The University has to establish goals for its information technology environment if it is to move forward. Below are seventeen statements which characterize the information technology resource environment envisioned by the Task Force. 



2.1. Coordinated computing and networking activities. 

Efforts to coordinate activities among the various colleges, administrative units, and support groups involved in information technology have not kept pace with the level of activity in these units. As a result, the University has not been able to manage its computing and telecommunications environment to make the best use of its resources. Duplication of effort is not the problem. Rather, key services are not being offered, or offered to only part of the University user community. In addition, no single unit or group can clearly and effectively state policies related to the use of information technology resources. Lack of coordination has led to uneven access to and support for information technology resources for faculty, staff and students. There exists very little structure within which institutional planning can occur, and thus it is very difficult to implement new computing environments and services to the university as a whole. Without coordination, the University is divided in its dealings with outside vendors and hence is unable to obtain the best discounts in its purchases of information technology resources. 


2.2. An integrated computing and networking support structure. 

It is becoming increasingly difficult to separate computing support from networking support. Computing applications and information are being delivered by networks to the intelligent computer workstation in a technically integrated fashion which incorporates the concepts of distributed processing and shared data. Progress in this direction requires that support for computing and networking be integrated. 


2.3. An integrated voice, video, and data network management system. 

It is very dear that soon voice, video and data networks will be integrated into a common media and transport structure. The University must begin to integrate network management into a single unit if it is to take full advantage of network integration. Such a unit should have as one major characteristic the ability to deal with the many different computing and networking systems currently used at the University of Florida, while remaining flexible enough to accommodate new systems as they emerge. 


2.4. An academic information system capable of supporting the research and instruction needs of the University. 

At the heart of academic research, instruction, and service is information. It is a key input to the academic process and a major end product. Recent advances in imaging and computer technology indicate that future information will be delivered to faculty, staff, and students in electronic form over high speed data and video networks. The University must integrate the services of the University libraries with computing and networking services into an academic information delivery system. 


2.5. Administrative data and applications integrated into an understandable, user-friendly system, capable of supporting the administrative needs of the University. 

Administration of the University would be impossible without the computer applications, databases, and networks which have been installed over the years. The inevitable growth of the University will place further demands on a system which is currently barely adequate for the job. Where the University was once a leader in computerized administrative systems, it has not made the technology and applications development investments necessary to keep up with other institutions of higher education. A much more integrated approach to administrative information and a much more flexible and user-friendly interface will be required if administrators, faculty, staff, and students are to have access to the information needed to make good decisions. 


2.6. Administrative strategies and procedures to protect the integrity of academic and administrative information (security). 

As networks have grown to enable users to more rapidly and reliably access academic and administrative computing services and database, our ability to manage that access has decreased. It is imperative that the University maintain control of access to information, not only to assure the integrity and reliability of databases, but to assure appropriate use of public resources. Security management is one of the most important characteristics of an integrated data and applications system. 


2.7. Faculty and academic technical staff having defined computer skills and access to training. 

The University of Florida is a leader in providing faculty with training to upgrade their computing skills. The Faculty Support Center, while focusing and coordinating these activities, has struggled to maintain state-of-the-art technology for its training arid demonstration programs. The staff which support the research and instructional activities of faculty have not generally had access to the programs of the Faculty Support Center and hence have only been able to keep up with technology through self study or through training provided by their faculty supervisors. 


2.8. Undergraduate, graduate, and professional students having defined computer skills upon or soon after entry to the University. 

The University must start with students already acquainted with computer technology and basic personal computing applications, like word processing, spreadsheet, and graphics programs if computer and networking technologies are to be used in the classroom in any significant way. Eventually all students will enter the University with basic knowledge of computing use, but only some current students have these skills. Rather than deny entrance to the University to otherwise qualified students, efforts should be made to help students acquire these skills immediately after entering the University. 


2.9. Administrative staff having defined computer skills and access to appropriate training on the databases and/or systems provided to them to perform assigned tasks. 

The tasks involved in administering the University are currently highly computerized. As time goes on, administrative staff will depend even more on computer and networking technology, and they will be expected to do more with these tools. The requirement of basic computer skills upon entry into a University staff position coupled with an ongoing training program in the use of computer technology and computer applications will ensure a productive and effective group of administrative users.


2.10. An organized approach to the dissemination of information on computing and computing support for all members of the University community. 

Computer and networking technology rapidly changes, making the task of keeping users informed of new developments very important. In addition, users need to be kept aware of plans, directions, and services related to information technology. An organized approach to dissemination of information on computing and computing support will ensure that the majority of the University community is moving together in planned directions. 


2.11. A campus network which extends to the work place of each member of the University community who needs access to perform required tasks. 

Getting information in a timely and appropriate manner to users who require it means extending University data and video networking to the work place. The University has actively extended data networking to the workplace of many administrative users, but this goal has not been generally adopted for all users. Only by extending the network to every work place can the full benefits of computing and information systems be realized. 


2.12. Classroom space capable of accommodating projection and information technology. 

Classrooms designed for blackboard teaching cannot easily accommodate overhead projectors and slides, nor, for that matter, can they effectively deal with computer-related instruction. Classroom renovation is a major capital expense, but is critical if the benefits of the computer are to be brought into the educational process. 


2.13. Student access to academic and administrative information in a convenient and cost-effective manner. 

Students must have access to their official academic records to negotiate the complexities of the academic programs and rules at the University of Florida. This information should be provided in a convenient and cost-effective manner and in such a way that access is managed and controlled.


2.14. Development and use of internal and international standards in hardware, software, and networking. 

The University cannot provide effective support without establishing some internal standards on hardware, software, and networking protocols. A balance must be maintained between establishing narrowly defined standards which are more efficient to support, and establishing very broad standards which only minimally constrain users' desires, but which place impossible demands on support organizations. 


2.15. Administrative strategies which facilitate acquiring, maintaining, and enhancing computer hardware, software, and networking. 

As the University matures in its use of information technology, it will be necessary to develop strategies for encouraging the adoption of new hardware and software while simultaneously moving displaced hardware and software to locations where they can be put to productive use. In addition, the University needs to develop strategies to maintain its current base of computer electronics and software in a more efficient and cost-effective manner. More attention will need to be directed to the purchasing and management of information technology resources. 


2.16. A healthy and safe work place for users of information technology resources. 

The health and safety of information technology users is of primary importance to the University. While the Task Force found no major health and safety problems, there is concern that a more proactive approach is needed if we are to avoid problems in the future. 


2.17. A consistent level of computing and networking support for all faculty and staff, both on- and off-campus. 

The University currently has many faculty, staff, and students at locations other than the main campus in Gainesville. Faculty, staff, and students not located on the Gainesville campus should have the same services and support benefits as if they were located in Gainesville. Resources should be allocated to provide similar levels of support and services to all faculty, staff, and students in order to ensure a unified and productive University community.