INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

The following essential expectations and characteristics were identified in describing the information technology systems for Chandler-Gilbert Community College (CGCC):

1. Information should be accessible from multiple locations - seamless access should be provided throughout the college (Library, classroom, the Student Center, courtyards, cafeteria, etc.). Users should be able to have access from their homes and businesses.
2. Computing system access and usage should be device independent. To the greatest extent possible, CGCC information technologies should be available to the widest range of computer types, and should be afforded access both through hardwired and wireless systems. Redundancy (to protect against system failure) should be provided.
3. The integration of voice, data and images should continue to mature and should be available through the previously mentioned systems.
4. Data should be secure from all manner of intrusion. Appropriate disaster recovery equipment and procedures should be implemented and mated to a comprehensive risk assessment program.
5. Bandwidth planning for the systematic expansion and implementation of new future technologies should be forecast and accommodate the previous items.
6. Technology standards should be defined and faculty and staff should strive for adherence to a baseline of technology that can be universally applied to all instructional spaces. The baseline should account for new growth areas in business and technology so that training programs for faculty and staff are supported. When new classes or processes are set up, specialty instruction spaces, such as labs, are easily adapted. The baseline should be updated at regular intervals.
7. District resources and processes should serve as an overlay for current and future endeavors with information technology. Knowledge of District plans should allow CGCC to develop solutions particular to their needs.
8. Help Desk should be a 24/7 support activity, with help for both hardware and software: all users should be supported (students, faculty and staff) any day, at any time. This must be a district wide initiative.
9. Data should be collected and analyzed on the performance of existing facilities, services and procedures so that decision making for capital improvement, technology design, and human resource allocation can be more objective and effective.
10. In addressing the above considerations, CGCC has provided for a maintainable technology basis and a forum for future growth and expansion. Technology is the use of computing machinery to automate processes implemented by CGCC faculty, staff, and students. Process codification is key to the design and maintenance of IT infrastructure. When new processes are designed, technology may or may not be able to support it. The goal of an Information System (IS) Master Plan is to anticipate the technology needs of an organization by careful study of the organizational processes. The Information Systems Master Plan should be evaluated on a regular basis and aligned with capital and operational planning to position the college for future technology challenges.

In addressing the above considerations, it is imperative that the following planning and management steps are taken:

1. Prepare and regularly update CGCC Technology Business Plan (TBP) and Business Continuity Plan (BCP). Changes in the economic and business environment should be stated and acknowledged from the most senior levels of an organization. Technology finds its basis in an organization in the concept of People, Process and Technology, a standard model for describing organizations. An organization's Business Plan yields an organizational chart with job descriptions; job descriptions have processes associated with them; technology is simply the automation of those processes. The BCP is a plan that covers all matter of business survival: an IS Plan, a Disaster Recovery Plan, and a Liquidity Plan are plans that are often found in the BCP as addendum items.
   
2. Prepare an Information System Master Plan. The master plan must include the following components and considerations:
   
   Comprehensive information systems and facilities inventories. Before planning, an inventory of all systems, software, and equipment should be completed along with life cycle (age), licensing data (if required), support contract information, and maintenance history.
   
   Data storage management plan. Data is generated constantly at CGCC. The data must be backed up in case of system failure and recovered efficiently for use. Management and forecasting of data volumes is needed to ensure data sanctity.
   
   Bandwidth management plan. A plan to forecast data volume that is trafficked through CGCC should be completed. It should anticipate wireless and wired mediums, as well as student enrollment and locations, and the increase in computing services in all program areas.
   
   Mediation expansion plans and process management for instructional spaces. Providing for the classroom needs of the future should be planned: an inventory and life-cycle management plan for spaces, licensing and software needs, operational and support management for the spaces should be addressed.
   
   Maintenance plan. Technical objects within the campus must be maintained. A plan that forecasts labor and material costs, maintenance processes, and support should be designed and planned.
   
   Disaster recovery plan. If a computer or telephony failure, tornado, flood, or fire should befall CGCC facilities, a plan to recover and efficiently return to an operational basis must be in place: risk definition and possible scenarios, leadership and craft tasks, vendor definition, and training regimens should be designed and put into operational readiness
   
   Training plan. Since technology is the support of CGCC processes, any new process likely requires a new training regimen for staff, faculty, and students. A plan to define templates and procedures for each functional process area should be put in place.
   
   Infrastructure requirements plan. Once processes are defined and technology is specified, the implementations will require certain facilities requirements, which must be anticipated.
   
3. To grow a campus into a larger campus or a connected campus to a district campus, systems should be designed that are 'aware' of the connectedness of enterprises. This should include an interface to finance, supply chain, help desk, workflows, marketing, and maintenance. An enterprise wide plan needs to be prepared which will address these subsystems.

CGCC is well on its way to providing effective solutions to its students, staff, and faculty. The foundation to achieve CGCC's stated goals is effective planning. It would be most sensible to aggressively pursue the above planning activities as a precursor to the proposed bond program improvements that are anticipated to commence in calendar year 2005.