New guide offers a model for information technology planning that is tailored to the needs of HBCUs

WASHINGTON
Historically Black institutions seeking guidance on how to develop an up-to-date information technology plan for their campuses may have a solution in a new guide published by the Executive Leadership Foundation (ELF).

The Technology Transfer Project Strategic Planning Model report is a 30-page guidebook and software package that offers a strategic planning model for HBCUs that are developing a strategic plan for information technology infrastructure on their campuses. The report, the first of its kind, was produced pro bono by the highly regarded Booz, Allen & Hamilton consulting company. The report and software is estimated to have cost $450,000 to produce, according to ELF officials.

"Our goal is to deploy this model to as many HBCUs as possible," says Ramon Harris, director of ELF's Technology Transfer Project.

The report has four principle sections: technology usage model, baseline survey and needs assessment, cost model and funding strategy, and technology strategic plan. The technology usage model section directs school officials on evaluating how their institutions use information technology. The baseline survey and needs assessment section provides guidance to officials on assessing how their institutions perform compared to "Best Practice" institutions. The cost model and funding strategy helps officials assess costs for making campus information-technology infrastructure investments. And the technology strategic plan section provides a template for an institution to develop an overall plan for its campus.

Introduction and deployment of the information technology model marks a high profile initiative for ELF's Technology Transfer Project. Launched in 1996, the TTP has promoted information "technology awareness among faculty, students, and administrators" at HBCUs. The project has targeted six HBCUs as partner institutions.