About AS
The Academic Support (AS) unit, part of the Office of Information  Technology, provides leadership in the integration of technology with  pedagogy and research to meet the academic mission of the University.  We do this by creating and supporting physical and virtual teaching,  learning and research environments; by assisting those who use these  environments to not only meet their teaching, learning or research  goals, but be innovative in the process; and by fostering  relationships with key partners, in formal and informal settings.

We will focus on these three areas through the following activities:

Environments
To create, support and enhance physical and virtual environments for teaching, learning and research by:

• Providing expanded course management capabilities and content management capabilities
• Increasing access to technology in classrooms
• Creating an environment for exploration into new tools and techniques
• Enhancing communication and collaboration tools and services for teaching, learning and research
• Enhancing and developing formal and informal integrated technology environments for teaching, learning & research

Support
To provide user-centered services to support the use, integration and innovation of technology resources in teaching, learning & research by:

• Expanding level & expertise of support staff
• Implementing a faculty-centered team approach to design & development
• Developing a more student-centered focus for appropriate services
• Modeling and incorporating best practices in training, design, development and support

Outreach
To foster relationships with key partners, both on and off campus, to further the academic mission of the institution by:

• Building relationships with key partners & stakeholders
• Developing a closer linkage with Undergraduate Studies
• Celebrating and promoting faculty accomplishments
• Providing leadership in academic technology efforts at the local, regional and national levels
• Taking an active role in setting the instructional technology agenda at the USM and local levels