The following information contains selected excerpts from the 2006-2007 University Information Technologies Annual Report.

Executive Summary

University Information Technologies (UNIT) has continued to focus on stability and scalability of the core products and services provided to the campus while adding value to colleges and the University.  Technology use across campus has continued the five-year trend of double-digit transactional growth rates.  The colleges and co-curricular areas continued to leverage existing technologies and initiate new technology projects. 

Villanova’s technology programs were once again recognized by a number of external organizations this year highlighted by Princeton Review’s/PC Magazine # 1 ranking in the 2006 “Top Wired Colleges” report.  In addition Villanova’s web site received a “Certificate of Achievement” in the higher education category from the Web Marketing Association.  We participated in a number of external events such as the SunGardHE Summit in Las Vegas, Canon’s Executive Roundtable in New York, the CIO Executive Summit in Washington DC, the CIO Forum & Executive IT Summit, and Oracle’s Regional Training programs.  Villanova also was mentioned in press releases and case studies from Meru Networks, Sunesys, CBORD,  Dell, Cingular, Interlink Networks, Sun Microsystems, and Oracle and appeared in articles published by eSchool News, Campus Technology, CIO Magazine, Network World, University Business, eWeek, the Suburban & Wayne Times, the Philadelphia Business Journal, Higher Ed Tech magazine, and Gartner.  In addition, the University served as a beta test site for CBORD and a proof of concept site for Oracle.

During the past year Villanova continued to revamp the University websites, specifically: Villanova School of Business; the College of Engineering; and significant portions of the College of Arts and Sciences.   Also, increased wireless coverage across campus; expanded sponsored laptop programs; and continued to execute IT Security plans to avoid disruption of service.  Technology Services reported handling in excess of 41,344 customer interactions (incidents and requests via the phone, e-Support and walk in). 

The UNIT management team continued to focus on user satisfaction as a key measure of UNIT’s performance.  In March of 2006 we implemented the Magic Help Desk Survey feature which distributes a customized survey automatically when a Help Desk Incident ticket is closed, and records user’s feedback. This ensures that the users’ service experience is fresh and feedback is immediate.  The survey contains 6 questions including a comment field for additional feedback. The score ranges from 1 to 8, 8 being the highest score. 89% of survey responses indicate user satisfaction.  If the survey score rates a 4 or less, an e-mail is sent to the Help Desk Supervisor for review and follow-up with the user.

Network (Data & Voice) and Security

The University has continued to enhance the campus data network infrastructure using state of commercial practice technologies by more proactive network monitoring, by improving the management of network traffic for greater reliability, and by increasing the Internet and network bandwidth to accommodate growth.

A comprehensive network assessment was completed in January 2006 by Commonwealth Communications and Vodis Partners. The assessment included a review of the communications rooms, cable plant and network infrastructure and served as a basis for the University’s Network & Communications Strategy and as a planning source as the University prepares to replace the current Phone System and ultimately migrate to a Voice Over IP (VoIP) platform.

This past year we began deploying wireless into the residence halls.  Approximately 50% of the campus is wireless today with over 600 access points deployed.

The wired network’s 18,000+ data ports permeate the campus buildings providing high-speed access.  The Internet 2 high performance network is available to the University community for research, video conferencing and developing future applications. In 2007 we more than doubled commodity Internet bandwidth to 350 Mbps and we now have gigabit connections between 48 buildings.   

Security and Information Protection are key elements of the IT Strategic Plan.  We continue to perform frequent security reviews with a scorecard assessment. Messaging security improvements include a more aggressive SPAM filtering processes/system to manage unsolicited email; virus filtering to eliminate email borne viruses and daily email server scans. Security on user computers was improved by implementing a process to automatically protect user computers with critical security updates from Microsoft.

Recognizing the increased concern for privacy and the growing number of security and identity thefts among universities we worked with the Vice President for Finance and the General Counsel to launch a proactive assessment of privacy related risks.  We contracted with an external expert to perform a formal Privacy Risk Assessment. The results have been presented and approved by the President’s Council and UCIT.

University Information Systems

The Banner/Novasis system supports 30 core operations of the University, including Recruitment, Admissions, Students, Alumni/Development, Financial Aid, Faculty, Accounts Receivable, Residence Life, Human Resources, Payroll, Finance, Accounts Payable and Budget Management, and web-based I-Payment. The University has continued to add and enhance functionality in support of or improvement to business process. Examples include salary planner, tuition remission, I-Payment expansion, and the online Benefits Enrollment process.

Web-based applications for undergraduate admissions received via the web for Fall 2007 were 11,546 or 81.8% of total applications received. I- Payment capability was implemented in 2002 and over 9,000 application fee payments were received in 2006.

Faculty, Staff and Student Computing

Faculty and staff have been on a three year PC hardware and software refresh cycle, which is centrally funded. The University is moving to a four year refresh cycle which compares favorably to Educauase Core Data trends within higher education. In addition Villanova is planning specific migration to thin client hardware in administrative areas by 2009. Mobile devices, including PDA’s and smartphones, are growing in usage and capability, with over 200 devices deployed on campus.

E-Learning and Instructional Technologies

Over the last 12 months, there has been measurable growth in the use of online tools within the eLearning environment. While the use of the basic tools within the new Blackboard Vista system has remained consistent, many faculty have started to incorporate other technologies to enhance the online experience. Such tools as application sharing (iLinc), VOIP enhancements (Wimba), voice email and voice bulletin boards, webcasting, ePortfolio, podcasting, test and survey generator (Respondus) have helped meet the goal of enhancing the teaching and learning environment. Blackboard Vista remains a critical enterprise course delivery system with over 1,200 courses using the Learning Management System. Our estimates indicate that over 500 faculty consistently use Bb Vista with 92% of the all students enrolled in at least one course with a Bb Vista component.

Bb Vista is the central repository for Falvey Library’s eReserves.  Each online course shell includes informational links to the Office of Learning Support for Students with Disabilities, Villanova’s Institute for Teaching and Learning (VITAL), and the University’s academic integrity and copyright policies. UNIT continues to deploy an online training option (Element K) for faculty and staff, which includes training modules for most of Villanova’s desktop products. This will include training for Outlook and the new MS Office Suite. Instructional Technologies continues to offer a variety of workshops in different formats and at different times in an attempt to meet the needs of the Villanova Community. Use of the UNIT managed academic software library also increased over two semesters; 2,242 individual users accessed 23,000 individual software sessions. Over 125 faculty currently have video/audio content stored and linked from our streaming media system. Most of this content is used to enhance the online component of the course offerings.

Student Technology Programs

There continues to be growth in the breadth and depth of the technology programs made available to Villanova students. For 2006/07 the University laptop programs (college required) have now exceeded 3,000 per year with the addition of the College of Arts & Sciences and the College of Nursing undergraduate programs. The college required laptops come with a fully configured software suite (University standard platform and college specific applications) and are wireless enabled. UNIT provided a data backup and vaulting product (U-Vault) for students. We expanded the line of peripheral devices and consumables available for student purchase via a University sponsored Dell Premier Website. Villanova entered into an agreement with Cingular to provide cellular voice capabilities on campus (3 cell towers installed). UNIT upgraded public computing labs with new hardware, software and printing capabilities. The Wildcard Program aimed at one card convenience on and off campus for access, identification, dining services and purchases, has now expanded to 44 off campus merchants accepting the card. This past March, Villanova launched “V-Laundry” a web based laundry reservation system for students.

Strategic Opportunities

UNIT remains focused on the strategic goals set forth based on the alignment to the University’s Academic Strategic Plan. The specific goals are as follows:

• Effective use of Instructional Technologies to Enhance Teaching, Learning and Research
• Empower Users Through Self Service Access to Information and Services
• Seek Technology Vendor Alliances & Partnerships
• Enhance the Technological Experience on Campus
• Delivery of a Comprehensive, Pragmatic Security and Information Protection Program
• Enhance the University Technology Infrastructure

The 2007 annual report detail covers accomplishments and information pertaining to the aforementioned strategic goals. In addition the detail report contains a section on the Web, Wildcard, People, Strategy Components (Staff Development, Recruitment, and Retention), Financials, and our Service Metrics