For Release December 12
Board of Regents Receives Progress Report on Reinvestment Through Efficiencies
VERMILLION-Meeting today and tomorrow at the University of South Dakota, the Board of Regents will receive several reports on the Reinvestment Through Efficiencies Program and will take action related to faculty development, redesign of university curriculum, and a center of excellence for the School of Medicine. The Reinvestment process was launched in January 1996, with the Board identifying critical needs for the public university system to address. Technology is the focal point of the Reinvestment priorities.
The universities will report to the Board on their progress in pursuing reinvestments in the areas of technology infrastructure, faculty development, and redesign of curriculum consistent with the Board's goal to prepare the institutions for 21st century education and management. After an initial process of identifying savings, the universities embarked on plans to meet the reinvestment initiatives. The reports will provide the Board information on how reinvested resources are being used in the area of technology. Regents President Karl Wegner said that, "The campuses have shown innovation and imagination in developing plans to prepare South Dakota's public higher education system for instructional and technology challenges of the future."
Some highlights of university activities and plans include:
BHSU
Install multimedia smart classroom with capacity for 240 students
Further develop the Internet/World Wide Web resources for faculty and students
Provide technical support to faculty for integrating technology into the curriculum, developing distance education technology development
DSU
Hired an instructional technologist to work with faculty to develop new methods of delivery
Develop alternative delivery methods using technology
NSU
Faculty working on technology enhanced delivery methods including the Internet
Hired an instructional technologist to work with faculty on integration of technology into the curriculum
SDSM&T
Provide training for instructors teaching distance education courses
Invest in new multimedia equipment for classroom, including LCD displays and computer scanning equipment
Redesign several courses to enhance use of technology in delivery to improve real-life relevance
SDSU
Expand campus computer network to include all faculty, staff, and students
Develop two smart classrooms
Provide training and technology enhancements to increase access to Cooperative Extension and Agricultural Experiment agents and specialists
USD
Develop professional expertise to help faculty develop and utilize new technology assisted instructional methodologies.
Enhance use of the Internet for instruction and instructional resources.
Improve technology hardware and software
The Board will also receive a report tomorrow on the system wide collaborative efforts related to technology and instruction. According to Robert T. Tad Perry, Executive Director of the Board of Regents, "The collaboration plan outlines what the universities have been doing to improve and increase collaborative efforts with respect to the Reinvestment plan, primarily in the area of faculty development in the use of technology."
Some of the system-wide collaborative efforts include:
University libraries will continue to collaborate in the development of on-line search technology, software, and sharing of resources.
University computing representatives will continue to collaborate in the development of networking services to maintain and improve methods of connectivity and data transmission.
The Technology and Telecommunications Council will coordinate regular reviews of the system technology standards.
Sharing instructional programs in a variety of disciplines using distance education technologies and investigating new technology options for distance delivery. For example, BHSU and SDSM&T are working together on delivery of courses via the Internet.
Perry added that, "The universities will also be conducting various workshops and training sessions for faculty development in technology that system-wide faculty and staff can attend, and these sessions will also provide and opportunity for the universities to share with each other the results of projects to redesign courses or experiment with new instructional technology."
Another aspect of the Reinvestment plan is the development of centers of excellence, where selected academic programs that address critical needs of the state receive investments to further strengthen outreach and instruction, thereby gaining regional and/or national recognition. The USD School of Medicine will present plans to the Board for a center of excellence in ambulatory medical student education. The plan calls for more rigorous classroom experience coupled with the opportunity for students to work with patients over an extended time. Resources are centralized under the Academic Dean and faculty chosen for their expertise and interest in ambulatory education. The program utilizes unique instructional and evaluation techniques and has already received regional attention for its innovation. Regents President Karl Wegner said that, "The School of Medicine's proposed center of excellence will enable the development of innovative teaching programs that address some identified needs in primary care education for physicians. The result will be a more relevant learning experience for the students that will complement the School's mission."
The Board will continue to meet tomorrow until adjournment at 11:30 AM (CST).