Informationand
TechnologyStrategic
Plan
2012/13–2017/18
Information Resources California State University, Chico
6/27/2012
July2012
InformationResources
InformationandTechnologyStrategicPlan
CSU,ChicoCommunity:
IampleasedtosharewithyoutheInformationandTechnologyStrategicPlanforfiscalyears2012/13–
2017/18.Theplanidentifiesanambitiousyetmindfulsetofhighlevelgoalstobeaccomplishedduringthenext
fiveyears.Itisanoutcomeofnumerousconversationswithstudents,facultyandstaffinanefforttoalign
informationandtechnologyeffortswiththegoalsandplanningactivitiesofthecampuscommunity.
Thisplanfocusesonextendingandenhancingtheinformationandtechnologyfoundationalreadyinplaceat
CSU,Chicowhilealsodeliveringnewsolutionstomeettheeverincreasingdemandsofthecommunityandthe
changingtechnologylandscape.Asthecampuscontinuestofaceincreasedfinancialpressure,weview
technologyasanenablertoempowerthecampustorealizeitsvision,mission,andstrategicpriorities.
Wearegratefultoourcampuspartnersandkeystakeholdersfortheirdedicatedeffortstoaddtothisplan.Our
nextsteps,tobecompletedbyJune2013,includefurtherdefinitionofourITinitiatives,proposedtactical
objectivesandactionplans,aswellasadetailedvettingoftheseplanswiththecampuscommunity.
MichaelSchilling
ViceProvostforInformationResourcesandChiefInformationOfficer(CIO)
IT Strategic Plan Page 1 10/15/2012 TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................ 3 PLAN OVERVIEW AND METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................... 4 PROCESS ............................................................................................................................................. 5 VISION STATEMENT ............................................................................................................................ 6 GUIDING PRINCIPLES .......................................................................................................................... 6 STRATEGIC PLANNING CHALLENGES .................................................................................................... 6 TIMELINE ............................................................................................................................................ 7 CSU, CHICO’S INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY STRATEGIC GOALS ................................................... 8 GOAL 1: ADVANCE THE LEARNING AND TEACHING ENVIRONMENT .................................................... 9 GOAL 2: ENHANCE CAMPUS CONNECTIVITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE ................................................ 10 GOAL 3: PROVIDE EFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATIVE SOLUTIONS ............................................................. 11 GOAL 4: LEVERAGE INFORMATION AND KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT ............................................. 12 GOAL 5: IMPROVE INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY SERVICES ...................................................... 13 IT Strategic Plan Page 2 10/15/2012 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Background and Process Vision
Information and technology services are
provided to the CSU, Chico community to
support high quality learning environments
and effective business processes. The
InformationandTechnologyStrategicPlanis
designed to assure that IT priorities and
initiatives are identified to support CSU,
Chico’s Strategic Plan for the Future, the
campus Academic Plan and supporting plans
forBusinessandFinance,StudentAffairsand
UniversityAdvancement.
CSU Chico’s Strategic Plan for the Future,
includes the following strategic priority
relatedtoinformationandtechnology.
“Believing in the wise use of new
technologiesinlearningandteaching,
we will continue to provide the
technology, the related training, and
the support needed to create high
quality learning environments both
insideandoutsidetheclassroom.”
Prioritizationandcoordinationoftechnology
planningandimplementationwillensurethat
Chico State students, faculty, and staff have
the information and technology solutions
required to meet their learning, teaching,
research,andservicemissions.
This strategic planning process was initiated
intheSpringof2011withmultipleplanning
sessionsincludingstudents,faculty,andstaff.
In these sessions we discussed challenges in
highereducationandat CSU,Chico.Wealso
discussed ways in which information and
technology may help us to deal with these
challenges.
The output of these planning sessions
generatedfivestrategicgoalsandsupporting
proposedtacticalobjectives
The Information and Technology Strategic
Plan sets the following vision for information
andtechnology.
ChicoStatewillberecognizedasan
innovativeanddynamiccampusthat
integratestechnologyintothefabricof
theinstitutionbyprovidingstudents,
faculty,andstaffwiththeinformation,
tools,andservicesneededto
accomplishtheUniversitymission.
IT Strategic Plan Goals The Information and Technology Strategic
Planhasfivehighlevelstrategicgoals,focused
onthefollowingareas:
1. AdvancetheLearningandTeaching
Environment
2. EnhanceCampusConnectivityand
Infrastructure
3. ProvideEffectiveAdministrative
Solutions
4. LeverageInformationandKnowledge
Management
5. ImproveInformationandTechnology
Services
Page 3 10/15/2012 PLAN OVERVIEW AND METHODOLOGY AtCSU,Chicowehavealonghistoryofcampuscollaborationindevelopingtechnologyplans.The
InformationandTechnologyStrategicPlan(FYs2012/13–2017/18)buildsona15year
foundationprovidedbypreviousstrategicplans;Target2000(1995‐2000),Beyond2000(2001‐
2005)andAligningwiththeFuture:TheITStrategicPlan(2006‐2011).
Thisproposedplanprovidesasummaryofthestrategicgoalsandinitiativesforinformationand
technologyatCSU,Chicooverthenextfiveyears.Theplan’sneartermobjectiveswillbeupdated
annuallyandtheentireplanwillbeupdatedeveryfiveyears.Thisplanservesasaguideforthe
futuredeliveryofinformationandtechnologyservicestotheCSU,Chicocommunity.
Methodology The information and technology strategic planning process aligns information and technology
objectiveswiththeUniversitymission.Theprocessinvolvedthreemajorphases:
1. Assessment:Aseriesofmeetingsanddiscussionswereheldwithfaculty,staff,andstudents
todiscusstechnologytrendsandneeds.
2. Strategy Development: A high level plan including a vision, guiding principles, strategic
goals and initiatives was developed and reviewed with over 20 campus departments and
committees.Thedocumentwasthenupdatedbasedonthesediscussionstoincludehighlevel
initiativesandproposedtacticalobjectivestofocusonoverthenextfiveyears.
3. Implementation Planning: Over the next year, tactical objectives, critical success factors,
andtimelineswillbedevelopedforeachinformationandtechnologyinitiative.
4. Fiscal Alignment: Careful consideration will be given to aligning and prioritizing the
information and technology initiatives with University capital and operating budget
considerations.
IT Strategic Plan Page 4 10/15/2012 PROCESS ThefollowingframeworkwasusedtoguidetheInformationandTechnologyStrategicPlanning
process.Stakeholderinput,variouscampusstrategicplans,andITandhighereducation
trends/challengesallservedasinputtotheprocess.Nextstepsincludeconductinganassessment
toidentifystrengths,weaknesses,opportunities,andthreatsaspartoffurtherdefiningtheIT
initiatives,tacticalobjectivesandactionplans.
CSU, Chico Information and Technology Planning STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS
Stakeholder input
Campus Strategic Plan
Academic Plan
Other Campus Plans
Organizational values
Laws and Regulations
INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY VISION AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES
STRATEGIC GOALS
INITIATIVES
IT Trends & Campus Input
OBJECTIVES
Outcomes & Effectiveness Measures
ACTION PLANS
Critical Success Factors
SWOT Analysis
Budget & Resources
IT Strategic Plan Page 5 10/15/2012 VISION STATEMENT ChicoStatewillberecognizedasaninnovativeanddynamiccampusthatintegratestechnologyinto
thefabricoftheinstitutionbyprovidingstudents,faculty,andstaffwiththeinformation,tools,and
servicesneededtoaccomplishtheUniversitymission.
GUIDING PRINCIPLES Theseguidingprinciplesaredesignedtoprovideanenvironmentwhereinformationand
technologyareusedtosupporthighqualitylearningenvironments,effectivebusinessprocesses,
andexcellentservice.
 Informationandtechnologycontributetothebreadth,depth,andtransformationofthe
Universityexperience.
 InformationandtechnologyarestrategicUniversityassets.
 Collaboration,communication,andanopenexchangeofideasinformsuperiorsolutions.
 Wiseuseofinformationandtechnologysolutionscanhelpmitigatefiscalchallenges.
STRATEGIC PLANNING CHALLENGES Thisplanservesasablueprintforachievingtheorganization’svisionandcreatingacampus
informationandtechnologyenvironmentthatnurturesinnovationandcreativity;offersefficient
andtimelycollaborationandcommunicationtoolstostudents,faculty,andstaff,bothonandoff
campus;enablesthehighestlevelsofresearchandscholarlycollaboration;supportstheChico
communityandtheNorthState;ensuresaccountability,security,andtrustwithoutbreachesof
personalinformation;providesthecampuscommunityaccesstoservicesandeachother,andoffers
aflexibleandfuture‐orientedsetofservicesandarchitecture.Likemostuniversities,however,we
faceanumberofchallenges,including:
 Decliningfiscalsupport
 AnITinvestmentprocessthatisoften
disconnectedfromthebudgeting
 Deferredmaintenanceneeds
process
 Lackofappropriatedatacenterspace
 Decreasingfederalresearchfunding
whileneedsareincreasing
 Non‐competitiveITcompensationin
 Difficultyinfundinginnovationin
someareas
additiontomaintenance
 Anenvironmentwheresalariesare
 Anincreasedfocusonoutcomesversus
constrained
innovation
 Anenvironmentwheretravelfor
 Theglobalizationoftechnologies,
professionalconferences,training,and
informationandknowledge
networkingamongCSUinstitutionsis
 Customerexpectationsformore
significantlylimited
sophisticatedprogramsandservices
IT Strategic Plan Page 6 10/15/2012 TIMELINE Duringthenextyear,additionalplanningwillbeconductedtofurtherdefineandelaborateonthe
ITinitiatives,tacticalobjectivesandactionplansneededtoimplementthegoalsoutlinedinthis
plan.Goingforward,annualeffortswillensurethatwecontinuetoalignourobjectiveswith
changingcampusneeds.Belowisahighleveltimelineindicatingournextstepsincompletionand
implementationofthisplan.
IT Strategic Plan Page 7 10/15/2012 CSU, CHICO’S INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY STRATEGIC GOALS Goal 1: Advance the Learning and Teaching Environment Providehigh‐qualityphysicalandvirtuallearningenvironmentsbydevelopingthetechnology
tools,informationresources,consultation,andspacesnecessarytosupportinstruction,research,
andscholarship.
Goal 2: Enhance Campus Connectivity and Infrastructure Providecontinuousimprovementoftheinformationtechnologyinfrastructuretoaccommodatethe
technologyneedsofstudents,faculty,andstaff.
Goal 3: Provide Effective Administrative Solutions ProvidereliableandsecuresystemsthatsupportUniversityrequirementsforacademicand
administrativeprocesses;providebusinessanalysisandtechnologytoolsthatmaximizestudent,
faculty,andstafftimeandcollaboration;andsupportdeliveryoftargetedcommunicationsand
services.
Goal 4: Leverage Information and Knowledge Management Providecontinuousimprovementininstitutionaleffectivenessandstudentoutcomesby
implementingtechnologiesthatsupportacademicandadministrativeassessmentofprograms,
systems,andinitiatives.
Goal 5: Improve Information and Technology Services Providecontinuousimprovementofinformationtechnologyprocessestomeetorexceedstudent,
faculty,andstaffexpectationsandtokeeppacewithincreaseddemandforservices.
IT Strategic Plan Page 8 10/15/2012 GOAL 1: ADVANCE THE LEARNING AND TEACHING ENVIRONMENT Createhigh‐qualityphysicalandvirtuallearningenvironmentsbyprovidingthetechnologytools,
informationresources,consultation,andspacesnecessarytofacilitateandsustaininstruction,
research,andscholarship.
Proposed Tactical Objectives: 1.1 Educational Innovation Support  Providetechnologyandsupportintheredesignofcurriculatofacilitatestudent
success.
 Providefacultydevelopmentopportunitiesthatencouragecollaborationintheuse
oftechnology‐enhancedlearningpedagogiestoengagethe21stcenturylearner.
 Promoteandsupporttheuseofcreativeapproachestoassessmentofstudent
learning.
1.2 Digital Learning Environment  Providefacultyandstudentsconsistent,high‐qualityaccesstoelectroniclearning
resources.
 Increasethedegreeofintegrationofourlearningmanagementsystemwithe‐
repositoriesandothersystems,bothonandoffcampus.
 Accommodateavarietyoflearningstyles,accessibilityneeds,andstudent‐directed
learningopportunities.
1.3 Learning and Teaching Spaces  Improvestudentlearningexperienceswithaccessible,flexiblephysicalandvirtual
classroomdesignsthataccommodateavarietyoflearningandteachingstyles.
 Drivethedevelopmentofinnovative,informal,collaborativedigitallearningspaces
suchasconferencerooms,residencehallstudentspaces,informaldrop‐in
collaboration"zones",outdoorspaces,librarygroupandindividualstudyspaces,
andspecializedtraininglabs.
 Ensurethatlearningtechnologiesareeffectiveinmeetingthevaryingneedsofour
studentsandfaculty,bothonandoffcampus.
1.4 Learning Materials  Leveragethelearningmanagementsystemtointegratealternativelearning
materials.
 Promoteopportunitiestocreateandconsumeaccessibledigital/richmediasuchas
electronicbooks/texts,journals,collections,streamingmedia,etc.
 Supportthecreationanduseofpubliclyavailable,openeducationalresources.
 Continuouslyacquire,shape,andprovideaccesstoinformationandresourcesthat
supportchangingcurriculumandresearchneeds.
1.5 Library Services  Identify,select,andmaintainaccesstohigh‐qualitylibrarycollectionsinsupportof
teaching,learning&research.
 Offerexemplarylibraryservicesthatmeetuser’sneeds.
 Design&improvethelibraryphysicalbuildingtocreateflexiblelearningspaces.
 Continuallyassesslibrarycollections,services,andspacesagainstneedsand
opportunities.
IT Strategic Plan Page 9 10/15/2012 GOAL 2: ENHANCE CAMPUS CONNECTIVITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE Providecontinuousimprovementoftheinformationtechnologyinfrastructuretoaccommodatethe
technologyneedsofstudents,faculty,andstaff.
Proposed Tactical Objectives: 2.1 Virtual Infrastructure and Cloud Services  Alignapplicationsandcomputingserviceswiththeappropriateplatform,regardless
ofthephysicallocationoftheserver,tomostefficientlymeettheneedsofthe
University.
 Offermethodsofcomputing,storage,andnetworkingthatextendserviceswithout
restrictionsonlocationforhighscalabilityandreliability.
 Offerphysicalandvirtualdatacenterhostingserviceswhichhelpmeetboth
administrativeandacademicneedswhileimprovingdatasecurity,reducingenergy
consumptionandmaximizingtheefficiencyofsupporteffortsandoverallcosts.
 Provideavirtualsoftwareenvironmenttoenableanytime/anywhereaccessto
academicandadministrativesoftwareapplications.
2.2 Mobile Computing  Continuetobuildoutandrefreshfacilitiestoimprovecoverageforwireless
networksinUniversitybuildingsandacrosscampus.
 Ensurethecampuscontinuallyadaptsthewirelessnetworktomeetthechanging
needsofourstudents,faculty,andstaff.
2.3 Performance and System Reliability  Continuetodeployrobust,reliable,andredundantnetwork,hardware,andsoftware
architecturesthatprovidehighavailabilityacrossmaintenance,databackup,and
upgradeevents.Engineerandmanageourinfrastructuretomaximizeperformance,
minimizeenergyuse,andprovideplanningandoperationalinformationtosupport
decisionmaking.
 Adoptplanningapproachesandactionsthatensurephysicalprotectionandreliable
provisionofutilityservicestocriticalITfacilitieswhileminimizingsinglepointsof
failure.
 EnhancetheUniversity'sabilitytomanageandmaintainIT‐relatedaspectsof
disasterrecoveryandbusinesscontinuityplanning.
2.4 Information Security and Compliance  Develop,communicate,andsupportinformationmanagement,protection,and
reportingobligationsforcompliancewithregulatoryrequirements.
 Provideasecureandresilientinformationinfrastructuretoprotectthesecurity,
integrity,privacy,andappropriateuseofinformation.
2.5 Sustainability  Continuetoinvestingreendatacenterinfrastructuretechnologiesthatencourage
energysavingssuchasservervirtualization,enhancedairhandling,andprogressive
serverracking.
 Increasedeploymentofcentrallymanagedpowermanagementtodesktopandlab
computers.
 Continuetofosterpartnershipsinanefforttoimprovegeneralcampus
sustainabilityeffortsbytestingnewtechnologies,refiningconsultationefforts,and
identifyingunsustainablebusinessprocesses.
IT Strategic Plan Page 10 10/15/2012 GOAL 3: PROVIDE EFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATIVE SOLUTIONS ProvidereliableandsecuresystemsthatsupportUniversityrequirementsforacademicand
administrativeprocesses;providebusinessanalysisandtechnologytoolsthatmaximizestudent,
faculty,andstafftimeandcollaboration;andsupportdeliveryoftargetedcommunicationsand
services.
Proposed Tactical Objectives: 3.1 Administrative and Academic Management Systems  Continuetosupportadministrativeandacademicsystemsandservicesthatprovide
thecampuscommunitywitheffectivebusinessprocesses.
 Maximizeintegrationofadministrativeandacademicsystemstoensuredata
reliability,increasedataconsistency,enhancecommunications,andtodeliver
contentandservicesmoreeffectively.
 Evaluateandimplementhostedservicesandsoftware‐as‐a‐servicesolutionswhen
appropriate.
3.2 Identity/Access Management  Provideuserswithefficientandsecureaccesstotheservicestheyneedbasedon
theirrolesandresponsibilities.
 Increasetimelinessandautomationofaccountprovisioningandde‐provisioning.
 Improveourabilitytosupporttargetedcommunicationsandservicestowell‐
definedgroupsandpopulations.
3.3 Mobile Computing  Developastrategyandadevice‐independentarchitecturetoenableseamless
mobileaccesstoUniversityinformationandprocesses.
3.4 Business Process Improvement  Consultwithstaffandfacultytodocumentexistingbusinessprocessesand
understandprocessrequirements.
 Identifyareaswheretechnologycanbeappliedtoincreaseefficiency,improve
businessprocesses,anddelivervaluetostakeholders.
 Deliverpaperlesssolutions,self‐servicetechnology,automatedworkflowand
electronicauthorization/signatures.
3.5 Communications and Community  Providestudent,faculty,andstaffuserstheabilitytocustomizehowuniversity
informationisdeliveredtothemviaanintegratedcommunicationshub.
 Delivercohesiveandsecurecollaborationandcommunicationsservicesand
technologies.
3.6 Document Management and Imaging  Providebusinessprocessimprovementopportunitiesbypromotingdocument
managementtechnologies.
 Supportcampussustainabilityeffortsbyreducingpaperdocumentsthroughthe
continuedsupportandimplementationofdocumentmanagementsystemsthat
includeimaging,workflow,andrecordsmanagement.
IT Strategic Plan Page 11 10/15/2012 GOAL 4: LEVERAGE INFORMATION AND KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT Providecontinuousimprovementininstitutionaleffectivenessandstudentoutcomesby
implementingtechnologiesthatsupportacademicandadministrativeassessmentofprograms,
systems,andinitiatives.
Proposed Tactical Objectives: 4.1 University Reporting and Analytics  Implementgovernancestructurestoprioritizedata‐centricinitiativesandto
documentdatastewardship.
 Collaboratewithcampus‐widedataownerstocontinuedevelopmentofour
centralizeddatawarehouseinordertosupportconsistentlydefineddatasets.
 Provideasingle,centrallymanagedsuiteofbusinessintelligenceandreporting
tools,throughwhichalldatafromthecentraldatarepositoryisdeliveredtoend
users.
 Continuetodevelopframeworksthatfacilitatereporting,analysis,monitoring,and
informeddecision‐makingatalllevelsoftheinstitution.
4.2 Assessment of Student Learning  Providetechnologiesthatsupportmeasurementoflearningoutcomes.
 Enhancecampusabilitytoassessstudentlearningintargetedcourses,within
departmentsandprograms,andacrossthecampus.
4.3 Student Success Support  Analyzestudentperformancedatatoassistintheearlyandon‐goingidentification
ofstudentsuccessindicators.
 Enhancereportingmethodsthatinformstudents,faculty,andstaffofacademic
performanceissuesinatimelymanner.
 Continuetoprovidestudentswitheasyaccesstotheinformationtheyneedtohelp
themmakeprogresstowardgraduation.
IT Strategic Plan Page 12 10/15/2012 GOAL 5: IMPROVE INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY SERVICES Providecontinuousimprovementofinformationtechnologyprocessestomeetorexceedstudent,
faculty,andstaffexpectationsandtokeeppacewithincreaseddemandforservices.
Proposed Tactical Objectives: 5.1 IT Service Management  UseInformationTechnologyServiceManagement(ITSM)bestpracticestoimprove
ITservicequalityandstaffefficiency.
 PlanandmanageITserviceswiththepriorityofaligningwithcampusbusinessand
academicneeds.
 Improvecustomersatisfactionbyprovidingpredictableandconsistentaccessto
informationandtechnologyservices.
 Usemetricsandkeyperformanceindicatorstomonitor,review,andupdateIT
servicestocreateaprocessofcontinualserviceimprovement.
5.2 Support, Training, and Communications  Provideamethodologyforcommunicatinginformationandtechnology‐related
strategiesandplanstotheUniversitycommunity.
 Providetrainingopportunitiesforfacultyandstafftodevelopknowledgeandskills
instrategicareastokeeppacewithevolvingtechnologies.
 EnrichUniversitycommunicationstoavarietyofaudiencegroupsbyproviding
effectivevisualandcreativesolutions.
5.3 Planning and Project Management  Developaunifiedandtransparentprojectsubmissionandprioritizationprocessto
aligntechnologyprojectswithUniversityobjectivesandpriorities.
 Standardizecriticalcampusprojectmanagementprocessesandmethodologiesto
ensureeffectivemanagementofinformationandtechnologyprojects,programs,and
resources.
 Improvecollaborationandresourceutilizationtodelivertechnologymost
effectivelytotheUniversity.
 Functionascollaborativeleadersinfacilitatinginformationandtechnology
strategies,priorities,anddecisions.
5.4 Governance  Continuetoleverageeffectivegovernanceandadvisorystructuresandprocessesto
ensureinformationandtechnologyservicesandinitiativesaremeetingtheneedsof
theUniversity.
IT Strategic Plan Page 13 10/15/2012