IHETS Executive Committee approves plans as part of ongoing organizational restructuring

November 17, 2006
Contact: communications@ihets.org

Four action-oriented work plans were approved today by the executive committee to address the findings of internal and external review teams.

Both teams were charged with conducting a comprehensive organizational review during the third and fourth quarters of 2005, which is outlined in their Final Report and Recommendations to the IHETS Board of Directors submitted earlier this year.

Under the direction of Interim Director William D. Kramer, staff teams are working with IHETS' executive and operating committees to implement the plans, which target specific issues identified in the report:

• Technology services (technical operations committee)
• E-learning services (partnership committee)
• Pricing structure and guidelines (finance committee)
• Strategic communications (executive committee)

The technology and e-learning teams are conducting simultaneous studies to gather and report specific data related to existing and potential new IHETS services. They are reviewing usage data, patterns, and demand for existing services; identifying services which may need improvement and/or elimination; exploring potential demand for new services; prioritizing their findings for consideration by the board of directors; and establishing specific performance metrics and goals (an important task for both groups).

The goal of the pricing team is to ensure a combined revenue stream is available for IHETS to offer high-quality technology, e-learning, and network services. They are collecting data from a number of services and developing several different fee models for proposal, approval, and implementation during the third quarter (July 1) of 2007. The communication group is focusing on strategically targeting key consortium stakeholders and regularly issuing a series of new, outgoing communication updates designed to inform these groups about the organization and its value.

“Developing objective, synergistic plans are critical as we focus on improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the services provided to Indiana's higher education community and other partners,” Kramer reported, adding that long-term strategic planning will take place when 2007-09 appropriation levels, service offerings, and other information is available. This planning will also include the search for a permanent IHETS executive director.

For more information, e-mail communications@ihets.org.