III.C.2. The institution continuously plans for, updates and replaces technology to ensure its technological infrastructure, quality and capacity are adequate to support its mission, operations, programs, and services.
The MIS division provides security and reliability for the ASCC systems through the use of its firewall and usage policies. The CIO and Network Specialist provide management of rules used on the ASCC firewall. These rules are in accordance with security policies that govern the MIS network that is managed and updated by the Network Specialist.
MIS manages server equipment that allows for the upgrade of all ASCC servers. MIS is currently in the process of migrating all old server software to new server hardware. The Colleague system migration to the new servers has been completed. The same server upgrade provisions have been made for the rest of the software services provided by MIS using server technology.
Policies and procedures used by MIS in order to keep the technology infrastructure current and sustainable are the Replacement and Disposal Process, Hardware Minimum Specifications, and consideration for Total Cost of Ownership for technology equipment.
Replacement and Disposal. In order to keep equipment current and also to ensure that all divisions are provided with functioning technology equipment, MIS uses the procedures set forth in the replacement and disposal process.
Hardware Minimum Specifications. MIS enforces minimum specifications that are updated whenever there are new releases for software and hardware. These new releases are evaluated to see if ASCC is prepared to implement them. If not, the specifications stay the same. Currently, MIS has minimum specifications for the following equipment: 1) PC Desktop, 2) PC Laptop, 3) Mac Desktop, 4) Mac Laptop, 5) PC Netbook, 6) All-in-one Printer, 7) Conference Equipment, 8) Ipad, 9) Smartboard, and 10) Projector hardware.
Total Cost of Ownership. Consideration for total cost of ownership is important for the sustainability of technology equipment. ASCC has updated its Institutional Strategic Plan 2015-2020 to include total cost of ownership. The TCO Plan portion of the ISP includes consideration for Academic Excellence, Staffing, Physical Facilities, and Technology. The TCO plan for technology calls for a comprehensive inventory of technology equipment on campus, a formalized replacement and disposal policy for all technology, a plan for technical training for technical staff, a comprehensive maintenance plan for all campus technology, and continued improvement of access to software, network and technology equipment. These activities are to enable ASCC to better budget for the cost of technology on campus, and provide better maintenance and sustainability.
Technology planning for ASCC is based on the Institutional Strategic Plan (ISP). ASCC has completed the 2015-2020 Institutional Strategic Plan that provides updated goals and objectives based on the 2014 Institutional Program Review and Divisional Assessment.
All divisions develop outcomes aligned with the ISP. These outcomes are used to guide the activities and decisions of the division. Technology decisions are made based on these outcomes. The biweekly and quarterly reports provide a section for Challenges and Recommendations used to identify needs and recommend solutions. These are also used to make technology decisions.
Divisional budget proposals are also integrated with the ISP. In the budget proposal, the division is required to offer justification for budget items citing the ISP as support.1 Divisions are also required to submit with budget proposals a planned purchase proposal detailing purchases that are planned for the fiscal year.2 This provides guidance and priorities for technology purchasing.
Institutional Program Review, Divisional Assessment, ASCC Budget, Quarterly Report, and Biweekly reports are evidence that ASCC bases its technology decisions on the results of evaluation of services needed.
Currently ASCC does not offer distance education.
ASCC has processes in place for distributing technology based on needs and priorities set in the ISP. Policies and procedures are also in place to ensure reliability and sustainability.
Technology decisions, including budget and purchasing, are made based on priorities set in the ISP. The biweekly and quarterly reports are also used when making technology decisions, and these are tied to the ISP, Program Review and Divisional Assessment.