4.1. Priorities 

The Task Force realizes that not all goals or recommendations presented in this document are of equal importance. Among the members of the Task Force, there is general agreement that the process of change should start with increased coordination and information services. Highest priority is assigned to recommendations 3.4.1 (Establish a University-wide Telecommunications and Computing Coordinator), 3.4.2 (Establish a Council on Information Technologies and Services), 3.4.3 Establish Support Coordinating Committees), 3.4.4 (Establish a Computing Support Services Center), 3.2.4. (NERDC contract-based funding system), 3.2.5 (Move forward on a Centralized Database Management System), 3.1.1 (University Libraries resources and academic information systems), and 3.5.2 (Strategic plan).

The priority recommendations acknowledge the need for increased coordination and expansion of information technology activities at the University of Florida The Council and coordinating committees provide the forum for discussions on polices practice and directions. The University-wide Coordinator is the spokes-person for information technologies and services and provides oversight of the managers of these services. The Computing Support Services Center provides a single point of contact for user support and training. The Strategic Plan lets everyone know which way we are going. The Centralized Database Management System and University libraries/Academic Information System projects attempt to extend information services over electronic media to the whole University community. The NERDC funding system change eliminates an immediate roadblock to increased development and expansion of information services. All of these changes and additions to the information technology environment of the University are seen as prerequisite to the additional recommendations of this report. The Task Force recommends that these changes be implemented immediately. 

4.2. Establishing and Monitoring Performance

The Task Force recommends that a group or individual be assigned responsibility for implementation of each recommendation in this report. The performance criteria for evaluating the group leaders or individuals should address how well they implement the recommendations of this report and move toward the suggested goals. Major groups, like the libraries and database developers will be able to establish more detailed personal goals once specific implementation plans are developed. 

4.3. Periodic Reevaluation

Periodic reevaluation of the telecommunications and computing environment at the University of Florida is critical for identifying deficiencies in our technology and services. The Task Force recommends that reviewers from outside the SUS be brought in every five years to evaluate the state of information technology resources at the University of Florida. Such experts are better able to gauge whether technology directions at the University are paralleling national and international trends than a task force of University personnel.