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A Message from Timothy O'Rourke, Vice President of Computer and Information Services

August 27, 2007

I would like to welcome all new Temple students and faculty and send my regards to returning students and faculty. Best wishes for a great semester. Throughout the year, I hope you will take full advantage of the many technology resources and services that Temple has to offer.

In this welcome message, I will bring you up to date on major projects in progress in the Computer Services department.

ERP Implementation
Temple has embarked on a major University-wide initiative to integrate and upgrade all the administrative systems. This $38 million, five-year Enterprise Resources Planning (ERP) implementation will require a careful evaluation of critical University business operations. Since implementation will have a dramatic impact on the way the University does business, representatives will be drawn from University-wide academic and administrative offices to work on this project.

At this point in time, the ERP project is critical because Temple’s current administrative systems are made up of a complex infrastructure of fragmented, separate applications that function together through a patchwork of highly customized connections. The systems are also obsolete: the Integrated Student Information System (ISIS) is 25 years old, Financial Management System (FMS) is 20 years old, and Human Resources System (HRS) is 15 years old. A great deal of the systems are based on the COBOL programming language that is not used or taught much anymore. In addition, essential data necessary for university operations are stored in a number of different locations causing confusion and making updates inefficient. Functional limitations also prevent Temple from expanding services.

The ERP system will help to resolve these disadvantages and restrictions. This new framework will offer a centralized, web-based, infrastructure integrating critical processes as well as a single database for easy reference and updates. The software will be based on a modern database management system and the applications will conform to higher-education industry standards and best practices. There will also be periodic vendor-supplied updates to keep software current with changing technology. These updates and new releases will incorporate new laws, regulations, and industry business practices.

It is important to note that the ERP project is not a technology initiative. University-wide participation and support will be critical factors in achieving a successful implementation. Within the coming weeks, the University Community will be hearing much more about this very important project.

Residence Hall Connections
At the semester start, getting students connected to the Internet and set up for telephone service is always a top priority. Computer Services consultants are onsite in the residence halls going room to room to troubleshoot any technology problems that students may encounter with their computers.

Connecting to the Internet is vital so students can use Temple's online resources for coursework, e-mail, file storage, and administrative and financial functions. For an overview of the University's technology resources, see the Fall 2007 Technology at Temple guide.

Status on the Network Upgrade
Speaking of connecting, steady work on upgrading Temple's network, TUnet, continues. Over the summer, our Office of Telecommunications completed the following major accomplishments on this three year project:

• New fiber optic cable was installed between Conwell Hall and Annenberg Hall.
• The core networking hardware in the Bell Building, Tuttleman Learning Center, the Liacouras Center, Wachman Hall, Gladfelter Hall, Annenberg Hall, Ritter Annex, and the Pharmacy-Allied Health Building was upgraded.
• New switches were installed in GSB (General Services Building), Parkinson Pavillion, Children’s Hospital, and the Old Medical School Building.

In addition, a second commodity Internet connection was installed that effectively doubles Temple's Internet bandwidth. This connection provides a diverse route to the Internet through a separate provider thus eliminating a single point of failure.

In our ongoing effort to build a better network, Computer Services will continue to do everything possible to minimize interruption in service. We apologize for any inconvenience that you may experience and will continue to keep you informed of our progress.

Blackboard 7.2 Upgrade
Computer Services continues to partner with faculty in order to provide the latest technology classroom resources available. Over the summer, Temple's course management system, Blackboard, was upgraded from version 6.2 to 7.2.
This major upgrade includes a number of enhanced collaboration features and more tools to effectively assess student performance. For a preview, see the online slideshow, Blackboard 7: Top Ten New and Enhanced Features.

In addition, a number of new features have also been added to Blackboard including an “electronic list” to sign up for activities such as study groups, “Google Scholar” to search Google for educational-related materials, and “Blackboard Scholar,” a social bookmarking service, to find, store, and share resources on the Internet.

Learning Objects, a suite of learning applications that function within Blackboard, was also enhanced during the summer. In addition to its regular features, such as blog and wiki tools, a content search tool and Podcast LX—a tool for creating podcasts—are now available within Blackboard.

In addition to the Blackboard enhancements, faculty can also access Respondus, a tool for creating and managing exams that can be printed or published directly to Blackboard. Respondus is available for free download at: download.temple.edu. TurningPoint 2008, which enables students to provide immediate feedback to their instructors, was also implemented. Using a response pad or “clicker,” students can answer questions, respond to surveys, take opinion polls, and more.

Computer Services offers a number of ways to assist faculty with technology. The Instructional Support Centers (ISC) are a fully-staffed facilites specializing solely in faculty-related technology tools. The Centers provide consulting services, training, and access to high-end computer equipment for incorporating technology into the teaching/learning process. Consultants in the ISC can demonstrate the latest instructional technologies, assist faculty with using these technologies, and provide advice on how to best meet instructional goals. For additional information, visit the ISC website.

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