Small colleges have unique challenges with respect to their information technology environments. It’s easy to forget sometimes that small colleges are not simply small big colleges, and that IT needs to be considered in a particular way, especially because of its associated costs. For one thing, the senior administration at a small college may be less likely to be fully aware of what’s going on in higher-ed IT than their counterparts at larger institutions. Several trends will be identified and discussed.
Underlying the increase in all of these technologies on the typical small college campus is the issue of funding and budget. Small colleges typically have far less flexibility for IT purchases and maintenances, not to mention staffing, than a larger institution does. Nevertheless, many of the needs are the same. As new technologies come along, they need to be evaluated and appropriated when they make sense for an institution. Small colleges, especially, cannot afford to spend scarce resources on technologies that may prove to be only a passing fad. However, there is a time when it becomes apparent that a certain technology can be used to contribute to the mission of the institution. There are also technologies that must be adopted if the institution is to be competitive in attracting and keeping quality students and faculty. Tracking and adoption of new technologies needs to be an ongoing process. It also needs to be a permanent part of any information technology planning process. This requires individuals with vision combined with a good dose of common sense. It also requires a clear focus on the goals and mission of the institution.
[This multimedia presentation is based on a recent article of the same name that appeared in The Edutech Report in the fall of 2004]
