Peer Institution Research: Recommendations and Trends 2016 New Mexico State University Abstract This report evaluates the common technology services from New Mexico State University’s 15 peer institutions. Based on the findings, a summary of recommendations and trends are explained within each of the general areas researched: peer institution enrollment, technology fees, student computing, software, help desk services, classroom technology, equipment checkout and loan programs, committees and governing bodies on technology, student and faculty support, printing, emerging technologies and trends, homepage look & feel and ease of navigation, UNM and UTEP my.nmsu.edu comparison, top IT issues, and IT organization charts. Peer Institution Research 1 Table of Contents Peer Institution Enrollment ................................................................................. 3 Technology Fees ................................................................................................. 3 Student Computing ............................................................................................. 6 Software ............................................................................................................. 8 Help Desk Services .............................................................................................. 9 Classroom Technology ...................................................................................... 11 Equipment Checkout and Loan Programs .......................................................... 11 Committees and Governing Bodies on Technology ........................................... 13 Printing ............................................................................................................. 14 Emerging Technologies and Trends ................................................................... 16 Homepage Look & Feel and Ease of Navigation ................................................. 17 Top IT Issues ..................................................................................................... 18 IT Organization Charts ...................................................................................... 19 Appendix .......................................................................................................... 20 Appendix A: Software ....................................................................................... 20 Appendix B: NMSU's Peer Institution's Homepages .......................................... 25 Appendix C: NMSU’s Peer Institution’s IT Organizational Charts ....................... 33 Peer Institution Research 2 Peer Institution Enrollment Below is the list of New Mexico State University’s Peer Institutions and their enrollment number for Fall 2012 – 2016. Overall, the majority have seen an increase in enrollment over these years. However, some, including NMSU, have seen a steady decrease in enrollment. Also, to note, NMSU is among the lower enrolled universities within our peer group, however, you will discover throughout this report that NMSU offers the same and/or better technology services than our higher enrolled peers. See the chart below, Figure 1: Enrollment Numbers for Fall Semesters 2012-2016. Figure 1: Enrollment Numbers for Fall Semester 2012-2016 Universities 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Colorado State University 30,000 30,647 30,700 32,236 33,198 Montana State University 14,153 14,660 14,660 15,421 16,440 New Mexico State University 17,651 16,765 15,829 15,490 15,490 Oklahoma State University 18,197 25,544 23,459 24,551 24,387 Oregon State University 23,389 24,425 25,721 29,576 31,303 University of Arizona 39,086 40,223 38,727 43,088 43,088 University of Idaho 11,710 12,312 12,493 11,780 11,780 University of Nevada 18,004 27,389 18,227 20,898 21,535 University of New Mexico 29,100 28,644 27,889 27,353 27,353 Texas Tech (Lubbock) 32,300 32,467 33,111 35,158 36,551 University of Texas at El Paso 22,106 22,749 23,003 23,397 23,397 University of Wyoming 12,920 12,992 12,873 12,841 12,607 Utah State University 16,857 28,786 28,786 27,662 28,118 Washington State University 18,232 28,307 24,810 29,686 29,686 Iowa State University 29,887 31,040 33,241 36,001 36,660 Kansas State University 23,863 24,378 24,581 24,146 23,048 Technology Fees New Mexico State University continues to maintain a competitive advantage by being on the lower end for Student Technology Fees based on our peers. NMSU fees, also known as Student Technology Fee (STF), are primarily used to help support student technology efforts. Technology Fees at NMSU’s peer institutions typically fund student technology related services including software, computer labs, printers, and instructional and academic support. NMSU’s technology fee ranks seventh lowest among its 15 peers. In 2014, NMSU ranked the sixth lowest in technology fees, however, while the University of New Mexico and Colorado Peer Institution Research 3 State University ranked lower in 2015 they now rank much higher in 2016. See the table, Figure 2: Technology Fee Comparison 2016, below for a list of the fees charged for technology at NMSU’s peer institution on a per semester basis. Figure 2: Technology Fee Comparison 2016 Institutions Technology Fee Washington State University $20 University of Wyoming $34 University of Nevada $84 Montana State University $84 Utah State University $104 University of Idaho $128 New Mexico State University $152 Oklahoma State University $204 Oregon State University $204 Iowa State University $223 University of Arizona $240 University of Texas at EL Paso $246 University of New Mexico $280 Texas Tech (Lubbock) $282 Colorado State University $300 Kansas State University $416 Average $188 As noted above, Colorado State University and UNM have drastically reduced their technology fee from 2014 to 2016. The research indicates that UNM charged $60 in 2014 compared to $280 in 2016. Also, Colorado State University increased their technology fee from $20 in 2014 to $300 in 2016. The University of Texas El Paso saw an increase in fees from $156 in 2014 to $246 ranking them lower than UNM while in 2014 UTEP was ranked the third highest. Meanwhile, the University of Nevada saw a drop in their technology fee from $145 down to $104. Also, the while the University of Nevada and Montana State University are now lower than NMSU, their technology fees did not change more than $10. Peer Institution Research 4 The funds provided by the NMSU fee are collected as part of the NMSU, Las Cruces campus tuition and fees. Specific activities in which the funds have benefited in recent years include: student computing labs, multi-media enhanced classrooms and computer classrooms, campus- wide online course management system, lab and personal software, wireless areas, computer equipment rentals, printing services, digital signage advertising, student portal services, support staff salaries for student technology services, student staff, help desk, and core network infrastructure. Most peer institutions allocate the funds generated by the technology fee to projects comparable to NMSU. The technology fee at Oregon State University is used for computer, printers, computer labs, and enhanced classrooms. UTEP uses their technology fees for instruction, academic support and administrative functions. Washington State’s technology fees help support computer labs. The table, Figure 3: Peer Institution Technology Fee Descriptions, below provides a description of how peer institutions collect and use their fees in ways that are unique to NMSU. At the University of Arizona, The Information Technology/Library (ITL) Fee is a mandatory fee approved by the Arizona Board of Regents in March 2006. “The ITL fee enhances the University's student learning environment and increases UA's capacities to meet digital environment expectations. UA students have high expectations for learning and living in today's digital environment, including wireless access in high traffic public locations and in all campus outdoor areas, library materials that are digitally available, and appropriately equipped classrooms. The ITL fee is used to upgrade and expand the University's capacity to provide this essential operating environment. This fee is applied in the following terms: Fall, Spring, and Summer.” To view IT fee spending for the last five fiscal years visit: https://it.arizona.edu/it/student-it-fee. Peer Institution Research 5 Figure 3: Peer Institution Technology Fee Descriptions Oklahoma State University The fee pays for the maintenance of existing facilities housing computer and multimedia equipment. It also provides for specialized technology needs of each of the various colleges. University of Arizona The technology fee is factored in with the library fee. University of Nevada As part of the payments given to the University when a student enrolls, the technology fee goes towards paying for specialist IT personnel to support active students with technical issues. This fee is not paid by active employees, and therefore IT does not have the resources available to support their personally-owned computing equipment. Kansas State University Tuition charges are used to try and retain current outstanding faculty or attract high quality replacements Recommendation: ICT recommends the continuation of the Student Technology Fee proposal submissions to the Assisted Students of NMSU (ASNMSU) and the Student Fee Review Board (SFRB). The proposal will continue to include a detailed peer comparison analysis and fee rate requests, in order