Campus Policies Address Digital Content and Copyright;
Wireless Networks Show Big Gains

Colleges and universities are taking steps to address the growing concern about the unauthorized distribution of digital content on campus networks, according to new data from The Campus Computing Project. Two-thirds (66.2 percent) of the campuses participating in the 2003 Campus Computing Survey report having institutional policies intended to stop the downloading commercial music or video content from the Internet. These policies are most common among universities: almost four-fifths of universities (80.9 percent for public universities and 77.5 percent for private universities) have campus codes of conduct that focus on downloaded commercial content. In contrast about two-thirds of both public and private four-year colleges have codes of conduct regarding downloaded commercial content. Only half (49.6 percent) of community colleges participating in the 2003 Campus Computing Survey have campus policies that address the issue of downloaded content.

“The 2003 data confirm that colleges and universities are making significant efforts to respond to the concerns of media industry officials regarding the unauthorized distribution and downloading of music, video, and other commercial content on campus networks,” says Kenneth C. Green, founding director of The Campus Computing Project, a visiting scholar at The Claremont Graduate University and a visiting professor at Case Western Reserve University. However, while not condoning the activities of students and others who download music from the Internet, Green notes that college students have become an easy target for the media industries: “while growing numbers of consumers now have access to high speed networks from home, media industry groups that are understandably unhappy about the proliferation of digital content on the Internet continue to focus on college students because they represent a large, easily identifiable and easily targeted population.”
Green cites other data from the 2003 survey that reflect the campus commitment to protecting copyright. For example, almost all campuses (92.3 percent) have policies intended to stem the unauthorized duplication of commercial software; similarly about nine-in-ten (87.4 percent) have codes of conduct regarding the fair use of copyrighted content such as books and journal articles. “These policies did not emerge overnight,” says Green. “It took a few years, but in the end colleges and universities took steps to address industry concerns about both software piracy and content in coursepacks. The survey data confirm that colleges are taking action to respond to the problem created when students download copyrighted content on campus networks.

The survey data reveal some dramatic gains over the past year regarding campus planning for and the deployment of wireless networks (WiFI). For example, the portion of campuses reporting strategic plans for wireless networks rose to 45.5 percent in fall 2003, up from 34.7 percent in 2002 and 24.3 percent in 2001.

Almost four-fifths (77.2 percent) of the campuses participating in the 2003 survey report wireless LANS, up from two-thirds (67.9 percent) in 2002 and 29.6 percent in 2000. A seventh (14.2 percent) indicate that full-campus wireless networks are up and running at their institutions as of fall 2003, compared to a tenth (10.0 percent) in 2002 and just and 3.8 percent in 2000. Across all sectors, the 2003 data suggest that wireless services cover more than a quarter (27.4 percent) of the campus at institutions reporting wireless networks, compared to less than a fifth (18.3 percent) in 2002 and just 10.9 percent in 2001.

Wireless is clearly exploding across college campuses, much as it as in the corporate and consumer sectors,” says Green. “Rising expectations about wireless services are fostered in part by the recent, dramatic growth of inexpensive WiFi in the consumer sector. Students and faculty come to campus wondering why there is no wireless service in dorms, offices, classrooms, and the campus quad if they already have WiFI at home.

The 2003 survey data document the growing numbers of institutions that now have Web-based campus portals, up to 28.4 percent in 2003, from 21.2 percent in 2002. However, when asked to assess the campus IT infrastructure, campus portals rank lowest among 13 different IT services (2003 portal score 3.1; scale 1=poor; 7=excellent). In contrast, the two highest ranked IT infrastructure components are computer networks (5.9), and online library reference resources (5.6)

The 2002 survey data show slow, steady gains on selected eCommerce and eService issues. Over half (53.3 percent) of the nation’s colleges and universities can process credit card payments from their campus Web sites, up from two-fifths (40.5 percent) in 2002, 27.6 percent in 2001 and more than double the number from 2000 (18.6 percent). In contrast, just 5.1 percent of the campuses participating in the 1998 survey could process credit card transactions from their Web sites. More than three-fourths (76.6 percent) of the institutions participating in the 2003 survey report that their campus Web site offers on-line course registration, compared to just over two-thirds (70.9 percent) last year, half (55.4 percent) in 2001, 20.9 percent in 1998.

Again this year the survey data show improvements on a number of key eCommerce and eService measures across all sectors of higher education,” says Dr. Green. Yet he reports that the campus community is still playing catch-up on eCommerce and eService issues: “Considering the wide array of electronic commerce and electronic service options routinely available to students and faculty in the consumer and corporate sectors, it’s clear that the campus community is still roughly two years behind in its eCommerce/eService offerings.” At the end of the day, says Green, “the benchmarks are still Amazon, Abercrombie, and for some also AARP -- consumer sites that are all too familiar to students and faculty, and that offer a far richer, more customized information and services than are commonly found on most college and university Web sites.”

The 2003 survey confirms that budget cuts continue to cast a shadow over campus IT activities and investments. Fully two-fifths (41.3 percent) of the survey participants report budget cuts affecting academic computing this year, up from 32.6 percent in 2002 and just 18 percent in 2001. Similarly, just over two-fifths of the institutions report reduced funding for administrative computing, compared to almost one-third (31.0 percent) in 2002, and one-fifth (18.3 percent) in 2001. Across sectors, public institutions (universities, four-year colleges, and community colleges) were more likely to report budget cuts that private universities and four-year colleges.

Another indicator of troubled technology funding is the growing number of colleges and universities experiencing mid-year budget cuts. Fully one-third (32.4 percent) of the 2003 survey participants report mid-year budgets cuts this past year, up from 24.9 percent in 2002 and 8.0 percent in 2001. As above, the mid-year budget cuts were far more common among public institutions than private colleges and universities.

Budget cuts notwithstanding, some campus IT initiatives received additional funding this year. For example, half the institutions participating in the 2003 survey (49.7 percent) report increased funding for IT security issues, compared less than a tenth (8.9 percent) that experienced budget reductions affecting IT security.

ERP budgets also experienced gains in some institutions: a third of the institutions (31.1 percent) report increased funds for ERP software and services, compared to about one-seventh (15.1 percent) that experienced cuts in the ERP budget line.

The financial data suggest that institutions feel compelled to invest in security and enhanced information systems, despite the continuing budget problems that confront all sectors of higher education” says Green. Indeed, the 2003 survey data suggest that campus investments in upgrading or replacing administrative/ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) systems will continue, even as other parts of the IT budget may suffer. Just 15.1 percent of this year’s survey respondents report budget cuts affecting ERP software and services, almost double the number in 2002. In contrast, one-third (32.0 percent) report a budget increase for ERP software and services (about the same as in 2002). Additionally, about one-fifth (21.8 percent) now plan to delay or defer ERP replacement or upgrades, up slightly from 17.7 percent in 2002.

Even with budget cuts, colleges and universities buy – and consequently must dispose of – thousands of computers every year. As for the old computers, the data reveal that three-fourths (75.0 percent) of the institutions participating in the 2003 Survey have campus policies to encourage or mandate recycling of old/obsolete computer equipment.

Begun in 1990, The Campus Computing Survey, now in its 14th year, is the largest continuing study of computing and information technology in American higher education. The survey data are based on the responses provided by senior campus officials, typically the senior institutional technology officer (CIO/CTO, vice president for information technology, etc.) The 2003 survey report is based on data provided by campus officials representing 559 two- and four-year public and private colleges and universities across the United States. Survey respondents completed the questionnaire during summer and fall, 2003.

Copies of the 2003 Campus Computing Report will be available for delivery beginning on December 10, 2003 (price $37, plus $2.00 shipping/handling to US addresses) from Kenneth Green, c/o Campus Computing, PO Box 261242, Encino, CA 91426-1242. The report can also be ordered from The Campus Computing Web Site via the form below:

Order a Copy of the 2003 Campus Computing Survey

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© Kenneth C. Green, 2003.