose relevant projects / · Number of registered students
· Number of departments covered / 2007 - 2012 / · External software trainer if needed
· Software licenses, & equipment required
Strategic Theme 1: Academic Excellence Goal 5: Strengthen research activities & expand AUC’s Intellectual Contributions, particularly through interdisciplinary centers of excellence
[Also relates to: Theme 1 Goal 1]
Objective 1:Conduct extensive high quality research in specialized computing fields; Objective 2: Collaboration with other universities through research and application development; Objective 3: Publications of research papers related to the computing field
Outcomes / Proposed New/Changed Programs/Initiatives / Performance Indicators / Time Frame / Resources
O.1.1 Widening the scope of ACS research activities / · Expansion of ACS research activities in fields that would enhance computing services for AUC community
· Encourage faculty through research & surveys to contribute & propose their needs & requirements
· Adapting new applications to suit university requirements & needs / · Number of positive responses from faculty
· New Applications / 2007 – 2012 / · Acquiring Special budget for research
· 1 FTE
O.2.1 Joint University projects in academic fields / · Surveying research interests in other universities
· Collaboration through joint projects to reach excellent standards & high quality application development
· Setting up a staff exchange program / · Number of Positive responses from universities
· Number of Participants in exchange program / 2007 - 2012 / · Attending conferences
· Specialized budget for staff exchange program
O.3.1 Joint university publications worldwide / · Publications of ACS research efforts to share our experiences with AUC & other universities
· Publications of joint papers with interested faculty from AUC or other universities / Number of published ACS papers / 2007 – 2012 / · 1 FTE
Strategic Theme 5: Operational Excellence Goal 3: Review & restructure educational & support operations to enhance operational efficiency in the new campus facilities
[Also relates to: Theme4 Goals 1, 3 & 6; Theme 6 Goal 2]
Objective 1: Expand adaptive technology services to support students with special needs
Outcomes / Proposed New/Changed Programs/Initiatives / Performance Indicators / Time Frame / Resources
O.1.1 Specialized unit with equipment for people with special needs / · Expansion of Adaptive technology services to support hearing impairment & other types.
· Collaboration with the office of student development to instruct & guide students in need
· Providing necessary hardware equipment & software / · Number of new students with special needs applying to AUC
· Number of adaptive setups established / 2007 – 2012 / · Acquiring Special budget for equipment & s/w
· 1 FTE
· Graduate &/or undergraduate TA’s
O.1.2 Seminars, papers & collaboration with other universities / · Collaboration through joint projects to provide optimum service for students with special needs / · Number of partnerships
· Donations for enhancement of Adaptive Technology Unit / 2007 - 2012 / · Attending conferences & visiting universities
Strategic Theme 5: Operational Excellence Goal 3: Review & restructure educational & support operations to enhance operational efficiency in the new campus facilities
[Also relates to: Theme 3 Goals 2 & 5; Theme 6 Goal 1]
Objective 1: Active adoption of Learning Management System (LMS) by all university faculty; Objective 2:Full integration with student & faculty information databases (SAP)
Outcomes / Proposed New/Changed Programs/Initiatives / Performance Indicators / Time Frame / Resources
O.1.1 Expand the use of LMS adopted by AUC / · Collaboration of department Chairs & Deans to institutionalize the LMS adopted by the university
· Delivery of training to faculty via new mechanisms such as focus groups & online training / Number faculty actively using LMS / 2007 – 2009 / · 1 – 2 FTE
· 2 – 3 servers for LMS upgrades
O.2.1 Automatic upload of student & faculty info in courses (SAP) / · Build interface for seamless integration with LMS
· Full coordination of departments in charge of databases (data owners) / Number of licenses used / 2007 - 2012 / · 1 server for new software installations
· 0.3 FTE
Strategic Theme 1: Academic Excellence Goal 1: Attract outstanding faculty & researchers, support high quality teaching & research
[Also relates to: Theme 2 Goal 5, Theme 3 Goals 2 & 3, Theme 4 Goal 6]
Objective 1: Enhance technology platform hosting the institutional web site for a global audience, & serving as the main information medium for academic units & content providers within the university.
Outcomes / Proposed New/Changed Programs/Initiatives / Performance Indicators / Time Frame / Resources
O.1.1 System Availability 24/7 / Standby system with automatic transfer to backup in case of catastrophic failure; automated backup mechanism to external media & in offsite location / % down time & recovery from disaster / 2007-2009 / 4 high-end servers;
Licenses for SQL/MCMS; tape library
O.1.2 Timeliness & accuracy of information published to Web / Establish a CMS solution in compliance with university branding guidelines & web standards, facilitating publishing to AUCWeb by authorized users / Current info on web site; all dept/units publish to web / 2007-2009 / Resources for project funded through Microsoft-ACS partnership agreement
O.1.3 Direct delivery of news items on main page to desktop / Establish News feed system / Regular news delivery / 2007-2009 / 0.2 FTE
O.1.4 Publication of rich content & live broadcast of events / Establishment of specialized multimedia setup accessed by faculty & students / Number of faculty & students accessing setup / 2007-2009 / · High-end server; video capture/streaming equipment
· 0.3 FTE
Strategic Theme 3: International Education Goal 2: Increase the visibility & extend the international reach of AUC's research & publishing programs
[Also relates to: Theme 1 Goals 1 & 5, Theme 4 Goal 6 (New)[2]]
Objective 1: Establish a knowledge repository to host all research papers published by AUC faculty and in AUC conferences
Outcomes / Proposed New/Changed Programs/Initiatives / Performance Indicators / Time Frame / Resources
O.1.1 Increased visibility of AUC in ranking of World Universities / · Develop, implement & institutionalize a custom-made system to allow faculty to easily upload & index (according to the LOC) research papers in a variety of media
· Integrate system with centralized LDAP / Higher standing of AUC in ranking of world universities / 2007-2010 / · 1 High-end server
· 0.3 FTE
O.1.2 Increase AUC Intellectual contribution to Egypt & the region / · Market & publicize the system in collaboration with academic departments & SMC
· Form partnerships with other academic institutions in the region to propagate the system / · Number of Contributions
· Number of partnerships formed with other academic institutions / 2007-2010 / · 0.2 FTE
Strategic Theme 1: Academic Excellence Goal 1: Attract outstanding faculty & researchers, support high quality teaching & research
Objective 1: Establish a mirror site for the MIT Open Course Ware Initiative
Outcomes / Proposed New/Changed Programs/Initiatives / Performance Indicators / Time Frame / Resources
O.1.1 Availability of MIT Library of academic courses for use by faculty / · Establish & maintain technology platform for hosting of the OCW
· Participate in a “case study” or other promotional activities for the program; / · % Usage by faculty
· Number of site visitors
· Increased AUCWeb search ranking / 2007-2010 / · 1 High-end server
· 0.1 FTE
Strategic Theme 1: Academic Excellence Goal 3: Strengthen quality of current programs
Also relates to: Theme 1 Goal 1, Theme 4 Goals 4 & 6, Theme 6 New Goal same as in the technical support area
Objective 1: Establish a media lab where Faculty & students can create & Edit their Multimedia materials & offer training on those facilities
Outcomes / Proposed New/Changed Programs/Initiatives / Performance Indicators / Time Frame / Resources
O.1.1 Specialized facility for the development of multimedia materials in academic course work / · Furnish the assigned ACS Multimedia Lab with specialized equipment for Faculty & students use / · Statistics of the number of lab users
· Level of satisfaction with service derived from surveys / 2008 -2009 / · 15 Workstations/video cards/software toolkits
· 7VCRs, 2Scanners,2 Inkjet Colored printers, 1 Laser printer, Data show/projector, 5 Cassette recorders, Equipped Podium
· 1 FTE
O.1.2 Specialized Technical Training Courses for Faculty & Students / · Design & develop specialized training modules as building blocks for customized training courses / · Usage statistics