Executive Summary

Since its inception in 1997-98, the Instructional Enhancement Initiative (IEI) has been an integral part of the College's undergraduate teaching program. Through the introduction of course websites, the MyUCLA student portal, and enhanced access to computing laboratories across campus, the IEI has affected every aspect of undergraduate education at UCLA.

With over $5 million in appropriations annually, the IEI supports an average of 1,300 course websites per quarter and over twenty computing facilities across campus, including the College Library Instructional Computing Commons (CLICC). In addition, the IEI supports a portion of MyUCLA, the premier student web portal, and other innovative teaching initiatives in language, science, and liberal arts. Simply put, the IEI has transformed how undergraduate instruction is delivered at UCLA.

Students today exhibit an extraordinary thirst and sophistication for technology. The rapidly evolving technological landscape, coupled with an increasingly sophisticated student population, has forced universities across the nation to rethink the best uses of technology as means to providing quality education. UCLA is no exception. Although there continues to be a set of basic or standard services for which the IEI Program supports - namely, course websites and student computing labs - opportunities exist to help further the use of technology as a means to enhancing undergraduate instruction. The Common Collaboration Learning Environment (CCLE), for example, has quickly bourgeoned as an important campus initiative in the development and standardization of online teaching and research functions.¹ In addition, multimedia instruction such as web casting and video streaming are quickly becoming the norm rather than the exception.

At a more fundamental level, issues relating to the strengthening of course websites, including faculty participation, continue to be of great importance. Faculty participation in adopting even the most basic tools fall short of 100%. A small contingent of faculty (less than 5%) refuse to embrace technology and the use of online tools, citing that class attendance and participation will undoubtedly suffer. In addition, although there appears to be sufficient standardization with regard to course websites, one must be careful in adopting a "one size fits all" model, as these websites must be viewed within the context of other aspects of the discipline(s) they serve. Faculty must continue to be given autonomy to develop and integrate online tools, as such tools and their evolving technologies may very well define the fabric of the undergraduate learning experience.

In the end, two things are certain: one, a significant majority of College faculty have incorporated course website and associated online materials into their course offerings. This is rather important in that it signifies a general willingness of College faculty in recognizing the needs of students and the role that technology plays in furthering our educational mission. And two, we continue to have a healthy and productive debate with regard to the advantages and disadvantages that such online learning tools have on undergraduate education in general.

The following review of the Instructional Enhancement Initiative (IEI) Program is a departure from the College's Spring 2003 report (see section 5 for a complete copy of the Spring 2003 report). What follows in the next five sections of this report are:

1. Statements from the College deans;
2. Statistical and utilization reports with regard to course websites, student computing labs, and the MyUCLA web portal;
3. Financial statements for each of the divisions in receipt of IEI resources;
4. Recommendations and other issues;
5. Reference materials.

The College wishes to take this time to thank the campus leadership and the Student Fee Advisory Committee for their continued support of the IEI. In addition, the College wishes to thank the countless numbers of dedicated faculty and staff who devote their time and energy to this important program.


Patricia O'Brien
Executive Dean, UCLA College