New guide offers a model for information technology planning that is tailored to the needs of HBCUs
WASHINGTON
Historically Black institutions seeking guidance on
how to develop an up-to-date information technology plan for their
campuses may have a solution in a new guide published by the Executive
Leadership Foundation (ELF).
The Technology Transfer Project Strategic Planning Model report is
a 30-page guidebook and software package that offers a strategic
planning model for HBCUs that are developing a strategic plan for
information technology infrastructure on their campuses. The report,
the first of its kind, was produced pro bono by the highly regarded
Booz, Allen & Hamilton consulting company. The report and software
is estimated to have cost $450,000 to produce, according to ELF
officials.
“Our goal is to deploy this model to as many HBCUs as possible,”
says Ramon Harris, director of ELF’s Technology Transfer Project.
The report has four principle sections: technology usage model,
baseline survey and needs assessment, cost model and funding strategy,
and technology strategic plan. The technology usage model section
directs school officials on evaluating how their institutions use
information technology. The baseline survey and needs assessment
section provides guidance to officials on assessing how their
institutions perform compared to “Best Practice” institutions. The cost
model and funding strategy helps officials assess costs for making
campus information-technology infrastructure investments. And the
technology strategic plan section provides a template for an
institution to develop an overall plan for its campus.
Introduction and deployment of the information technology model
marks a high profile initiative for ELF’s Technology Transfer Project.
Launched in 1996, the TTP has promoted information “technology
awareness among faculty, students, and administrators” at HBCUs. The
project has targeted six HBCUs as partner institutions.
Partner institutions receive assistance from ELF and corporations
in four areas: strategic planning, faculty development, computer
hardware and software, and summer internships for students. ELF
allocated $600,000 to support the TTP during the 1997-98 academic year.
