Listening tour covers goals, technology

The future is unknowable, but Information Services and UO Libraries will be ready for it.

The University of Oregon departments have launched a collaborative “Listening Tour” to better understand what faculty, researchers, administrators, staff, GTFs and students across campus have to say about goals, pending initiatives and projects relating to technology.

Over the coming weeks, the university community is invited to join sessions that will be held at schools, colleges and meeting/conference rooms across campus.

Melissa Woo"We plan to create a holistic view of the university's directions for teaching, learning, research, operations, and services in order to help inform the direction of the university's technology," said Melissa Woo, vice provost for Information Services and CIO. Information Services is the central technology department at the UO, offering campus-wide services such as usernames, passwords, account-related functions, telephones, voicemail and wired or wireless networking.

A change in a department’s direction can bring a change in technology needs.

When the School of Journalism and Communication expanded instruction to include a wider range of media, video cameras were purchased to support training in shooting and editing video. Likewise, the relocation of some psychology faculty to the Lewis Integrative Science Building will raise questions about technology needs, said Patrick Chinn, interim communications manager for Information Services.

“This is more than a discussion about technology,” Chinn said. “We want to know where a school or department is headed so we can better meet their needs.”

UO Libraries has long provided campus with instructional technology services such as the Blackboard Learning Management System, video production and distribution and development of interactive learning objects and advanced websites.

Deborah Carver“If we're going to succeed in providing continuous good service, we have to start by building and sustaining great relationships with the faculty and other IT professionals,” said Deborah Carver, Philip H. Knight Dean of Libraries. “That requires careful listening and the willingness to put aside certain assumptions. The listening tour is a great start in this direction.”

Tour representatives have met with the psychology department; DeptComp, the university's IT  community; student employees of Information Services; and Vice President for Finance and Administration Jamie Moffitt. Upcoming sessions include:

  • Registrar's Office: 1/10 from 2:00pm-3:00pm in Oregon Hall 461
  • Student Affairs: 1/11 from 2:00pm-3:00pm in EMU's Metolius+Owyhee Rooms
  • School of Music and Dance: 1/16 from 3:00pm-4:00pm in Music 178
  • Officers of Administration Council Forum: 1/17 from 1:00pm-2:00pm in EMU's Ben Linder Room (new location)
  • UO Libraries: 1/17 from 11:00am to noon in 106 Knight Library
  • new! Office of International Affairs: 1/18 from 1:00pm-2:00pm in 360 Oregon Hall (new location)
  • new! College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Academics: 1/23 from 2:00pm-3:00pm in 109 Friendly Hall
  • Residential FIG assistants: 1/23 from 5:00pm-6:00pm in LLC 125
  • new date! Lundquist College of Business: 1/25 from 1:00pm-2:00pm in Lillis 221
  • CAS Administration: 1/28 from 10:00am-11:00am in 109 Friendly Hall
  • new!  Honors College: 1/28 from 3:30pm-4:30pm in 301 Chapman Hall
  • new!  School of Law: 1/29 from 12:30pm to 1:30pm in 241 Law School
  • new!  College of Education: 2/5 from 10:30am to 11:00am in 119 Lokey Hall
  • School of Journalism and Communication: 2/5 from 3:00pm-4:00pm (location TBA)
  • GTFs: 2/8 from 1:00pm-2:00pm in EMU Rogue Room
  • School of Architecture and Allied Arts: 2/21 from 4:00pm-5:00pm (location TBA)

For more information, visit the UO Technology Listening Tour.

- by communications specialist Matt Cooper, UO Office of Strategic Communications