Strategy

Timeline/Measure(s)

The Content Management System will be used for educational information delivery, assuring consistency of operation and branding, sunset of time sensitive information, and ease of update and use.

2007: The TCE primary website will be developed in the content management system for rollout in January 2008 in conjunction with the agency name change.

2008: Websites for selected TCE units will be migrated to the CMS.

Partnerships will be established with Extension faculty in other states and with faculty at other private and public educational institutions to reduce redundancy and improve quality of educational programs.

2007: The number of faculty involved with eXtension Communities of Practice and participating on authoring teams of the National Extension Professional Development Community.  Number of TCE faculty with eXtension IDs; target is 75% of our faculty.

Faculty are using up to date collaborative working tools, fostering communication and team work.

2007-2012:  Promote/educate faculty and staff on the use of wikis, blogs, instant messaging, Facebook, Twitter, Flicker, and other contemporary Web2.0 tools that foster communities of users; annual report to the director on the extent of use.

Strategy

Timeline/Measure(s)

Provide sufficient support services to assure reliability of information technology equipment and software; consolidate server installations to reduce maintenance demand.

Provide annual report of strengths and weaknesses in the IT support infrastructure and processes to the director.

Adequately equip Extension faculty in county offices with computers, projectors, digital imaging equipment, and broadband Internet connections.

2007: Continue to offer the county cost share program; develop a technology refresh plan template for use by counties; train and encourage each county to develop a technology refresh plan in consideration of other local resources

Implement measures to assure maximum operational status of the agency’s network servers, network infrastructure, and data assets.

2008: All units managing network servers will develop, document, and test plans for the backup, security, and restoration of network servers and data storage using an online database.

Implement procedures for enhancing communication and coordination about information technology among all units and between faculty/staff and Extension Information Technology.

2007–2012: Annual report to the director about communication and coordination activities.

Conduct semiannual conferences of Texas A&M Agriculture Information Technology (IT) support professionals; maintain ongoing dialogue through email lists and periodic online conferences. Increase communication about available technologies through the Tech Ops blog and periodic emails. Add suggestions and anecdotes to Inside Extension.

Annual report on activities provided to the director.

Strategy

Timeline/Measure(s)

Extension agents, specialists, and staff will be trained in conducting educational programs using information technology and will receive the educational resources and rewards required.

2007–2012: Annual report on training status and resource needs provided to the director.

Extension faculty will gain access to both internal and external training opportunities on common office software and common computer skills. Training for Extension specific applications will be provided internally.

2007–2012: Annual report on available training opportunities and level of participation provided to the director.

Information technology competency requirements are identified and included on faculty and staff core competency assessments

2007: Design, develop, and distribute training packages for adoption statewide as determined by DEAs/RPDs/ADHs.

County and unit-based IT support technicians will be trained on standards and procedures used in Extension to assure a cohesive IT system.

2007: County IT support technicians will be identified, and their names & email addresses merged into the existing IT support Listserv; a survey of these technicians will be conducted to determine training needs and priorities.

2008-2012: Periodic Centra training conferences will be scheduled to address needs identified in 2007 and subsequent years.

Support Distance Education by providing consulting services and support to the agency.

2007: The Virtual Extension Collaborative (VEC) is formally established, staffed, and operational. Outreach and education provided to the agency on distance education topics. The VEC will contribute to the development and launch of 6 or more online projects.

2008-2012: The VEC continues to increase its capacity, outreach and output through alternative funding and service sources, contributing to the development and launch of eight or more projects per year.

2007–2012: Annual report on projects and level of support provided to the director.

Extension offices throughout the state are using the LaserFiche Document Management System

2007: Full LaserFiche functionality is implemented in District and campus offices.