Appendix 17: TLTR Background

As part of strategic planning, St. Cloud State University's Teaching, Learning and Technology Roundtable (TLTR) met to attempt to organize planning, implementing and funding technology across the university. Part of a nation-wide movement, the TLTR concept encourages input from a wide range of campus and community stakeholders. Members of the TLTR included faculty participants, members of strategic planning committee and staff from academic, student and administrative services. Student participation was encouraged through Student Government meetings and interaction with Student Government President, Christy Hovanetz. (Appendix 1: Teaching, Learning and Technology Roundtable Members contains the list of current members of the TLTR.)

The TLTR will continue to apply the Teaching, Learning and Technology Roundtable model to help university administrators make cost-effective technology decisions that are consistent with a high-quality teaching/learning environment and to provide up-to-date input about technology implementation and integration to meet user needs. This approach will provide a forum to address user needs in the context of rapid technological change.

SCSU's response to the critical issue of communications technology competence was to establish a Teaching, Learning and Technology Roundtable (TLTR). The TLTR concept, which encourages input from a wide range of campus and community stakeholders, was developed by the American Association for Higher Education (AAHE). (See the AAHE webpages for the description of the TLTR project.) Following a MnSCU-sponsored technology conference during which the TLTR concept was introduced to campus participants in 1996, President Bruce Grube established a campus TLTR and charged this group with the development of a University Technology Plan. Faculty participants were appointed by James Pehler, IFO President. His appointments included individuals with the interest and expertise necessary to prepare a dynamic plan. Some members of the Strategic Planning Committee were also appointed by him to provide consistency with the strategic direction of the University. Members representing academic, student, staff and administrative services areas were assigned to the group to assure appropriate input and representation. Student participation was encouraged through Student Government meetings and interaction with Student Government President, Christy Hovanetz.