Spring 2025: Tools, Trends & Tailored Support: Faculty Tech Priorities for CMCI

The Dean's Technology Advisory Committee (DTAC) members provided faculty and departmental input on the technology tools and services needed to support teaching, research, and creative work across CMCI. Responses highlight key areas of need and opportunity, particularly in terms of access to creative software, technology awareness, and readiness for emerging technologies such as generative AI.

Key Findings

  • Creative Tools Priority:
    • Adobe Creative Cloud was consistently cited as a high priority, especially by APRD and JRNL, reflecting its central role in coursework and student projects. Other tools, such as Figma and Canva Pro, showed more variable prioritization across departments.
  • Gaps in Awareness and Usage:
    • Several departments identified redundancy between similar tools (e.g., Canva vs. Adobe Express) and suggested that more explicit guidance and improved communication about available technologies would be beneficial. This suggests a broader need for coordinated efforts to raise awareness about technology.
  • Department-Specific Needs:
    • Technology priorities are not uniform. Some departments emphasize specific tools more than others, suggesting that future investments and support efforts should be tailored rather than applied universally.
  • Emerging Interest in AI:
    • Comments signal growing curiosity and the need for AI-supported tools in creative and communication contexts, aligning with broader trends in higher education.

 

Recommendations

  • Prioritize Core Creative Tools:
    • Invest in maintaining and expanding access to widely used platforms, such as Adobe Creative Cloud, which has strong, cross-departmental demand.
  • Enhance Awareness and Support:
    • Coordinate with OIT to launch targeted communication and training campaigns to help faculty and students leverage available technology resources.
  • Tailor Strategies by Department:
    • Develop flexible technology plans that accommodate the varying needs and priorities of individual academic units. For example, ENVD is significantly more Windows PC oriented than other CMDI departments.
  • Prepare for Generative AI Integration:
    • Begin planning for scalable support of AI-driven tools by piloting early initiatives and monitoring academic and industry trends
  • Leverage DTAC members:
    • This role can help ensure department-specific feedback is heard and acted upon while fostering interdepartmental knowledge sharing and efficiency.

Conclusion

DTAC affirms that access to creative technologies is vital to CMCI’s mission. It also highlights opportunities to improve the effectiveness of our technology services through better alignment, communication, and strategic investment.

 

DTAC department representatives, AY24-25

Christy Dale Maurer/COMM

Joseph Labrecque/APRD

Nathan Schneider/MDST

Pat Clark/DCMP

Ross Taylor/JRNL

Brian Keegan/INFO

Neal Evers/ENVD (contributed to this commentary)

Committee Facilitator:

Steve Silva/CMCI Director of Technology Experience