The Technology Advisory Committee of the Presidents' Council is coordinating the process of selecting a vendor for the new statewide higher education network. The Committee is also developing the management structure for the network.

NJIN Board of Trustees representatives have been working with the Technology Advisory Committee regarding the role of NJIN in the new management structure. Discussions have covered a number of topics including the types of services NJIN has provided over the years to its members, funding, and expected training and staff development needs of participants in the new network.

On August 4th the Technology Advisory Committee met with NJIN Board representatives and reached the following statement of consensus:

A single interinstitutional technology management structure will be created which reports to the Presidents' Council. Given that we are still in the process of selecting a network vendor and that it is not yet known how many institutions will join the network initially, a phased approach will be taken to integrate the application services provided by NJIN with the new network management structure. The phased approach will have both organizations co-exist with delineated points of interaction, leading as soon as practicable to one robust governance structure to oversee higher education network operations and application services.

NJIN representatives and the Technology Advisory Committee's Policy Subgroup have agreed on points of interaction and are now working on these points:

The Technology Advisory Committee and its subgroups' members include individuals who are members of NJIN.

Prior to establishment of the Network Board, the Technology Advisory Committee will keep the NJIN Board informed regarding the contractual agreement and the capabilities of the new network.

NJIN representatives will work in collaboration with the policy subgroup to further delineate the range of services required to support the statewide network and to sharpen the definition of roles under the new management structure.

To ensure open lines of communication, the executive directors of the two organizations should attend each other's board meetings as nonvoting observers and should provide regular reports on their organization's activities.

The executive director of the network management structure should seek assistance from NJIN representatives for membership on ad hoc committees, needed workshops, presentations and events, etc.

NJIN should continue providing optional application services to institutions as determined by its Board, while working with the Network Board and executive director to integrate application services within the new network management structure as soon as practicable.

NJIN should discuss and coordinate the planning for any new initiatives with the network management structure during the period of coexistence.

NJIN will assist with implementation strategies related to getting institutions on board once a vendor agreement is reached.