While investment in technology can take place in a haphazard and disjointed fashion, planning those investments provides for more cost-effective and efficient distribution of technology resources. SCSU began campus-wide technology planning in 1997 when it developed a five-year plan (1998-2003). Many goals of that plan were realized, including ubiquitous campus network access and installation of one hundred electronic classrooms. Other goals have not been achieved, including a more timely replacement cycle for faculty and staff computer equipment and assessment of student learning with respect to technology.
In 2002, SCSU revived its technology planning efforts to prepare a technology plan for the next five-year cycle (2003-2008). This Technology Master Plan, really a plan to plan for technology, reviews the directions we expect to move during the next cycle. It reflects a greater dependence on technology across all campus constituencies, a heightened interest in technology at the MnSCU system level, and increasing technological sophistication in our incoming students, staff, faculty, and administrators. This plan also reflects pressure to develop and implement stronger technological support of pedagogy, especially in terms of training and development of personnel.
The process of developing the 2003-2008 Technology Master Plan has included the following steps:
Revised: May 2003