USHE Teaching Technologies Council

I. Role of the USHE Teaching & Technologies Council (UTTC)

This USHE Council acts as an advisory and working group to the Utah System of Higher Education Chief Academic Officers and Chief Information Officers assisting them with technology- enriched learning initiatives. The council may assist with:

• Promoting cooperation among and between units supporting teaching technology application such as: instructional technology centers, campus information technology, media support units, libraries and disability services at USHE institutions
• Fostering research, innovation, effectiveness and efficiency through cooperative teaching technology initiatives
• Providing a means for the exchange of ideas and information on instructional technology practices and services
• Maximizing limited resources by cooperatively licensing, developing and operating teaching technology platforms and avoiding expensive duplicate processes and purchases
• Maximizing use of learning resources and analytical data through integrated shared technology platforms and processes
• Advocating for excellence in teaching technology practices and services

II. Membership of UTTC

On or before September 1st each biennium, the UTTC Chair will send a memorandum to each institution’s CIO requesting that they consult with their respective CAO and jointly appoint UTTC members for two-year terms. Of those appointed, one member should be identified as the voting representative.

The UTTC shall consist of:

• A voting representative, having broad responsibility for instructional and learning technology activities and initiatives within their respective institution
• Non-voting representation of other institutional leadership involved in learning technology activities as appointed by their institution’s CIO and CAO.
• A non-voting advisory representative from the USHE CIOs
• A non-voting advisory representative from the USHE CAOs
• A non-voting advisory representative from the Utah Academic Library Consortium (UALC)
• A non-voting advisory representative from the Utah Education Network
• A non-voting advisory representative from the USHE Teaching and Learning Group (UTLG)

Representatives shall make efforts to participate in meetings, either on-site or via alternative methods. Representatives may designate a proxy to ensure the achievement of a quorum, as well as to ensure voting representation for the institution represented.

III. Terms of UTTC Members

Term of service is at the discretion of the respective appointing CIO and CAO. UTTC Chair shall request a renewal from each of the respective CIOs every two years. The UALC and UEN representatives term of service is at the discretion of the their respective leadership. The UTTC Chair will request membership renewal every two years from these organizations.

IV. UTTC Chair

The UTTC shall elect a Chairperson every two years. The Chair’s term shall run from September 1 through August 30. Chair will serve for two consecutive years.

V. UTTC Chair-Elect

The UTTC Chair-elect shall shadow the UTTC Chair during the last 6 months of the term before Chair-elect becomes the UTTC Chair.

VI. UTTC Chair Elections and Responsibilities

A. Chair Election:
Before August 30 every two years, the Council will receive notice from the current Chair concerning Committee membership for the following term. At the final meeting of the year, a Chair will be elected by vote of the continuing Committee members.

B. Responsibilities of officers:
The Chairperson shall

• Schedule, coordinate agendas and lead all meetings of the Council
• Ensure that the Council functions smoothly and meets obligations, as outlined in the Charter
• Report Council actions and recommendations to the USHE CIOs and CAOs
• Represent UTTC at UEN Advisory Committee meetings or designate replacement when unable to attend Represent the Council where appropriate
• Establish a schedule of regular meetings and call special meetings with at least seven business days’ notice to Council members

The Chair-elect shall

• Participate in all meetings of the Council
• Coordinate closely with the current chairperson to learn the roles and processes of the meetings
• Represent the Chair when needed/assigned

VII. Responsibilities of UTTC

The responsibilities of the Council are to review and provide recommendations to the USHE CIOs and CAOs on learning and technology issues. In so doing, the Council serves as a supportive body that helps to create, validate, and prioritize learning and technology agendas that lead to timely and appropriate attention to further the advancement of institutions of higher education throughout the State of Utah. Such activities may include:

• Project proposals and operational issues that may be brought to the Council by any voting or non-voting member, or by the USHE leadership
• Appropriate criteria for selecting and evaluating the feasibility and value of statewide learning technology initiatives
• Appropriate benchmarks and ongoing metrics to measure the effectiveness and value of USHE’s activities in teaching and learning with technology
• Create and oversee sub-committees and workgroups to further the work of the UTTC.
• Approve requests to add, modify, or remove responsibilities addressing other matters of common concern

VIII. Committees & Task Forces

A. Working Committees:

• Service to a working committee can be fulfilled by voting members of the Committee, non-voting and ex-officio members of the Committee, or other persons deemed appropriate by the Committee
• There are no limits on consecutive terms
• There will be a minimum of three members for each standing committee
• The maximum number of members is determined for each standing committee
• UTTC members, by majority vote, may create or disband standing committees concerned with activities consistent with the purpose of the UTTC.

B. Task Forces

• UTTC or a working committee may, from time to time, form task forces focused on satisfying specific needs.
• Task force participation can come from any qualified persons deemed necessary by the Council or committee commissioning the task force
• Task forces will have clearly defined scope, tasks, timelines and deliverables. The task force is dissolved upon acceptance of the deliverables by the commissioning body.

IX. Council Meetings

• The UTTC shall meet face-to-face at least two times annually. Remote participation is acceptable when available.
• A quorum for Council action shall consist of a majority (half + 1) voting members of the UTTC, which is necessary to hold regular and/or called meetings. Proxy or designated representatives do not count toward a quorum.
• Council agendas should generally consist of the following types of items: Reports, Discussion, Action.
• Council action requires a majority of those attending any meeting at which a quorum is present.
• Council actions results will be summarized and reported to the USHE CIOs and CAOs by the Council Chair

X. Amendments

This Charter may be amended by a 2/3rd vote of the voting members of UTTC at any regular or called meeting at which a quorum is present. UTTC members must be given notice of proposed amendments at least two weeks before the meeting at which they are considered.

Appendix

A. Rotation Schedule

• Rotation for each term will run 1 Sep through 30 Aug.
• The UTTC Chair rotation will follow the following institutional order unless circumstances arise requiring an amendment to the schedule:
  • University of Utah: 2014 - 15 (Cory Stokes)
  • Utah State University: 2015 - 2017 (John Louviere)
  • Weber State University: 2017 - 2019 (Shelly Belflower)
  • Utah Tech University: 2019 - 2021 (Ryan Hobbs)
  • Utah Valley University: 2021 - 2023 (Jason Hill)
  • Snow College Southern: (Justin Thorpe)
  • University of Utah
  • Salt Lake Community College
  • (UTech locations not included. However, we could revisit this in the future.)