The IT Transformation Project Team which is comprised of the university’s senior management and the Robinson Group has determined that a more centralized information technology function would better support the university’s needs and create a more efficient and effective IT operation. While there may be a need for some IT support to remain in a limited number of areas across the university, the goal, where it makes sense, is to centralize as much of the IT function as possible under the leadership of a Chief Information Officer and to do so by December 31, 2010.
Chancellor Reaves
“Having the proper technology infrastructure is extremely important to the University because it has a significant impact on so much of our operation and on so many of the goals within our Strategic Plan,” said Chancellor Donald J. Reaves. “As we work to improve our processes and our customer service, it is critical that our IT operation provides for the maximum utilization of all of our resources and that our information systems are fully integrated and functional. It is also important that the technology infrastructure keep pace as we increase distance and online learning.”
While a national search continues for the CIO, the first step in creating a leadership team under the new structure has been implemented. Effective immediately, the following positions and people will report directly to the CIO: instructional Technologies Manager, Shira Hedgepeth; Multi-Media Technology Director, Richard Edwards; Infrastructure Director, Terry Harmon; Network Operations Director, Glenn Knox; Administration Application Development and Support Director, James Sutton; Business Operations Manager, Alberta Mickens. Dr. Alvaro Galves will remain Director of CETL with a dotted-line reporting relationship to the CIO.
Additionally, Constance Mallette has been named Director for the new Process Improvement, Reporting and Analysis operations. She will report directly to Dr. Dorcas Colvin, Executive Vice Chancellor for management and Strategic Initiatives, but will have a dotted-line reporting relationship to the CIO.
“In working with the IT Transformation Project, we discovered that a new centralized organization would bring together the critical IT skills that are currently dispersed across the campus,” said Colvin, who is providing oversight for the project. “Many of our IT resources were being under-utilized while others were being stretched very thinly, often resulting in inefficiencies and inequities. Additionally, our current structure and decision-making process resulted in a long list of “projects” that the IT staff worked on without the benefit of collaboration and coordination of efforts within other areas of the department or the university. That often created duplication of effort and redundant spending. With a centralized organization, we know that we can offer improved IT services at a substantially reduced cost.”
Dr. Dorcas Colvin
As part of the IT Transformation Project, the university has also created a new governance model that includes a University Technology Advisory Committee. Working with that group will be an Academic Technologies Advisory Committee and an Administrative and Business Technologies Committee that will provide advice on cost-effective and efficient technology applications in their respective areas. Additionally, an Information management Advisory Committee will provide advice on data standards, data management processes and data reporting.
“In addition to the work being done to enhance the technological support that is provided, the IT Team is working on a number of strategic initiatives that are scheduled to be completed by the end of the calendar year,” Colvin added. “They are currently working to implement Banner Payroll, e-Procurement through Banner, Banner Relations Management, a degree audit program, a facilities management program, Banner Workflow, a Banner travel and expense system as well as a new public website and an Intranet site for the entire university. This project work being done and the efforts to support the IT transformation are certainly time-consuming, but will provide much more efficient and effective operations when completed. Additionally, these will be accomplished while also providing long-term savings for the university.”
