Where is IT going?

In our technology-filled world, we text, e-mail, and download. Entertain for a moment the enormity of our global conversations, electronic discussions, and World Wide Web browsing. Now, scale down to our Northwood community; roughly 1,100 computers connected with hundreds of miles of network cables and a team of 30 staff and 60 students making the technology work essentially 24/7. The Information Technology (IT) group consists of Instructional Technology, Systems and Programming, Web Services, Network and Information Security, Technical Services, and the Help Desk. Our community is global. We run infrastructures like that of Fortune 500 companies – and our IT team runs it well.

A year in IT looks like this: over 18,000 “help” calls answered and completed; over 180,000 pieces of Spam blocked from the e-mail system each day (that’s over 65 million each year) in addition to thousands of viruses quarantined and removed to ensure our computer network is safe; hundreds of projects on its docket of improvements prioritized to ensure technology is up-to-date. The 2007-08 IT priorities included the implementation of Datatel Release 18, E-commerce solutions for online payment for students and online giving, completion of the Blackboard (BB) rollout, ClearTxt, Scorecards, classroom technology upgrades, upgrades to the interactive television classrooms, network infrastructure replacements, and the Office 2007 rollout.

These initiatives perhaps seemed transparent to us; however, all of these initiatives directly relate to how we do business. IT is a catalyst to change. Technology changes so rapidly that before we even know there is an issue or new system, IT has been researching and testing months prior to any public release.

Northwood IT for 2008, beyond keeping the infrastructure strong, has additional plans to enhance our technology. From telephones to PCs to security, IT will be working with each campus to upgrade, update, and ensure our needs are met. Larger initiatives include a newly created Information Technology Executive Committee comprised of staff from the various business units. (See link to the left for committee member list.) The committee was brought together to examine the broad issues relating to technology use at the University, and to assist in the prioritization of technology needs throughout the entire system. We also envision this playing a major role in University technology strategic and visionary planning.

Led by University Marketing, a Web Executive Committee has also been formed to engage students, faculty, and staff in discussions related to www.northwood.edu. The committee has met twice and has engaged in discussions regarding Google Analytics for tracking statistics, the popularity of video, and how RSS and other tools can improve our image and traffic. A complete redesign of the Web site, based on recent trends and guided by focus groups, will deploy in July 2008.

The Blackboard launch has been successful and faculty are using the system in varying capacities. The IT department will continue faculty education and researching technology to better the involvement of BB in the classroom. This has proven to be a very positive experience for our students. They can access their course information from anywhere! With instructional technology evolving rapidly and the need to meet the various learning modalities of our students and for our online community, IT will be piloting MediaSite. MediaSite will be available to our faculty to capture video of lessons or lectures and then have them displayed simply by sending the students a web site address.

Without IT’s constant commitment to education and research, our ONE community would not work like a well-oiled machine. Their knowledge of technological advancements keeps us competitive. Northwood’s IT team knows this and that is why they are the forerunners of change. Charles G. Koch noted in The Science of Success we must “Embrace change. Envision what could, [and] challenge the status quo…” (80). A day in IT is about versatility, change and, most importantly, welcoming it.

Keith A. Pretty, J.D.
President and CEO
Northwood University
4000 Whiting Drive
Midland, MI 48640
989.837.4203 (phone)
989.832.9590 (fax)