Maryland's Public System of Higher Education

Board of Regents

Resolution on Technological Fluency

(January 21, 2000)

Introduction:

Information technology, which has entered our lives over a relatively brief period of time allowing little educational preparation for many people, is playing an increasingly important role in the work and personal lives of citizens.

There have been impressive claims for the potential benefits of information technology and many would like to realize those benefits.

In order to meet the demands of today's world and to adapt to changes in technology, individuals must learn sufficient foundational material to enable them to acquire new skills independently after the completion of their formal education.

Fluency with information technology requires contemporary skills, foundational concepts, and intellectual capabilities.

Technological fluency will be among the criteria upon which the world will judge the quality of the product produced by the University System of Maryland, i.e. its graduates.

It is imperative that every graduate of a USM institution be able to demonstrate technological fluency, that is, the ability in both their personal and their professional lives to use the technology available now and to adapt to the rapid and inevitable changes of the future.

Be It Resolved That:

The presidents and faculty leadership of the USM institutions shall develop institutional plans to assure that all graduates of USM institutions are information technology fluent, commensurate with the needs of the marketplace in their chosen majors and/or career choices.

Be It Further Resolved That:

The Chancellor shall report at the May 2000 meeting of the Committee on Education Policy on these institutional plans, including operational goals.