what is iRoc?

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 what is iFellows?

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The MORE PEOPLE
who participate,

the MORE IDEAS
we will generate,

the MORE INFLUENCE
we will have,

the MORE CHANGE
we can promote,

and the MORE SERVICES
we can provide to the
University community.

iFellow (Innovation Fellows in Technology) Mission

Technology is changing so fast that no one organization is able to look into all the new products and services available. We need a systematic way to research new products, test them in the University environment, and implement those products and services that have the best chance of improving support for the University’s mission.

The iFellow Program will be made up of first adopters who try out innovative new hardware and software as they appear on the market. They will agree to find and try the devices, or software in their real, working environment. These iFellows will make presentations of their findings to a wider circle of interested people. Also, working in conjunction with managers in the Office of Information Technology (OIT), Academic & Distributed Computing Services (ADCS) and Networking and Telecommunication Services (NTS), the iFellows will provide useful knowledge and experience in helping to determine what new products and services should be rolled out to the University community.

Organization/Membership

The iFellow program will be limited to 20 iFellows. The make-up of this group will be:

• 8 OIT staff
• 4 students
• 4 non-OIT staff
• 4 faculty members

Nominations will be received online. A review committee will select the iFellows who have been nominated to fill the slots as indicated above.

Selection Criteria for iFellows

1. Nominations can come from students, staff, or faculty. You may nominate yourself.
2. The nominee must be interested in technology in general.
3. The nominee must have certain technology hobbies having to do with computer networks, communications, phones, computer software, peripherals, hardware devices, etc.
4. The nominee must be interested in sharing their ideas with the University as a whole.
5. The nominee must be willing to let the University implement their idea, if a decision is made to do so.
6. The nominee must commit to attending a meeting at least once per month where other iFellows present their ideas, and provide input on the value of those ideas.
7. The nominee will serve a term of one year.

Operation of the iFellow Program

This program will be announced to the following groups: residence halls, ADCS/NTS, CITP and DMC. These groups will assist in informing other people of the nomination process and how to join as an associate member. iFellows will be allowed to spend up to $1,000 per year on new hardware and/or software to be tested.

Results

Managers from NTS and ADCS will attend the monthly meetings of the iFellows. The managers will determine how best these new products and services will fit into their areas. Each pilot project that a manager starts from an iFellow idea/recommendation will be given a $2,500 budget. Our goal is to have a minimum of four pilot projects each year with a minimum of two pilot projects leading to development of a University-wide application of that product or service.

Relationship Between the iFellow Program and the iRoc Club

iFellows are the core charter members for the iRoc club. iRoc is open to all students, staff, faculty and people from businesses that have a business relationship with the University of Minnesota. It is our intent to grow the iRoc club to over 1,000 members as soon as possible. Every other month the iFellow Program and the iRoc Club will merge their meetings into one. At these meetings, iRoc members may make presentations, as well as iFellow members, on new ideas/devices.

iRoc + iFellow = Top University