MARA 259-10
Records and Information Preservation and Security
Fall 2009 Greensheet

Dr. Gillian C. Oliver
E-mail
Office Location: Virtual via Skype (skype name: gillianol)
Office Hours: TBD


Greensheet Links
Textbooks and Readings
Course Requirements
Course Calendar
Resources
ANGEL
ANGEL Tutorials
iSchool eBookstore
 

Angel Information: This course has an Angel site. The enrollment code for Angel will be distributed to all students the first day of the semester via MySJSU messaging.

Course Description

Records and archives preservation, recovery and disaster techniques; information systems and networks preservation and security administration and maintenance; risk analysis; electronic and non-electronic media protection methods and materials; encryption management strategies, trusted digital repositories. Not repeatable.

Course Prerequisites: MARA 200, 202, 204

Course Objectives

Course Goals and Student Learning Objectives
Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  1. articulate and apply the fundamental principles and activities involved with analyzing, designing, implementing, and evaluating a disaster preparedness program for archives and records centers
  2. describe the emerging field of information security and the technological aspects of implementing network and information security in a recordkeeping environment
  3. outline and evaluate the legislative and policy environment and its effects on privacy and security of records (e.g. HIPAA, Sarbanes-Oxley) and information and be able to implement recordkeeping activities in compliance within appropriate jurisdictions

MARA Core Competencies Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  • F.   Apply fundamental management theories and principles to the administration of records and recordkeeping organizations
  • G.   Know the legal requirements and ethical principles involved in records management and the role the recordkeeper plays in institutional compliance and risk management
  • H.   Be conversant with current information technologies and best practices relating to records preservation and security

Course Requirements

Course Assignments
This course requires a number of assignments designed to introduce students to the concepts covered in class andin the readings, as well as practical applications of methods.  Students will work in groups for the Disaster Preparedness Plan, with a specific recordkeeping scenario and forms (provided by instructor via Angel).

Details for the assignments will be given at the first class meeting and requirements for each will be posted under your Course Documents on Angel.

Students accumulate 100 points to determine the course grade.  See Grading below for details.

  • Case Study Report (10 points, due Week 6).  The student will research and write a 5-page report describing an actual disaster and its impact on either current records management activities or archival records.  Reports will be posted on the Angel Discussion Board.
  • Disaster preparedness plan group project (30 points, due Week 9).  Using online tools provided by the California Preservation Clearinghouse, students, working in teams, will formulate a comprehensive disaster preparedness plan for a fictional organization provided by instructor.
  • Research report (25 points, due Week 12).  The student will research and write a 10-page report on the background, content, and implementation of current legislation and public policy appropriate to their jurisdiction relating to records security, records retention and use, and privacy.
  • Research report (25 points, due Week 15).  The student will research and write a 10-page report on a technological aspect of information security (encryption, firewalls, viruses, for example).
  • Participation in Angel discussion forums  (10 points)

Grading

  1. Course grades are determined by the accumulation of 100 possible points, distributed as outlined above under Course Assignments.
  2. This class follows the standard SLIS Grading Scale.

Top of Page

Course Calendar

  • Week 1: Preservation and Security in the Continuum Context
  • Week 2: Disaster planning and business continuity
  • Week 3: Disaster management
  • Week 4: Protection methods: Current Records
  • Week 5: Protection methods: Archival Records
  • Week 6: Preservation/conservation materials and techniques, preservation resources
  • Week 7: Digital sustainability issues Case study report due
  • Week 8: Digital sustainability strategies
  • Week 9: Reformatting
  • Week 10: Access: Privacy and Freedom of Information Disaster plan due
  • Week 11: Access: Further societal and legal considerations
  • Week 12: Protection methods: Access restrictions Research report due
  • Week 13: Digital security: risks and issues
  • Week 14: Digital security: strategies
  • Week 15: Management issues, including user and staff training, surveys and assessments Research report due

Textbooks and Readings

Readings

  • California Preservation Program (2005). Information resources portal: Emergency preparedness and response.  Available online: http://calpreservation.org/disasters/
  • Jones, V. & Keyes, C. (2001). Emergency management for records and information programs.  Lenexa, KS: ARMA International.
  • ARMA International. (2003). Vital records: Identifying, managing, and recovering business-critical records.  Lenexa, KS: ARMA International.
  • ARMA International. (2006). Risk profiler self-assessment for e-discovery.  Lenexa, KS: ARMA International.

Other readings as assigned, full list available on Angel.

No Textbooks For This Course



Grading Scale

The standard SJSU School of Information Grading Scale is utilized for all iSchool courses:

97 to 100 A
94 to 96 A minus
91 to 93 B plus
88 to 90 B
85 to 87 B minus
82 to 84 C plus
79 to 81 C
76 to 78 C minus
73 to 75 D plus
70 to 72 D
67 to 69 D minus
Below 67 F

 

In order to provide consistent guidelines for assessment for graduate level work in the School, these terms are applied to letter grades:

  • C represents Adequate work; a grade of "C" counts for credit for the course;
  • B represents Good work; a grade of "B" clearly meets the standards for graduate level work;
    For core courses in the MLIS program (not MARA) — INFO 200, INFO 202, INFO 204 — the iSchool requires that students earn a B in the course. If the grade is less than B (B- or lower) after the first attempt you will be placed on administrative probation.  You must repeat the class the following semester. If -on the second attempt- you do not pass the class with a grade of B or better (not B- but B) you will be disqualified.
  • A represents Exceptional work; a grade of "A" will be assigned for outstanding work only.

Students are advised that it is their responsibility to maintain a 3.0 Grade Point Average (GPA).

University Policies

General Expectations, Rights and Responsibilities of the Student

As members of the academic community, students accept both the rights and responsibilities incumbent upon all members of the institution. Students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with SJSU's policies and practices pertaining to the procedures to follow if and when questions or concerns about a class arises. See University Policy S90-5 at http://www.sjsu.edu/senate/docs/S90-5.pdf. More detailed information on a variety of related topics is available in the SJSU catalog at http://info.sjsu.edu/web-dbgen/catalog/departments/LIS.html. In general, it is recommended that students begin by seeking clarification or discussing concerns with their instructor. If such conversation is not possible, or if it does not serve to address the issue, it is recommended that the student contact the Department Chair as a next step.

Dropping and Adding

Students are responsible for understanding the policies and procedures about add/drop, grade forgiveness, etc. Refer to the current semester's Catalog Policies section at http://info.sjsu.edu/static/catalog/policies.html. Add/drop deadlines can be found on the current academic year calendars document on the Academic Calendars webpage at http://www.sjsu.edu/provost/services/academic_calendars/. The Late Drop Policy is available at http://www.sjsu.edu/aars/policies/latedrops/policy/. Students should be aware of the current deadlines and penalties for dropping classes.

Information about the latest changes and news is available at the Advising Hub at http://www.sjsu.edu/advising/.

Consent for Recording of Class and Public Sharing of Instructor Material

University Policy S12-7, http://www.sjsu.edu/senate/docs/S12-7.pdf, requires students to obtain instructor's permission to record the course and the following items to be included in the syllabus:

  • "Common courtesy and professional behavior dictate that you notify someone when you are recording him/her. You must obtain the instructor's permission to make audio or video recordings in this class. Such permission allows the recordings to be used for your private, study purposes only. The recordings are the intellectual property of the instructor; you have not been given any rights to reproduce or distribute the material."
    • It is suggested that the syllabus include the instructor's process for granting permission, whether in writing or orally and whether for the whole semester or on a class by class basis.
    • In classes where active participation of students or guests may be on the recording, permission of those students or guests should be obtained as well.
  • "Course material developed by the instructor is the intellectual property of the instructor and cannot be shared publicly without his/her approval. You may not publicly share or upload instructor generated material for this course such as exam questions, lecture notes, or homework solutions without instructor consent."

Academic integrity

Your commitment, as a student, to learning is evidenced by your enrollment at San Jose State University. The University Academic Integrity Policy F15-7 at http://www.sjsu.edu/senate/docs/F15-7.pdf requires you to be honest in all your academic course work. Faculty members are required to report all infractions to the office of Student Conduct and Ethical Development. The Student Conduct and Ethical Development website is available at http://www.sjsu.edu/studentconduct/.

Campus Policy in Compliance with the American Disabilities Act

If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, or if you need to make special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible, or see me during office hours. Presidential Directive 97-03 at http://www.sjsu.edu/president/docs/directives/PD_1997-03.pdf requires that students with disabilities requesting accommodations must register with the Accessible Education Center (AEC) at http://www.sjsu.edu/aec to establish a record of their disability.

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