ISSUES AND IMPLICATIONS

               In this section the committee summarizes the concerns, needs, and
          problems that have been identified through the focus group sessions, survey
          responses, and site visits to each academic unit.  Also highlighted are some of the
          major implications that should be considered if the University community is
          unable to respond to these issues.
          
          
INSTRUCTION AND RESEARCH
          
          1.   Existing facilities and equipment cannot adequately support the teaching
          of classes that make use of computer, network, information, and instructional
          technologies.  In particular, there is need for redesigned and fully equipped
          teaching laboratories and classrooms that support hands-on technological
          instruction.  Where these facilities are lacking, the opportunity to enhance the
          curriculum through the integration of appropriate technology and hands-on
          experience is lost.
          
          2.   Faculty need more opportunities to acquire skills in computer,
          information, and instructional technologies.  When these opportunities are not
          available, faculty are unlikely to employ innovative instructional technologies in
          their classes unless they do so on their own time and at their own expense.  It is
          clear that many faculty need opportunities to learn about existing instructional
          software or time and resources to develop software to better support their
          instruction.  Otherwise, little use will be made of instructional software and other
          technology to facilitate the learning process.
          
          3.   The potential benefits of computer-based instruction and multimedia
          technologies to the instructional environment have not been realized.  Without
          budgetary support and faculty incentives, major progress in integrating these
          technologies into the instructional environment cannot be achieved.
          
          4.   Curricular programs in computer related fields need to provide hands-on
          experiences for students in current computer systems administration, network
          management, and client-server computing.  Without the equipment and faculty
          expertise to support these curricular improvements, students will graduate              
          lacking adequate preparation for careers in contemporary computing     
          environemnts.

          5.   Kent needs facilities to provide more on-campus continuing education
          courses in computer technology and related applications.  Without such facilities
          opportunities are missed to increase revenue, enhance the image of the
          University, obtain sponsorship from local businesses, and foster outreach to the       
          community.  In addition, competitiveness with local post-secondary institutions is 
          greatly impaired. 
          
          6.   The needs of faculty who require high-performance scientific computing
          equipment to accomplish their research are not always recognized by the
          University.  Without access to such equipment, faculty will have difficulty in
          achieving research goals and acquiring external funding, thereby decreasing
          University competitiveness in attracting and retaining quality faculty. 
          
          7.   Undergraduate students need more opportunities to gain hands-on
          experience with current discipline specific hardware and software.  Without such
          opportunities, students are not well prepared for their chosen careers, thereby
          decreasing University competitiveness in attracting and retaining quality students.
          
          8.   All students need to acquire basic computer and information technology
          skills early in their University careers.  Without assurance of such skills,
          instructors cannot assume students have minimal competence in computer
          applications to support course assignments.  Thus, valuable course time is lost
          due to the necessity to teach basic computer-related skills.