Technology Assessments

Today's technology is creating increased demand and changes in the expectations, consumption, and delivery of services. In addition, technology that was new ten or more years ago has become obsolete and requires investment to replace or renew.

Higher education is being forced to consider more efficient business models, while holding on to the fundamental tenets of relational and broad-based learning that are core to a career focused education. Undergraduate and graduate programs are increasingly offered online as students require flexibility to balance school, work, and family demands. Undergraduate students arrive on campus having experienced innovative and technology-rich teaching environments as many K-12 schools issue laptops or tablets to each student, promote active learning, teach students through the daily use of Google Apps (for example), and invite involvement by assigning multimedia projects. Some students are arriving with online high school or college course credit that supplemented their secondary school experience. These students arrive on campus with multiple devices and learning experiences in multiple modalities across many technology platforms.

With growing regulatory requirements, the ever-changing landscape, and continual financial pressure, everyone at the institution needs to work together to solve problems and make decisions collaboratively and strategically so that resources are focused appropriately.

Our highly experienced higher education CIOs and our associates, acting as advisors, will work as a team on IT assessment projects. The scope of the project would include some on site where the consultants will meet with IT leadership and staff as well as major IT stakeholders around campus. In addition, consultants will conduct information gathering sessions virtually with several other stakeholders identified by the college.

The consultants will draft a report to be shared with the client seeking review for clarity and correctness. After receiving feedback from the client, the consultants will draft a final report for the client that will contain assessment commentary that addresses the subject areas delineated below. The report will highlight the current state of matters in each area followed by a series of recommendations for consideration by the client.

The consultants will present the final report to the client and any other stakeholders that are identified by the client, answering questions during and after the presentation. The consultants will make themselves available after the final presentation for a specified period of time to answer follow-up questions and address any lingering details.

Project duration: Approximately 4-6 weeks depending on availability of key stakeholders.