Online Learning and Digital Media Initiatives Committee

The Online Learning Committee worked on a variety of projects this year:

Columbia Information Services

Columbia is currently reviewing most of its business processes and information delivery systems. Over the course of the last year and the summer Acis, the libraries and CNMTL conducted performance surveys. In addition, an outside consulting team evaluated the core functions of DKV, ACIS and AIS.

Key findings:

1) While each organization was making positive contributions, there was nonetheless considerable overlap and duplication of effort among organizations;

2) Users, faculty students and staff were commonly confused as to which organization had ownership for various electronic resources; and

3) While numerous help desks were identified, only a small percentage of the faculty used these resources.

Recommended

1) Clearer delineation of responsibilities;

2) One-stop shopping for users seeking assistance;

3) A move to centralize and provide incentives for users and schools to integrate to a common platform.

Concern:

• The key concern raised in the committee is that any reorganization should balance ease of integration and cost effectiveness with the ability to innovate at the individual and department level.

Columbia Home Page

• The Online committee worked with DKV to review the wire frames of the new Columbia home page, which was rolled out in December. Emphasis was placed on streamlining the navigation links, improving search capabilities and making sure that frequently used sites, like the academic calendar, were readily accessible.

• The committee did not approve or discuss any change in the Columbia logo or its appearance on the website.

New Initiatives

• The committee reviewed the student proposed portal Agora. In consultation with Robert Kasdin, the committee brought together members of the provost’s office, DKV, ACIS and AIS to begin discussing how Agora would fit into the University’s ongoing efforts.

• Concerns that people raised centered on security, participation levels by both faculty and students and the coordination of resources necessary to implement the initiative. This work is currently ongoing.