UTDPP1028
Committee on Educational Technology

Policy Statement

The Committee on Educational Technology and Digital Learning is a Standing Committee of The University of Texas at Dallas appointed by the President.

Committee Charge

The Committee is charged with analyzing, supporting, and providing advice and recommendations regarding educational hardware, software, and other educational technology employed for instructional purposes while incorporating principles of universal design. The Committee will advise the Responsible University Official (RUO) on all aspects of the use and operation of such hardware and software and, if necessary, the selection of any successor hardware and software. It will also assist in long-term planning and in designing and implementing programs for faculty instruction in the use of such hardware and software.

The Committee will also advise the President on strategy and policy regarding university hardware and software to support instruction. The Committee will communicate with the Committee on Effective Teaching and the Campus Accessibility Committee and, with them, advise the Chief Academic Officer on academic, faculty and student issues that pertain to the maintenance, use, and improvement of this hardware and software as well as issues regarding universal design.

Student Technology Requirements

UT Dallas has established a required technology standard for all incoming undergraduate students starting with the inaugural Fall 2021 cohort. Beginning in the fall 2021 semester, all incoming first-time-in-college (FTIC) students at The University of Texas at Dallas are required to possess a portable computing device that meets the University's student technology requirements as outlined in the "Student Technology Requirements". Portable computing devices are encouraged for all students, including incoming transfer students and graduate students. The goal of this program is to ensure that all students have access to the technology required to be successful in their course of study. The University offers many resources to help students meet this requirement including financial aid and a technology loaner program. Students are not under any obligation to make a purchase from a university-affiliated retailer.

The Committee on Educational Technology and Digital Learning will review and update annually the standard hardware and software specifications for a minimally configured student portable computing device(s) to constitute the Student Technology Requirements. This review should be completed, in consultation with the Office of Undergraduate Education, the academic units, Office of Information Technology and Educational Technology Services; and should be completed no later than January 31 of each year to inform the incoming FTIC students for the next academic year.

The Committee will receive complaints about and requests for improvements in the student technology environments on campus and pass on recommendations for improvements to the University administration. The Committee will review annually all student technology support procedures, and may originate or receive requests to modify these procedures. It may make recommendations for minor changes or revisions to the appropriate Administrative unit, and make recommendations for any significant changes to the University administration.

The Committee may develop and make recommendations to the Faculty regarding any changes to the Student Technology Requirements policy.

The Committee will receive annual inputs from each individual School Committee on Effective Teaching on evolving technology needs for students in that School.

The Committee will obtain additional feedback and recommendations regarding student technology requirements from the Committee on Effective Teaching and the Campus Accessibility Committee.

Digital Learning

The Committee on Educational Technology and Digital Learning is charged with analyzing, supporting, and providing planning advice and recommendations regarding distance learning.

The Committee will advise the President on strategy and policy regarding distance learning, and will advise the Chief Academic Officer, through the Vice Provost for Academic Success and Innovation, on academic, faculty and student issues that pertain to distance learning.

Membership

The Committee is composed of seven faculty members nominated by the Committee on University Service and appointed by the President. The criteria for appointment shall be that committee members will be faculty who use educational technology and who represent a broad spectrum of disciplinary content and levels of instruction. Ideally, one member would be from each of the schools at the University. A graduate student representative will be nominated by the Graduate Student Assembly (GSA), and an undergraduate student representative will be nominated by the Student Government.

The following will serve as ex-officio, voting members:

• Dean of Undergraduate Education or designee;
• Dean of Graduate Education;
• Director of Accessibility Resource Center or designee;
• Associate Library Director for Systems or designee;
• Vice President of Information Technology (Chief Information Officer; under the terms of UTS165) or designee;
• Associate Provide for Digital Learning and Innovation or designess;
• Assistant Provost for Teaching and Learning Spaces;
• Chief Information Security Officer;
• Dean of the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Sciences; and
• Dean of the Naveen Jindal School of Management.

The following will serve as ex-officio, non-voting members:

• Dean of Students or designee;
• Senior Director of Financial Aid or designee;
• Assistant Vice President for Auxiliary Services or designee;
• University Registrar or designee;
• Associate Provost for Curricular Services or designee;
• Chair of the Committee on Effective Teaching or designee; and
• Chair of the Campus Accessibility Committee or designee.

The terms for appointed faculty members shall be staggered so that no more than one-half of the terms expire in any one year. Members shall serve staggered one-year and two-year terms. Thereafter, unless specified otherwise in this charge, Committee members are appointed to either one-year or two-year terms, and the Chair and Vice Chair are appointed annually by the President. Members may be reappointed by the President for additional terms. If for any reason a Committee member resigns, the President shall appoint another individual to serve the remainder of the unexpired term.

Reporting Requirement

Annually, but no later than August 31, the Chair of the Committee will provide the President with a written report of the Committee's activities for the prior academic year.

Responsible University Official (RUO)

The Chief Academic Officer and Provost shall serve as the RUO for this committee.