IT Mission Statement
The Information Technology department serves all academic and administrative computing needs. We provide campus-wide support with a staff of 28 personnel. The technology needs of the College are broad and cover the following areas:| Network Design And Expansion | Web and Portal Development |
| Academic Application Programs | Security |
| Smart Classroom Technology | Distance Education and Video Conferencing |
| Telephony | Library Systems |
| Customer Service Help Desk | Training |
| Backup & Disaster Recovery | Groupware and E-Mail |
| Administrative Computing | Printing/Copying/Scanning/Faxing |
| Computer Workstation & Lab Support | Standardization of Equipment |
| Cable TV | IT Policy |
Emphasis must stay on track with the mission of the college. We take pride in assuring our faculty, students and administration that we will have an "open" network. By involving all departments we can see the broadest scope of Information Technology needs and effectively communicate and set priority of IT needs for the College. The IT mission at York College of Pennsylvania is not self serving but instead reaches out to faculty and to students to compliment the personal education experience. In 2008-2009 the Instructional Resources Committee, a faculty-based technology committee, is working in cooperation with IT to develop a new 3-year strategic technology plan for the campus including plans for new classroom technologies, notebook computers, software upgrades and stronger policies. Major initiatives include implementing the Blackboard Enterprise eLearning System, relocation of public computer labs and the IT Help Desk to the new Performing Arts Center, expanding the 802.11 wireless footprint and adding an Enterprise Room Scheduling system campus-wide. The College ERP administrative system continues to function smoothly in all major functional departments of the College and will continue to grow to improve Web access and reporting functions and to support additional offices.
Outcomes assessments monitors IT services each year as part of the Information Technology Annual Report/ Outcomes Assessment Goals. The measurement uses comparisons of the student-to-computer ratios at comparable institutions, ratio of faculty/staff to computers, training contact hours with satisfaction surveys and the measurement of faculty usage of smart classrooms via annual surveys. In 2008 several new survey tools have been added to enable students, faculty, staff and alumni to provide input to the College. The assessments and surveys approach keeps the IT operation running efficiently and within mission.
Several principles help to govern the IT department at York College of Pennsylvania:
- Information Technology issues must be mission driven. Technology will be planned and implemented in response to outcomes based mission statements.
- Technology must fit York College of Pennsylvania Institutional values. Technology cannot exist outside of the core missions of the College. Information Technology must become tightly integrated with the various academic programs and missions.
- Information Technology is a resource. Technology should be considered a resource or tool to enhance educational programs as opposed to an end in itself.
- There must be effective utilization of campus resources. Space, staff and resources are not infinite. As a result, the College should work to be a heavy user of existing technology as opposed to always leading the charge with new technologies. This goal also means that occasionally, people may have to share resources or special application laboratories. For instance, the primary purpose of the College's computer labs is to provide students with the computing resources necessary to meet their academic goals. In addition to this primary role, the labs also serve in a secondary capacity as an enhancement to the traditional classroom environment.
- Standardization is key. Often, people believe that they have the right to use whatever hardware and software they choose. The need for standard or "officially supported" products (hardware and common software such as word processors spreadsheets, and databases) is important for two reasons. First, the cost of non-standardization is too high. Large-volume agreements are impossible, more staff members are required for training and support and personnel must first access each user's configuration before adding hardware or software or resolving problems. Second, a critical mass of users is necessary before use really grows. It is the sharing, comparing and mutual supporting that makes Information Technology work in higher education.
- The focus is on people; not technology. Appropriate training and support should be an important element in any information plan.