Villanova University (VU) is a comprehensive, coeducational institution located in the western suburbs of Philadelphia. One major strategic goal defined by the University's Information Technology office (UNIT) is to promote sharing and delivery of information to anyone, any place, any time through the use of state-of-the-art technology tools. To that end, VU rebuilt its Information Technology infrastructure which included the implementation of a new phone system, campus wide network, a comprehensive set of integrated administrative systems including a Library Information system, high technology classrooms, the deployment of networked PCs for every full-time faculty and staff, and the expansion of the network to all residence halls.

Our case study for the CNI IWIS project does not have a definite starting and ending point, but is rather a snapshot in the middle of a probably never ending thrust. The snapshot is taken at a time when the University has completed the implementation of a comprehensive set of administrative application packages and is faced to respond to ever increasing user demands for information. It coincides with the release of the University's WWW internet and intranet which contain vast amounts of information of all types, as well as the implementation of departmental imaging projects that capture application materials and photo images of all University constituents. The deployment of these various systems created vast amounts of electronic information of various types controlled by various constituents. However, the synergy that turns information into knowledge did not materialize as a result of these systems. It is derived only when isolated information is linked and put in context. Our case study reviews how Villanova University implemented state-of-the-art information systems and how it plans to leverage its investments to create an institutional knowledge base.

Villanova University IWIS Case Study
March, 1998

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