Terms of Reference
Purpose
The EdTech Steering Committee advises the Chief Information Officer, University of Waterloo Executive, and as appropriate, other University committees, on uses of educational technology to ensure alignment with the university’s strategic directions, to enable and support innovation where appropriate, and to facilitate and enable sound pedagogy by providing an exceptional digital learning environment.
The Committee has the authority to recommend Edtech expenditures and priorities within the annual budget cycle. For significant investments, this group makes recommendations to the Executive (VPFA and Provost).
Scope
Provides strategic direction for and oversight of the use of central EdTech systems, software, services and support that are primarily used for teaching and learning, including established (enterprise), emerging (pilot) and potential (innovation) EdTech tools and applications.
Objectives
- Advise Provost and Vice-President, Finance and Administration (VPFA) on matters concerning centrally supported EdTech at Waterloo.
- Provide strategic leadership for Waterloo’s Edtech ecosystem to support institutional directions, as set out in the University’s strategic plan, digital learning strategy and the evolution of teaching and learning.
- Consultation with strategic academic groups to assess support for EdTech directions.
- Oversight for the development of Policies regarding the deployment, use and operation of learning technologies, in collaboration with other relevant academic committees.
- Uphold the guiding principles that EdTech should meet for adoption.
- Provide directions to EdTech Advisory Committee and make decisions about / seek senior level approval for the Advisory Committee’s recommendations related to EdTech directions, projects, practices, services, adoption of new EdTech and retirement of EdTech.
- Accountable for Edtech expenditures which involve:
- Ensuring fiscal responsibility /financial oversight over the EdTech budget and expenditures.
- Making decisions about Edtech investments within Committee budget parameters.
- Recommending EdTech investments to Provost and/or Vice- President, Finance & Administration (VPFA).
- Accountable for ensuring strategic and pedagogical alignment, resourcing, and funding for the EdTech 2-year plan which will provide guidance for identification, selection and adoption of university-wide learning technologies.
- Ensure appropriate and timely communications related to EdTech directions and decisions are provided to campus stakeholders.
- Publicly advocate for and support EdTech changes to campus stakeholders
Membership
Title
|
Current member
|
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Chief Information Officer (Co-chair)
|
Gregory Smith
|
Associate Vice-President, Academic (Co-chair)
|
David DeVidi
|
Associate Provost, Students
|
Chris Read
|
Associate Vice-President, Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Affairs
|
Jeff Casello
|
Registrar
|
Catherine Newell Kelly
|
Associate Registrar, Enrolment Services & Academic Policy
|
Jennifer Coghlin
|
Director, Centre for Teaching Excellence
|
Donna Ellis |
Director, Centre of Extended Learning
|
Aldo Caputo
|
Director, Instructional Technologies and Media Services
|
Pam Fluttert
|
Decision making
EdTech Steering is a strategic, decision-making body, in place to approve, monitor and support delivery of educational technology, projects and other initiatives that are recommended by the EdTech Advisory committee. Approvals will be based on committee consensus, and will consider
- Alignment to EdTech principles for additions/deletions/changes to EdTech ecosystem
- Alignment to applicable strategic plans (University, faculty, digital learning strategy, IT, et cetera)
- Resource capacity
- EdTech budget
- Other institutional priorities and/or dependencies
In the situation where consensus cannot be reached, the Chief Information Officer and/or Associate Vice-President, Academic may request additional information or consultation through other committees, EdTech stakeholders, or within the EdTech support units.
In the situations where the decision pertains to the addition/removal/change of centrally supported EdTech, the Chief Information Officer must approve the contract or equipment, as specified in Procedure 1.