2008 IT Additional Information
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Arkansas Extension faces unique opportunities and challenges because its headquarters are approximately 200 miles from the main campus. This distance has handicapped some of our faculty, who could have otherwise contributed to research requiring the high bandwidth delivered through I2 if it had been available to us. Connection to ARE-ON is goal for IT within the next two years. Initially, the Extension connection will deliver 1Gb speeds, approximately 100 times current bandwidth through a partnership with our sister campus University of Arkansas Little Rock.
Texas AgriLife: In the past year the Agriculture Program at Texas A&M has undergone a branding/marketing evaluation and change. Dr. Larry Lippke, Head of Extension Information Technology retired during the year. These events provided an opportunity for a in depth review of IT operations which resulted in a decision to broaden the scope of the existing Extension IT unit and restructure organizationally. In July a new IT Director position was filled and a new IT organizational road map is under development that will include support for not only Extension, but the Research and Teaching components as well.
