Over the past dozen or so years there has been a considerable change in the hardware and software industries, these changes have moved the academic institution to change how it conducts its simple everyday routine.  From a business/management point of view the consideration of information technology (IT) and how it can be used to leverage a return-on-investment (ROI) perspective has been fairly dramatic.

Just a few years ago, the Information Technology was considered a necessary overhead expense. What was once expense-generating academic minutia can now be leveraged into cost-saving or even profit-generating business units, and hardware/software acquisition is a critical part of this competitive advantage.

In fact, academic institutions that do not leverage information technology as a key part of their business strategy to cut costs and increase enrollment may ultimately fail. Simply put, the proper positioning of Information Technology and its associated processes is now vital to keeping the academic institution open for business.

As an Academic Systems Architect (Computer System Analyst) , my job is to help your academic institution by evaluating your existing IT and HR systems and then moving you towards the implementation of better IT related ROI solutions through the acquisition and deployment of various hardware and / or software solutions, and finally determining what roles people will perform and the responsibilities of those roles.

Types of IT processes (Software)

• Recruitment
• Admissions
• Financial Aid
• Registrar's Office
• Academic Records Management
• Library & OPAC Systems
• President's Office / Development & Fund Raising
• Alumni Tracking
• Faculty Portal
• Student Portal
• Finance Department
• website(s)
• many more ...

Types of IT processes (Hardware)

• Staff / Faculty Workstations / Laptops
• Computer Labs
• Photo Copiers / Print Stations
• Internet (wired & wireless)
• Student Dorms
• Library Circulation
• Servers (Authentication, Printing, Web Hosting, Email etc)
• VOIP / Nortel Phone Systems
• Campus Security / Surveillance (cameras & other devices)
• Off Site Backups

US Department of Education: STANDARD 6d:: Campus IT Audit

As student use of technology on campus increases, the level of expectation of the student for technology on campus is also increases.  The simple truth is that the use of technology on campus is growing.  Many institutions have been caught unaware and are scrambling to catch up. Often overspending on the wrong equipment.  In many cases the level of IT experience that the average student has is often higher than the level of IT support the college is providing.  The end results? Staff, Faculty and Students are frustrated, and the institution does not have the money to properly plan, fund and deploy technology on campus.

The ABHE Campus Wide Technology Audit is NON_BINDING.  This audit is NOT conducted by the Commission on Accreditation.  This is an OPTIONAL audit that ABHE will provide to you as a support to your institution.  The ABHE Campus Wide Technology Audit is a comprehensive physical "on campus" audit that will provide you with a detailed analysis of your current hardware deployment along with recommendations for "best practices" upgrades to your infrastructure.

ABHE has developed a "STANDARDIZED IT Assessment Survey" that we will be administered to your staff, faculty and students.  This 27 question survey will be performed using the abhe-surveys.com assessment tool.

The ABHE visitation team will document its findings and report back to your institution with a 50+ page report.  This document will include survey results along with recommendations based on their findings.  The report will include recommendations for hardware upgrades, policy changes and a three year deployment strategy.  The documentation will also serve as a template for your institution as it moves to implement on going IT Audits.

The supporting documentation was developd with the guidance of Dr. Randy Bell, the Commission on Accreditation Director, and will satisfy the requirements for Standard 6d reporting required by the Commission on Accreditation.

Association for Biblical Higher Education
Head Office: Orlando, FL

ABHE exists to enhance the quality and credibility of higher educational institutions that engage students in biblical, transformational, experiential, and missional higher education.

As the Director of Business and Information Systems for the ABHE my job is to work with the 200+ affiliate, candidate and member institutions across North America that together represent over 55,000 students enrolled in Christian Higher Education.  While working to ensure the overall efficiencies of the ABHE itself, I work on behalf of each of our members aiding them in achieving maximum ROI on their IT related processes.