Telecommunications
Five year Visioning Plan

Telecommunications promotes and implements leading edge technology in the classroom, supplying pathways for communication and education, and in the production of media for staff, faculty, k-12 school districts, and the general public, who are our stakeholders.

Major Initiative

Improvement of customer service for faculty, staff & students

• Provide same quality and quantity of support nights and weekends as during the day/during the week, as well as for off-campus sites.
• Improvement of communication and collaboration with Information Technologies technicians.
• Expansion of AV Services space.
• Create user friendly smart classrooms
• Universal interface with A/V equipment in the classroom
• Networking of projectors
• Develop website for self assistance in smart classrooms.
• Expand professional development and cross training opportunities for all staff.
• Incorporate all trouble calls to one central Help Desk with IT Department.

Upgrade Delivery Systems

• Convert from analog microwave/ITFS to an ICN leased bandwidth digital system
  • Increase WAN bandwidth to all Centers.
  • Allow Power Point presentations in Native resolution.
  • Provide for two way video in all classes instead on one way now in ITFS classes.
  • Eliminate class disruptions due to weather.
• Expand Kirkwood Cable Television Services
• Increase operational funding for additional programming sources
• Server based delivery system for ease of programming shorter KCC promotional spots and 24 hour operation.
• Partner with Media Com for Video on Demand programming.
• Produce live programming/call in shows on various programs or a mini on-air TGIF,
• Utilize KCCK-FM IBOC system for data delivery in conjunction with Web Classes.
• Increase Internet bandwidth sufficient to support Video Conferencing.

Interactive Media Production

• Produce interactive DVD’s for at home instruction (Anytime/Anywhere).
• Media on Demand via server for Web classes.
• Hands on assistance for Instructors to be able to produce their own media

High Tech Distance Learning Classrooms

• Electronic paperless testing and grading.
• Electronic access to class information with printing only those necessary items.

Support Educational Services Division Vision Plan.

• Refer to Educational Services Handicapped Access/ADA awareness and support of persons with both visible and hidden disabilities Vision.

Capacity

• Staffing
• Hire additional part-time/full-time staff to assist with nights, weekends and off-campus sites.
• Training
  • Specialized and increased training for current and new hires including continuous improvement via media conferences and trade shows. Possibly train current staff member at each off-campus site to handle media problems.
  • Professional development and training specifically in computers for all hires.
  • Hire additional staff and train Help Desk staff to take all trouble calls, telephone, computer, A/V, classroom etc.
• Better communication with telecommunications/broadcast engineering for service and installation.
• Expansion
  • More space for storage and staging in A/V Services.
• Higher quality and quantity of equipment used for A/V checkout.
• Purchase and install smart classroom control systems.
• Lease bandwidth from the ICN or upgrade microwave to digital.
• Purchase of software and equipment
• Marketing of Services offered.
• Better support of Mac platform.

Ownership

A meeting was held with each area of Telecommunications, A/V Services, Media Productions, KTS Operations, and the Telecommunications Shop. A common thread during the discussions was providing outstanding customer service. Telecommunications personnel are aware of who their stakeholders are and are committed to providing excellent service and leading edge technology.

Support

Each area of Telecommunications discussed and stressed working together and with other departments to accomplish the visions that have been set out for the next five years. Their commitment to the vision is very strongly supported by the Director of Telecommunications. Telecommunications has an impressive record of customer service and leading edge technology, 2^nd to no one else, and the desire to continue to hold that record. Telecommunications is also dedicated to total support of the Educational Services Vision plan to make Kirkwood Community College the premier community college in the nation to support programs and networks for students with disabilities, provide information and communication systems for persons with disabilities and develop inquiry and assessment processes related to the needs of specific types of disabilities (resource for other community colleges). 

Dashboard Indicators

Listed below are indicators that will show that we are accomplishing the goals that we have set out in this plan. Documentation will be used to measure these indicators.

Improvement of customer service for faculty, staff & students

• Decreased response time to trouble calls.
• Increased number of problems solved the first time on site.
• Decrease amount of time from receiving equipment to installation.
• Increase number of faculty/staff successfully assisted nights/weekends, off-campus.
• Increased number of “Hits” to the Media Services/AV Services Web site.

Upgrade Delivery Systems

• Increased number of viewers of KTS Cable  Television System.
• Elimination of classes that are disrupted by weather on Distance Learning System.
• Measurable increase in Bandwidth of WAN circuit to off campus Centers.
• Substantial viewable difference in ability to discern characters in Power Point Presentations.

Interactive Media Production

• Increased production and use of interactive DVD’s and CD ROM’s
• Increased number of faculty requesting help to produce interactive media.

High Tech Distance Learning Classrooms

• Substantial decrease in the use of paper to copy materials.
• Faster turnaround time for students to receive grades.

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