The early strategic vision for information technology was founded in a university-wide planning effort conducted in 1993-95. The Strategic Planning Task Force in that period was emphatic on the importance of information technology in all aspects of campus operations. The following were the assumptions, vision, guiding principles and strategic priorities upon which the IT Plan was based.

Key university planning assumptions related to information technology:

• Higher education’s share of state funding will likely continue to decline in competition with other social needs.
• Demands will intensify for accountability and coordination of the full spectrum of public education, from kindergarten through baccalaureate level.
• Information technology will offer the prospect of radical changes in the delivery of learning experiences, in the ways people perform their work, and in provision of learning opportunities to new clienteles on both a local and national scale.
• WSU’s student clientele will continue to consist primarily of commuters drawn from the increasingly diverse population.
• Utah will be increasingly influenced by global forces.
• The pace of social and economic changes will favor more flexible, skilled, life-long learners.
• Pressure for delivery of higher educational services in Davis County will continue to rise.

Vision guiding the IT Plan:

• The University [should provide] an integrated information technology infrastructure that is accessible, useful and universally available. This includes the hardware, software, databases and telecommunication necessary for teaching, learning and other support processes both on and off campus, and adequate human resources support to allow users to be as effective and efficient as possible.

Guiding principles for achieving distinction through information technology:

• We will seek to serve our diverse student population through learning opportunities and support services delivered at times and places and in formats suited to individual needs.
• We will use information technologies to increase access to learning, to enhance quality of learning, and to increase productivity of university processes.

The four strategic priorities set forth in the WSU Strategic Vision for the Future were:

1. Enhance the quality of the learning experience.
2. Manage enrollment on and off campus.
3. Build image and identity.
4. Increase and improve use of resources.

Since 1995, the vision for information technology at WSU was refined and revised in discussions with internal and external groups.  In keeping with the vision and the four strategic priorities identified above, were identified (see link at left). In addition, individual operational plans outlining specific responsibilities, implementation actions and time frames were developed and posted.