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# About Academic Technologies

Academic Technologies is a department within The University of Iowa's Information Technology Services. We provide technology support for the University's instructors and researchers. AT is guided in everything we do by our Vision and Mission statements, developed with the advice and guidance of our advisory committees.

- Vision Statement
- Mission Statement
- A Brief History of Academic Technologies
- FY05 Business Plan (PDF, about 500K)

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## Vision Statement

Students will:

- Have anytime, anywhere access to course-related information
- Use all types of media in their learning endeavors
- Use tools that allow them to track their own progress and adapt to their learning needs and styles
- Have access to learning materials at a self-selected pace

Instructors and Researchers will:

- Have a basic understanding of technologies relevant to their discipline
- Have a suite of tools to apply technology to instructional and research applications
- Have access to resources (information, people, and technical) to assist in applying the tools and producing learning materials, on their own and with support
- Have opportunities to explore emerging technologies and continually update their knowledge of technology and its application to instruction and research
- Provide a bridge between research and classroom instruction

To accomplish this vision, Academic Technologies works collaboratively with instructional and technology support staff from around campus, and shares information and resources as appropriate to meet the needs of faculty.

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## Mission Statement

Academic Technologies (AT) is a central resource which provides support for the University's instructional and research missions. Our primary goals are to:

- Enable faculty to better accomplish their endeavors in instruction and research through the use of information technology,
- Stimulate consideration of new technologies,
- Collaborate with faculty in development and investigative projects,
- Communicate with and inform the University community about information technology resources in support of instruction and research, and
- Facilitate services for faculty from other information technology support groups across campus, including other ITS groups.

AT is a versatile organization, striving to meet our goals through continued exploration, implementation, and refinement of new technology, methods, and support options.

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## A Brief History of Academic Technologies

In 1998, Information Technology Services (ITS), with support from the Provost's Office, charged a committee of University faculty, administrators, and staff -- the Learning Technology Support Review Team (LTSR) -- to recommend actions that ITS could take to respond to learning technology needs on campus. The committee, under the leadership of Tom Rocklin, Director of the Center for Teaching, recommended a number of actions, including the formation of a new structure within ITS.

Following consultation with faculty leadership groups on campus, including the Faculty Council and the Information Technology Advisory Council, ITS responded to this recommendation and formed a new group. Two predecessor groups in ITS - Second Look Computing and the Instructional Software Development Group - merged into a single group named Academic Technologies. Other staff were added to provide additional services.

During 2001, AT took another step towards the future, merging with two research-supporting technology groups on campus, the Image Analysis Facility and the Advanced Research Computing Services group. They took the moniker Research Technologies within the AT structure, and began leveraging ITS resources and AT's existing abilities to serve faculty across campus who use technology in research.

Still need to know something about AT? Call us at 335-5194, or send us an e-mail to its-academic@uiowa.edu.