(CATEGORIZED VERSION)
Question
3. What are your IT barriers?
(Categorizer)
1. Funding, training, personnel, space
1. Most of the classrooms on campus are not set up for multimedia capability.
2. Lack of multi-media/computer capable classrooms.
3. We are affected greatly by interruptions and outages with the campus network. Many times we don't know what is happening and why. It appears things are done without consulting people who need to know.
4. Video conferencing
videoconferencing
videoconferencing
5. Electronic file management
6. At times, campus internet and email services bog down to heavy traffic. This can be frustrating and also slows down internal NDSU communications and data transfer. Solution is to expand the IT infrastructure (more bandwidth, faster and more efficient servers, hubs, switches nodes and portals), to accommodate heavier use during peak times.
7. Availability of some technology for classrooms housing 70+ students limits video conferences with remote sites etc.
8. Also, too many departments on campus are using different, non compatible methods of e mail and other software. It makes it very difficult to know who is using what. Many departments are way behind upgrading their equipment. Everyone needs to be at a standard level.
9. ITS is not supporting our server/software for document imaging. We are in the process of implementing imaging and have receive minimal support from ITS.
10. Difficulty knowing if I'm up-to-date on all software, esp. virus
ERP
1. We can do only limited paperless transactions, have an inadequate advising and registration system that allows students to bypass their advisors, and we do not have adequate access to all university documents, though many of them are on line.
2. Student record software; dollar and staff resources for web enhancement
3. The HECN system is so dated that responses to requests for changes in the system or for certain types reports come back in the negative.
4. Medical system and university system are not integrated, i.e., all data must be re-entered; must go to multiple sites on university system to obtain information (MMR info on one site, ID number at different site, term enrolled at another site, removing hold is on another site, etc.).
5. Lack of a modern admin (ERP) system and training on admin systems.
6. We have good hardware but only desktop application software to meet our needs. The current CICS system is significantly lacking in both ease of use and functionality.
7. Requires multiple steps to accomplish one task i.e. assigning a student to a room
8. System cannot provide statistical data without running a SAS program.
9. Limited Web interface
10. Difficulty for student to understand assignment notice
11. Difficulty for student to understand business "statement" account.
12. Windows-based products proliferate while Mac-based products are few. New ERP will evidently be a windows-based system, which will be disadvantageous for Mac-based units in terms of staff skills and familiarity with the environment. This will require significant lead time.
13. The ERP decision and the pace at which it moves ahead will affect our future decisions regarding Electronic Research Administration (ERA).
14. Bandwidth and technologies increasing, revenue stream decreasing, training of existing staff to meet future ERP demands, and "change management" ..... to get through the new business processes and new mindset of how we do business in the future
15. Some useful advising data is not available to faculty in current system, or in some situations the screens are not accessible by faculty.
1. PERSONNEL RESOURCES
Shortage of personnel, inadequate personnel budgets to permit overlap of people leaving with their replacements, pay scales that are not competitive, insufficient funds for purchasing hardware and software {#63}
2. TIME RESOURCES {#13}
Our biggest barrier is lack of time to explore new ways to use IT to increase our efficiency. We also rely on student workers and their IT skills vary considerably and they turn over fairly often. {#47}
Competitive salaries for IT staff continue to be a challenge. {#85}
3. FUNDING RESOURCES
Mainly money to buy equipment, when needed. {#12}
Inadequate funds for replacing PC's. {#24}
Inadequate funds for network content (databases). {#25}
Lack of funding for software. Keeping personnel trained. {#33}
The cost to maintain current technology and the need to have someone with expertise who is more accessible. {#35}
Cost {#36}
Paying for routine upgrading of desktop computers {#61}
Hardware costs and lack of financial resources {#65}
We will need additional hardware, software and faculty education to implement some of the telehealth initiatives necessary for our graduate program. {#39}
Funding at the department level for IT needs. {#77}
Need for updated hardware. {#79}
Funding -- the budget has been a flat budget for the last 4 years. {#88}
4. SPACE to house computers, time for staff to learn to use computers more effectively,
Space -- we are unable to properly house staff, using space designed for computing equipment for people. This is not good for the people, not good for the people, and has security implications. {#89}
5 In general, our IT barriers include expertise, staff time, and funds to pursue commercial software packages if necessary depending on ERP decisions.
6. Networking infrastructure development will continue to grow at exponential rates. Increased resources in hardware, software, and staff support will be required.
7. Telecommunications services will continue to be in great demand as the Internet becomes the new library of the future. This will require more staff for web development.
8. Demand for IT services continues to outpace the resources to respond.
9. A review of funding mechanisms for data services provided to auxilliary and cost recovery departments/users is necessary to standardize policy. Data networks are partially funded by state appropriations, grants, and subsidies from other infrastructure charges.
10. Upgrade server, storage, hardware and software for some areas.
11. We have been told by ITS administration and staff that we need our own server to carry out certain software applications that we need since ITS is not willing to take up space on their main frame. However, ITS has not been willing to help us set-up, service, or maintain a decentralized server and therefore we have not purchased our own server and have not been able to pursue these new applications which are greatly needed for our College. It has been a real frustration for us. And we do not have the resources to purchase our own dedicated ITS person to serve our College which is what it would take to get this going.
12. Also, too many departments on campus are using different, non compatible methods of e-mail and other software. It makes it very difficult to know who is using what. Many departments are way behind upgrading their equipment. Everyone needs to be at a standard level.
13. We need a Windows based server with adequate technical support to serve several applications.
14. There is no central campus IT planning process; perhaps this is the beginning?
Infrastructure
Security
1. There is no common authentication/authorization architecture in use.
System Architecture
1. We need an SQL server and the expertise to maintain the server for use in our AIS course. ITS does not generally work with SQL.
2. Incompatibilities in operating systems (Mac/IBM)
3. Some hardware limitations
4. We need a Windows based server with adequate technical support to serve several applications.
5. Server for our department often is out of storage space and annoying messages flash across the screen interrupting productivity. Desktop video services should become a standard. Lack of common calendaring has become a huge barrier. Lack of document storage/archiving system is another barrier.
This item has three components: server storage is a resource issue. video conferencing, calendaring are standards issues, file storage/archival is a service/application issue. {#113}
6. There is no consistent IT architecture throughout the University System that can be used to build enterprise level applications.
7. There is no common authentication/authorization architecture in use.
Technical Support
1. Continuing problems with IT delivery of hardware to classrooms for instructor presentations
2. Support for latest operating systems and hardware.
3. The wait time for IT support when assistance is requested.
Sometimes slow response time. Need UNIX support. {#10}
4. Software: Novell, Groupwise support and training
5. Personnel: Some are unable to answer simple questions at the Help Desk and merely pass the buck to our support person. Our assigned support person is overworked and is unable to respond quickly to problems. We also feel he is lacking in his follow up when problems occur. ITS needs to increase the number of qualified support staff to adequately respond to the needs of this campus.
Who do we call when it is not a Help Desk Question? {#60}
Help with software and hardware on a daily basis when we have problems. {#68}
Biggest problems: Personnel--dedicated support so staff/faculty don't have to depend on each other and maintaining hardware {#74}
6. Limited software support. No center within university for high speed computational scientific studies - we could use assistance in going from the math to the computations.
7. Support for creating and maintaining our web page.
8. Lack of IT personnel with focus on administrative department needs.
Tech. Support {#102}
9. We need a Windows based server with adequate technical support to serve several applications.
Training
1. The IT learning curve--huge amount of information and understanding to digest. How much do faculty really need to know?
2. Faculty lack training and technical support. Students are generally ahead of their faculty using and working with computer hardware and software
3. IT skills of staff
Time necessary to enhance the IT skills of staff {#16}
IT Training for department staff. {#76}
Training {#37}
Lack of IT personnel with focus on administrative department needs. {#114}
4. Personnel--faculty who can teach current usage of technology in the fine arts disciplines, staff who are familiar with fine arts technology packages who can effectively act as lab consultants. Support staff expert in Macintosh computers.
5. Limitations of knowledge and ability to take advantage of all the tools available.
6. Staff knowledge of hardware and software and ability to use options available.
7. Difficulty knowing if I'm up-to-date on all software, esp virus