Utilization and resulting costs have risen sharply during a period of tight budgets and the University cannot expect new funding to solve the problem. While the total number of computers at UNM may be equivalent to comparable institutions, comprehensive planning is essential to realize efficient and equitable utilization. Productivity Advances in computing and information technology have the potential to provide productivity benefits in many areas of teaching, research and administration. Planning provides the opportunity to identify potential benefits that capitalize on the substantial investments already in place. The increasing demand by faculty and students for up to date hardware and software presents a financial and support problem for many academic units on campus that needs a long term solution.
Planning can enable the university to respond proactively.
Key questions the strategic plan should address. Mission and shared vision Strategic planning for computing must be tied to strategic planning for the institution, establishing a common understanding of the problems and opportunities of computing and building a vision of computing shared by all constituents. The strategic plan must be comprehensive, addressing the diverse vision and needs of all university constituents - faculty, students, staff, administrators, researchers, alumni and community. Participation Broad participation in the planning process is essential in order to identify key issues, generate reliable information, ground decisions, and develop support for implementation. Long term plans, short term needs A strategic plan should have a time frame of 3 to 5 years, but should provide a bridge between current needs and future solutions.