INTEGRATED TECHNOLOGY STRATEGY

TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE INITIATIVE

CSU POSITION, THE 10 PRINCIPLES, OUTCOMES TO BE ACHIEVED

Day: 12/3/97 Time: 8:00 PM

Preamble Intensive efforts have been underway for almost five years on the part of CSU constituencies to identify the technology resources needed by students, faculty, and staff to meet the academic mission of the system and to identify the means to secure those resources. Commissions representing the broadest range of campus constituencies, as well as countless focus groups, have helped to shape the CSU’s Integrated Technology Strategy, a comprehensive set of initiatives to advance access to and use of technology vital to the mission of the CSU.

The advancement of the integrated technology strategy, and particularly a badly needed technology infrastructure, is dependent upon resources that are not available to the CSU through traditional means. At a cost of $300 million for the initial buildout of a telecommunication infrastructure, as well as a funding gap for related technology estimated at $100 million per year, state support and capital budgets are insufficient to meet the CSU’s initial and ongoing funding needs as well as meet other pressing priorities, such as enrollment growth, lags in faculty salaries, deferred plant maintenance, and significant gaps in instructional equipment. After considerable though unsuccessful efforts made to secure funding for technology from traditional sources, the CSU engaged in the Technology Infrastructure Initiative to form a partnership with carefully selected corporations to gain the needed resources.

The purpose of the Technology Infrastructure Initiative is to ensure that all CSU students, faculty, and staff throughout the California State University have access to the broadest range of information resources and related technology. Fundamental to these important resources is the creation of a seamless high speed telecommunications network, acquisition of current desk top devices and provisions for maintaining currency, and support to students, faculty in the uses of technology. These resources will help advance four important technology goals of the CSU: personal productivity, excellence in teaching and learning, the quality of the student experience, and administrative productivity.

As stated from the outset of the initiative, fundamental to the CSU position is to:

• Add new resources to the CSU to help meet the costs of needed technology, ensuring that all campuses receive the baseline infrastructure;
• Provide a means to maintain current technology for use by students, faculty, and staff;
• Provide services that will assist students, faculty and staff make effective use of technology; and,
• Advance the roles of CSU staff who constitute the information resources professionals on each campus and in the chancellor’s office.

In the formulation of this important partnership, high priority is placed on the CSU controlling its own destiny and maintaining the highest levels of accountability to internal and external constituencies through the:

• Creation of terms, conditions, and organizational arrangements for a partnership agreement that provides the maximum benefit to the CSU and the state of California;
• Retention of CSU staff;
• Protection of intellectual property in accordance with CSU policies;
• Campus control of academic programs and content; and,
• Authority over revenue programs in which the CSU engages.

The 10 principles listed below serve to guide agreements to be reached for the CSU as part of the partnership formation.

Principles and Outcomes to be Achieved Each of the 10 principles is accompanied by specific expectations regarding how they will be made operational. Next to each expectation is the current status of agreement between the CSU and the corporate partners. The status of each will be revised as resolution occurs. (Key: concurrence = agreement has been achieved, open = issue under discussion, concurrence plan required indicates agreement in principle pending the identification of appropriate mechanisms, and details to be completed indicates work in progress.)

1. CSU information technology staff will be retained by the CSU.

A. Collective bargaining agreements will be honored. (concurrence)

B. Management responsibility for CSU information technology staff will reside with the CSU. (concurrence)

C. The partnership will provide professional development programs for information technology CSU staff. (concurrence, plan required)

2. The initial buildout of the CSU’s information technology infrastructure (media, pathways, spaces, terminal equipment* with required software) will be accomplished at no net cost to the CSU and with current level of technology.

A. The technology provided will be appropriate to CSU needs and program requirements as identified in CSU minimum baseline requirements. (concurrence)

B. The CSU will achieve and maintain a high level of technology inter-operability through standards for technology included within the scope of the Technology Infrastructure Initiative. (concurrence)

C. Corporate partners will acquire funding for initial infrastructure buildout. (concurrence)

D. CSU will not be responsible for the debt associated with the initial baseline infrastructure buildout. (concurrence)

E. The baseline will be built out for all campuses within three years of the start of implementation of the buildout. (concurrence)

F. CSU will retain the ownership of the physical plant infrastructure and will make access available to the partners under the terms of the agreement. (concurrence)

G. CSU and its campuses will be granted an extended warranty on all infrastructure build out for the duration of partnership, applying to the network, unified messaging, directory service, fire walls, physical plant (cable, pathways, terminal equipment and 4CNet). (open)

H. Unified messaging system, directory, security, e-mail component shall

be included as part of the initial build out provided by the corporate partners. (open)

I. The refresh of the infrastructure’s technology is a vital priority and will be provided by and paid for from partnership operating income. (concurrence, details to be completed)

(*does not include desktop, application servers, peripherals.)

3. The partnership organization will be responsive to campus and systemwide needs and priorities.

A. The CSU will provide exclusivity to the partnership for technologies that are within scope and the partnership will match the best prices which can be obtained by the CSU. For instance, brand choices for workstations (desktop, laptop, printers) will be provided within the exclusive arrangements consistent with the technology standards to be achieved. (concurrence)

B. Provide standardized desk top training at the basic skills level. (concurrence)

C. Provide unified messaging and directory systems to ensure consistent and efficient communications across campuses. (open)

D. Provide security system that will protect access to campus IT resources. (concurrence)

E. Augment services to provide 24 X 7 help and service desk functions for all campuses. (concurrence, plan required)

F. Agreements will be reached between the CSU and the partnership to operate the infrastructure. (concurrence, plan required)

4. The partnership will allow flexibility for the campuses to acquire technologies which are out of scope, albeit at campus cost.

A. There will be no exclusivity for technology goods and services which are defined as out of the technology infrastructure initiative scope. (concurrence)

B. The partnership will be eligible to compete for business which is out of scope. (concurrence)

5. CSU will have a majority role** in the governance structure.

A. A CSU auxiliary will be formed by the chancellor to administer the master services agreement and related agreements for the CSU. (concurrence)

B. A for profit limited liability company will be formed to conduct the commercial business of the partnership and on which the CSU, outside directors, and corporate partners will serve as members of the board. (concurrence)

(** Three organizational entities will guide the telecommunications infrastructure initiative, assure that CSU policies and service level requirements are met, and that the partnership will be successful from a commercial perspective. First, a CSU advisory commission comprised of campus representatives and CSU constituencies will be formed to advise and recommend policies and strategies that guide systemwide efforts regarding technology infrastructure build out and operations, priorities for the CSU in the partnership, and assess outcomes of partner performance. Second, a CSU auxiliary will be established as the legal means for the CSU to share in equity ownership of a limited liability company. Directors of the auxiliary will be drawn from the advisory commission. The commission in combination with the auxiliary will advance the technology initiative and provide the CSU with control to advance and safeguard CSU interests. Finally, a limited liability company will serve as the entity for the formation of the shared equity ownership for the CSU and the commercial partners. The CSU auxiliary will have board representation on the LLC board. )

6. The corporate partners will promote and utilize the CSU’s education and training programs and services.

A. Programs and services offered by campuses will be consistent with CSU academic policies. (concurrence)

B. CSU campuses will be reimbursed for access to CSU programs and services. (concurrence)

7. All parties will honor the intellectual property rights of the creators of that property.

A. The provisions of the CSU Memorandum of Understanding, Unit 3, along with campus policies, are the basis for securing the intellectual property rights of the CSU. (concurrence)

B. Authority for content of academic programs will be vested in the respective campuses of the CSU and will continue to follow current practices with respect to academic programs and governance structures. The CSU will not negotiate away any academic freedoms or control of curriculum content. (concurrence)

C. Ownership interests of all intellectual property related to activities of the auxiliary or the limited liability company will be determined in advance. (concurrence)

8. Partnership revenue generating programs which are CSU related must be approved by the CSU.

A. Revenue programs will be diversified and represent the mission and core competencies of each partner, emphasizing: commercial applications of the infrastructure (e.g., telephone operations, internet service provider, home delivery), commodity sales, CSU technology expenditures in non-personnel categories, appropriate education and training programs. (concurrence)

B. Sustainable revenue sources will be created for all partners. (concurrence)

C. Revenue programs will strengthen the existing revenue streams of the campuses and each partner. (concurrence)

D. Incentives and rewards will be provided to campuses to participate in partnership programs. (concurrence, plan required)

9. The partnership governance structure will provide a means for the CSU to review and validate partnership price/performance for in-scope services and products.

A. Standards and performance will be reviewed on a periodic basis. (concurrence, plan required)

B. Flexibility will be emphasized to modify agreements as necessary to meet requirements for changing technology, performance, and price using agreed upon benchmarks. (concurrence)

10. The partnership’s success will be judged by:

A. Ability to maintain and sustain the currency of the technological infrastructure. (concurrence)

B. Responsiveness in meeting campus and systemwide needs and priorities. (concurrence)

C. Contribution to personal productivity. (concurrence)

D. Creation of new tools and opportunities for faculty, staff and students. (concurrence)

E. Contribution to new modes of learning and delivery of education. (concurrence)

F. Creation of new revenues to advance the CSU mission. (concurrence)

G. Ability to maintain and sustain the financial health of the LLC. (concurrence)

Maynard Robinson

General Manager

Principles