Learning Technologies Advisory Committee

LTAC primarily serves an advisory function, but it also may, in limited situations, serve an approving function. 

As an advisory body, LTAC makes recommendations to University leadership about teaching and learning technologies. With this focus LTAC members consider (among other factors) the technology-related instructional needs of the institution, the extent to which existing technologies meet those needs, the risks and benefits of changing campus-wide instructional technologies, the perceptions and experiences of faculty and students using campus learning technologies, and the capacity of current resources (financial, technical, human) to support changes in campus learning technologies. 

LTAC is aligned with broader ITS governance structures and processes and formally operates as one of several IT Portfolio Teams. As such, LTAC may approve the addition of technologies to the University's IT service catalogue (e.g., the master list of technologies provided and supported by the University) in cases where (1) approved technologies do not require capital investment and (2) the University has existing capacity to implement and support the technologies. The committee will develop formal processes for demonstrating that such capacity exists and that all appropriate approvals have been obtained from relevant stakeholders. In situations that require LTAC approval, LTAC members will be guided by consideration of multiple factors including (but not limited to): approval by relevant stakeholders, instructional needs assessment, potential impact on teaching and learning, availability of IT resources to support the implementation and ongoing service, and so on.

Because the success of teaching and learning technologies requires both technical and academic expertise, LTAC is co-chaired by one person representing Information Technology Services and one person representing Academic Affairs.

The current co-chairs of the Learning Technologies Advisory Committee are Kyle Collins (Assistant VP - Technology Transformation) and Terri Rebman (Professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Director - Institute for Biosecurity). The co-chairs facilitate the work of LTAC; they serve in ex officio, non-voting roles.

View a List of the 2019-2020 LTAC Members

LTAC is comprised almost entirely of faculty members, with only a small number of non-faculty members.  Faculty members are selected by their deans, serve a representational role within their college/school, and are voting members of LTAC.

The committee also has two student representatives (one Student Government Association undergraduate member and one Graduate Student Association graduate/professional student member), both of whom serve a representational role and serve as voting members of the committee. Staff members are key representatives from Information Technology Services and from Academic Affairs. They serve a support function, rather than representational one, sharing sharing specific knowledge and expertise to enhance the committee's ability to do its work. As such, staff members serve as ex-officio, non-voting members of the committee.

Occasionally, other members of the SLU community (e.g., other ITS staff) may be invited to an LTAC meeting in which their expertise is needed to inform decision-making.

LTAC members serve as essential conduits for information between the area they represent and the committee. LTAC membership, therefore, is intended to be representational for faculty and student members of the committee. Those who agree to serve are expected to:

• Attend monthly LTAC meetings
• Share information about LTAC's work (e.g., decisions made, questions considered, emerging issues, opportunities for feedback, etc.) with the college/school in a manner that ensures broad knowledge-sharing (e.g., through the dean, faculty council, etc.)
• Understand and represent the concerns of the college/school regarding technologies used for teaching and learning (e.g., course management system/Blackboard, lecture capture system, classroom technologies, etc.)

Any LTAC members who find they cannot meet these expectations should talk with their dean about appointing a new representative. The commitment to attend monthly meetings is especially important, as the majority of LTAC's work will occur during these meetings.

The committee meets monthly during the academic year.  LTAC will meet on the third Wednesday of the month, 2:30-4 p.m., in the Vitale Board Room (Cook Hall room 340).