AAC

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AACU Coordinating Information to Serve Member
Institutions Marlena Larson, Gretchen Sauvey,
and Eileen Boswell LSC 555, Prof. Bill
Kules December 3, 2007 The Catholic University of
America
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About AACU

• Type non-profit membership organization
• Mission to promote liberal education
• Members 1100 institutions
• Products and Services
• Meetings
• Publications
• Support for reform efforts
• Staff
• President
• Five vice-presidents
• 40 other employees

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Technology is Knocking!
Webinars
Videoconferences
Blogs
Wikis
RSS Feeds
Podcasts
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Overview

• We evaluated the information system from the
  point of view of three groups
• IT Staff
• Other staff (including management)
• Members
• We gathered information through interviews,
  questionnaires, and AACU internal planning
  documents.

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IT Staff

• Challenges
• Lack of integration of iMIS and website
• Training of staff members
• Evaluation
• Equipped to implement Web 2.0 tools
• Working toward iMIS-web integration
• Making progress with podcasts
• Recommendations
• Create web 2.0 awareness
• Practice with baby steps
• Be patient change takes time

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Other staff (including management)

• Challenges
• Balancing needs and resources
• Keeping up with technology
• Develop better "office imaginations"
• Evaluation
• Willingness to invest resources
• Reluctance to embrace new interactive technology
• Recommendations
• Start small (Intranet Wiki)
• Ground innovation in established practices
• Lead by example

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Membership Questionnaire Results

• What they appreciate
• Staying current on issues
• Forum to discuss the issues
• Networking with a range of other institutions

• Suggestions to meet their needs better
• Be more attuned to diverse institutions
• Make resources more accessible
• Make involvement less cumbersome

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Members Use of Web 2.0
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RecommendationsOpen the door slowly.
Videoconferences
Webinars
Podcasts
Association Blog
RSS Feeds
Collaboration Wiki