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The University-Corporate Partnership: Invitation to the Dance

The University-Corporate Partnership: Invitation to the Dance. Sharon Roy Director, Academic and Research Computing Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Troy, NY, 7 miles north of Albany, 150 miles north of NYC 4876 undergraduate students

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The University-Corporate Partnership: Invitation to the Dance

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  1. The University-Corporate Partnership: Invitation to the Dance Sharon Roy Director, Academic and Research Computing Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

  2. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute • Troy, NY, 7 miles north of Albany, 150 miles north of NYC • 4876 undergraduate students • 1156 graduate students • 450 faculty • Founded 1824 • Renaissance at Rensselaer

  3. Dancing with the Devil? • Richard Katz, Dancing with the Devil • James Duderstadt • “Can Colleges Survive in the Information Age?” “Those institutions that can step up to this process of change will thrive. Those that bury their heads in the sand, that rigidly Defend the status quo – or even worse, some idyllic version of a past that never existed – are at very great risk.”

  4. Ubiquitous Computing at Rensselaer  • Successful mobile computing program since the fall of 1999 • Phased implementation of the program • Standard laptop, but students may bring their own • Many faculty experienced in using technology • Reduction in desktop classrooms on the campus • Extensive support structure • Reaction of students, faculty, and staff • 2003 end of 5-year partnership with IBM

  5. Why Laptops? Interactive Learning • Fewer lectures • More student participation • Faculty as coach • Students work in teams • Many variations • Wide/deep adoption of technology since 1990 • Studio Classrooms • Designed to facilitate interaction • Technology-rich environment • Laptops gave students control of their learning environment.

  6. DotCIO Vision and Mission Vision: To provide a leading edge integrated information environment for the Rensselaer community. Mission: The Division of the Chief Information Officer providesenablinginformation strategies, services, and technology to the diverse Rensselaer community.Wecollaboratewith campus constituents to find solutions for changing educational, research, communications and business needs.

  7. Mobile Computing • Provide leadership in the use of technology in education • Provide integrated information infrastructure portfolio • Outputs: • Continuation of mobile computing program • Including delivery and support of laptops • Outcomes: • Integrated learning environment • Standardized personal computing platform • Metrics/Benchmarks: • Student Satisfaction • Faculty Satisfaction • National Recognition • Rensselaer Computer Repair (RCR)

  8. Metrics and Benchmarks • Student Satisfaction • 71% of respondents agreed with the statement, “Having a laptop computer has significantly enhanced my ability to take control of and assume responsibility for my own learning.” • 79% agreed with the statement, “Having a laptop computer has significantly enhanced the acquisition of skills that I will need for the workplace and my eventual profession.” • Adoption rate – 96+% of incoming freshman • Faculty Satisfaction • 59% of 48 respondents require students to use laptops in class • 79% gave assignments requiring the use of laptops • National Recognition • 15 faculty have given presentations to their colleagues on the use of laptops for teaching and learning. • Presentations at EDUCAUSE, SIGUCCS. • One of 14 schools included in Ubiquitous Computing, by David G. Brown, 2003. • Rensselaer Computer Repair (RCR) • Customer satisfaction surveys

  9. Laptop Requirement History • 1995-1997 • 3-year voluntary pilot program • 1998 • Highly recommended - IBM ThinkPad 600 • 1999 • Required of all freshmen – IBM ThinkPad 600E • 2000 • Second year of requirement – IBM ThinkPad T20 • 2001 • First refresh (lease systems returned) – IBM ThinkPad T22 • 2002, 2003 • Full deployment – IBM ThinkPad T30, T40

  10. Time to Change Partners?

  11. Challenges • Giving every vendor a fair chance with an established partnership in place. • Encouraging our existing partner to rise to the competition. • Aligning the program with Rensselaer’s academic goals. • Providing the best value, technology and service for our students. • Getting campus input.

  12. Campus Participants • Mobile Team • Purchasing Office • CIO • Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education • Enrollment Management • Financial Aid • Corporate Advancement • Faculty • Students

  13. Planning the Steps

  14. Decision Criteria Outlined in RFP • Suitable mix and quality of product offerings • Pricing • Evaluation unit test • Financial terms • Product reliability • Warranties, service, and support • Demonstrated ability to meet delivery deadlines • Sound business standing • Past performance and references • Efficiency of ordering, warehousing and billing

  15. Decision Criteria, Continued • Compliance with the requirements of RFP • Commitment to Rensselaer • Partnership • Working together year-round to support the program • Collaboration in research on technology in learning • Employment opportunities for graduates • Favorable publicity • Investment in Rensselaer faculty, students, programs and technology

  16. The Responses • Sent to 7 vendors; 2 declined • Responses from:

  17. Do You Want to Dance? • Written proposals • Some vendors not comfortable with written documents • Public presentations • Varied in quality and attendance • Campus participation • Important to keep process open • Multiple opportunities including hands-on testing • Web form for feedback

  18. Dancing to the Same Beat • Understanding higher education – schedule and priorities • Support and follow through • Other campus ties • A partner, not a supplier

  19. Decision Documents • Decision criteria with comments • Results from our campus request for feedback • Pricing comparisons • Notebook evaluation unit report • Service evaluation • Evaluation of external display capabilities

  20. The Choice: IBM!

  21. Paying the Piper: Was It Worth the Dance? • Legal minuet • Some things only lawyers understand. • Lenovo cuts in • IBM assures us that the dance will continue. • Wall flowers no more • We learned a lot about the other vendors and the role they might play on our campus. • Stepping out with confidence • We know the outcome has campus support.

  22. Additional Information • Mobile Computing at Rensselaer • www.rpi.edu/dept/arc/siguccs/mobilecomputing.ppt • www.rpi.edu/laptops/ • Interactive Learning, Student Survey • http://www.ciue.rpi.edu/laptopSurvey.html

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