Core Component 3D:
The organization's learning resources support student learning and effective teaching.

St. Cloud State University is well aware of the importance of a strong infrastructure related to learning resources needed for effective teaching and learning. The institution has made learning resources a high priority in the budget and planning processes.

Learning Resources and Technology Services

Learning Resources and Technology Services (LRTS) is a comprehensive campus-wide information organization encompassing the library, academic computing, media and network operations, and instruction-related training, technical services and equipment. The library (built in 2000) has more than 2.767 million print and non-print items; including more than 675,000 books, 1.3 million federal and state documents, 773,000 units of microfilm, nearly 1,600 periodical titles, 1,500 maps, and 25,000 non-print items (computer software, compact discs, videotapes, DVDs, films, etc), and nearly 13,000 electronic periodical subscriptions that can be accessed off-campus via the library proxy service. The reference desk is staffed by one or more library faculty 76 hours per week. An 800 number is also available for reference questions as is e-mail. Dialup service is also provided off-campus, including non-local areas. St. Cloud State University has 130 electronic classrooms with dedicated funds designated for support personnel and equipment upgrades and replacement.

LRTS contributes to advancing and managing disciplinary information for the university’s academic programs by conducting surveys to assess periodicals needs, developing general and discipline-specific bibliographies such as the SCSU faculty and staff publications, assessing services, and providing collections data for academic units undergoing accreditation review. In addition, LR&TS faculty and staff participate at the state, regional, and national levels on initiatives that are moving forward the availability of digital resources for both teaching and resources. An example is the planning for the new applied doctoral program in Higher Education Administration. It was anticipated that the university would need about $65,000 in start-up funds and approximately $50,000 annually thereafter for the library to support the doctoral program. At this point, $75,000 has been allocated; and the purchasing of subscriptions and databases has already started.

Finally, LRTS also supports the academic and administrative missions of St. Cloud State University by providing design, installation, training, operations, and maintenance services for a wide range of technologies.

Computing and Technology Services

The Computing and Technology Services Division of LRTS provides campus-wide computing support, networking services, e-mail services/support, the academic Help Desk, the Computer Store, instructional television and video conferencing operations, installation, and support for the electronic classrooms, and maintenance/operation of 700 computers in the Miller Center and 17 general access computer labs across campus. Personnel support a campus telecommunications infrastructure with more than one million feet of optical fiber; approximately 6,847 network connections; and servers for e-mail, file, and web space accounts. This includes equipment and software for more than 22,000 user accounts utilizing nearly 1.5 terabytes of storage space.

Currently SCSU has 130 electronic classrooms, which include computers, data projectors, document cameras, VCR/DVD players, and IP telephones. All equipment is tied into a common touch screen control system, which can be accessed remotely to troubleshoot any equipment problems in each room. Dedicated funding provides ongoing support to replace/update e-classroom equipment on a regular schedule. Quick Reference Guides specific to each room are provided for users, as well as periodic training sessions on room use. Many rooms that are not electronic classrooms also have some technology, such as televisions, VCR/DVD players, and/or overhead projectors. All of this equipment is inventoried, cleaned, and checked for operational readiness prior to the start of each semester.

As addressed earlier, St. Cloud State University has made tremendous strides in technology over the past ten years. Intel's 2nd Annual 2005 "Most Unwired College Campuses" Survey ranks the top 50 U.S. college and university campuses according to wireless internet accessibility. St. Cloud State University was ranked number 49 nationwide. Every major building and virtually every minor building is wireless. This ranking also acknowledges that we are recognized as having strong security with all data centers protected as required by MnSCU. In addition, St. Cloud State University has become the MnSCU leader in offering online courses, further demonstrating the increased use and support of technology for teaching.

Center for Information Systems

The Center for Information Systems (CIS) provides information technology support in the areas of programming and reporting for university information systems, technology and software training, computer hardware and software technical support, telephone and voice mail services. The center uses current technology to enable university departments to provide quality service to students, employees, and external clients. CIS is comprised of programming staff, technical support staff, training staff, and administrative support staff.

Evaluation of Learning Resources and Technology Services

As we implement a system of using data to drive decision-making, the evaluation of learning resources to improve learning and teaching is taken seriously and conducted in a systematic manner. Data are collected from the following resources to drive decision-making:

• LR&TS Annual Report
• LR&TS Library Survey
• MnSCU Student Technology Survey
• LR&TS Budget Decision Process
• NSSE Survey
• Technology Training Satisfaction Survey
• Technology Master Plan Report
• IPEDS Data

Based on data collected, some examples of changes to support student learning include the expansion of hours at the Miller Center, the addition of technology enhanced classrooms, and the expansion of technology training for students, staff, and faculty.

Other Resources to Support Instruction

St. Cloud State University offers programs in numerous formats and at various locations to meet learners’ needs. Based on a utilization study by the Office of Administrative Affairs, investments have been made in lab spaces for students majoring in counseling, theater, music, and science (report available in the Resource Room). Programs that require field and clinical experiences such as teacher education, educational administration, and nursing have also received resources to enhance the quality of learning experiences for students. Finally, the university dedicated a large portion of its resources (55%) to instruction and instructional support in fiscal year 2005 (See Core Component 2B). St. Cloud State University also provides tuition credits to virtually all employees to enhance learning and provide support for family members. This commitment of budget resources has been a hallmark of the value placed on lifelong learning at St. Cloud State University.

Evaluation of Core Component 3D

Clearly, St. Cloud State University has provided strong learning resources to support student learning and effective teaching. The infrastructure is in place to continue to respond to the changing needs of the campus to positively impact student learning. The array of services and support mechanisms to strengthen student learning and teaching effectiveness is impressive; the talented technicians and personnel available to assist and train are valuable assets for any organization and form the very foundation of a learning-focused organization.

Strengths: St. Cloud State University has created a strong telecommunications infrastructure as well as invested in advanced technologies for classrooms, lecture halls, and labs to enhance student learning. The university was ranked among the top 50 most unwired campuses and continues to invest in new technologies to meet the changing needs of the campus community. A new Learning Resource and Technology Center hosts over two and a half million print and non-print items and a growing array of databases. Based on the Technology Master Plan and various data collection tools, St. Cloud State University is using the results of these data to make decisions about the use and allocation of resources.

Initiatives in Progress: Many initiatives are in progress to enhance learning resources. LRTS is working to expand the library holdings and databases as we begin to move toward offering applied doctorates. St. Cloud State University has secured funding to update the science labs by building an addition to the Wick Science Building, providing “state of the art” facilities to support student learning and effective teaching. The Nursing Program and the Communication Disorders Program will be moving to updated facilities in Brown Hall as renovations are completed.

Given the rapid rate of technological advances, the university remains committed to increasing and enhancing professional development opportunities to ensure that students, faculty, and staff have the knowledge, expertise and resources to provide strong and effective environments for learning. This requires ongoing assessment, training and resources to ensure that the infrastructure is able to support the desired learning environment.

Future Challenges: Whenever an organization faces rapid change or significant growth, issues emerge. The rapid and recent growth of the online offerings are a significant change in market and delivery that has implications for student success, availability of resources to students online or at a distance, and the organizational implications of substantial service being provided in this way. Therefore, the following are areas that need attention by the institution:

• The organizational efforts by the Office of Continuing Studies related to online teaching must merge with the efforts by the colleges to ensure that faculty members have teaching loads that reflect best practice.
• There is a need to study the effectiveness of online teaching on our campus. There has been inconsistent assessment of the impact of campus learning resources on effective teaching and thus, in some areas, limited translation into the budgeting process. We would like to be more effective in prioritizing resource allocations across services based on impact.
• As delivery options expand, the faculty and staff in LRTS will also have to grow in numbers to adequately serve students.