IT Governance
Each year a comprehensive review of information technology (IT) requests (i.e. maintenance, process improvement, enhancements, new functionality) for University systems is performed. Project requests for the next two years are submitted and consolidated by the Project Managers Team (PMT) for governance committee review.
Requests are evaluated based on need, cost, benefit, visibility/impact and risk, and those endorsed become part of the OIT Project Portfolio. Projects requiring one-time funding must be proposed to the Strategic Advisory Group on IT (SAGIT).
Administrative IT Governance
Aamusted University employs a collaborative approach to governing its administrative IT systems. This multi-group model ensures that the university’s technology infrastructure effectively serves faculty, staff, and students while prioritizing data security and standardization.
Here’s a breakdown of the potential benefits of this approach:
- Alignment with User Needs: By involving various groups, the governance model fosters communication and ensures that administrative systems address the evolving needs of faculty, staff, and students.
- Data Security and Privacy: Including groups focused on information security helps prioritize data protection and user privacy.
- Standardization and Efficiency: Collaboration can lead to standardized practices and technologies across departments, promoting efficiency and reducing compatibility issues.
Potential Groups Involved:
While the specific composition might vary, here are some possible groups that could participate in Aamusted University’s Administrative IT Governance:
- Faculty Representatives: Faculty input ensures that administrative systems support their teaching and research endeavors.
- Staff Representatives: Staff participation helps ensure systems cater to their daily administrative tasks and workflows.
- Student Representatives: Student involvement ensures systems are user-friendly and accessible for them.
- Information Security Office (ISO): Their expertise is crucial for maintaining robust data security practices.
- Operations and Planning (OP): Their role would be to optimize financial and operational aspects of administrative IT systems.
- Software and Application Services (SAS): This group provides technical expertise and support for the development and maintenance of administrative systems.
- Other Relevant Departments: Depending on the university’s structure, additional departments with a stake in administrative IT systems (e.g., Finance, Human Resources) might be involved.
Governance Activities:
The specific activities of the governance body might include:
- Setting priorities and goals for administrative IT systems
- Reviewing and approving proposals for new systems or upgrades
- Monitoring system performance and user satisfaction
- Identifying and addressing security risks
- Overseeing the implementation of administrative IT policies and standards
Benefits of Collaborative Governance:
A well-structured and collaborative governance model can lead to:
- Improved Decision-Making: By incorporating diverse perspectives, the governance body can make informed decisions.
- Enhanced System Adoption: User involvement can promote a sense of ownership and encourage broader adoption of administrative systems.
- Effective Resource Allocation: Collaborative planning can optimize the allocation of resources for administrative IT systems.
By fostering a collaborative approach to administrative IT governance, Aamusted University positions itself to create and maintain an efficient, secure, and user-friendly technology environment that supports the success of its faculty, staff, and students.
Academic IT Governance
Aamusted University recognizes the importance of technology in education and has established two key faculty committees to advise on its development and use:
1. Faculty Committee on the Library and Computing (FCLC):
- Role: Advises the President on the operation and development of the Library, particularly concerning educational policy, and addresses all matters related to University computing and information services.
- Leadership: Chaired by the Provost, the FCLC comprises 10 faculty members from various departments with expertise in technology and pedagogy.
- Ex Officio Members: The committee includes additional members with key leadership roles, such as the CIO (Chief Information Officer), the Dean of the College, and the Dean of the Graduate School.
Key Focus Areas:
- Aligning library resources and services with evolving educational needs.
- Formulating strategies for effective utilization of technology in teaching and learning.
- Reviewing and recommending policies for University computing and information services.
- Assessing the impact of technology on student learning outcomes.
2. Faculty Committee on Classrooms and Schedules (FCCS):
- Role: Focused on assessing classroom and teaching laboratory space, recommending physical and technological improvements aligned with the University’s evolving pedagogical needs.
- Leadership: Chaired by a faculty member elected by the committee, the FCCS consists of 6 additional faculty members from various departments.
- Ex Officio Members: Similar to the FCLC, the FCCS includes the Provost, Dean of the College, Dean of the Graduate School, and the Registrar (responsible for managing classroom scheduling) as additional members.
Key Focus Areas:
- Evaluating the adequacy and functionality of classrooms and teaching labs.
- Recommending upgrades or modifications to physical spaces to support innovative teaching methods.
- Identifying technological needs for enhancing the learning environment (e.g., interactive whiteboards, multimedia equipment).
- Providing input on classroom scheduling to ensure optimal utilization of space and resources.
Collaboration and Synergy:
These two faculty committees work collaboratively to ensure Aamusted University leverages technology effectively to enhance the academic experience. The FCLC focuses on broader technology policy and educational strategies, while the FCCS translates these strategies into recommendations for optimizing physical and technological resources within classrooms and labs.
Benefits of Faculty Input:
By involving faculty members in these committees, Aamusted University gains valuable insights from those directly involved in teaching and learning. This faculty input ensures that technology initiatives and infrastructure development align with the university’s educational mission and support effective teaching practices.
Research Computing Governance
Aamusted University prioritizes supporting cutting-edge research endeavors. Here’s an overview of two key entities that contribute to this goal:
1. Research Computing Advisory Group (RCAG):
- Function: The RCAG serves as a central advisory body on matters related to research computing across all academic disciplines at the university.
- Composition: This collaborative group brings together a diverse range of stakeholders:
- Faculty Members: Provide valuable insights from their research experience and identify departmental needs.
- IT Staff from Academic Departments: Offer technical expertise and understand the specific computational requirements of their respective disciplines.
- OIT and PICSciE Staff: Represent the university’s core IT infrastructure and the Princeton Institute for Computational Science and Engineering (PICSciE), a crucial partner for advanced computational resources.
- University Leadership: Includes the Dean for Research, Vice Provost for Space and Planning, and Vice President for IT and CIO, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities and resource allocation.
- Activities: The RCAG plays a crucial role by:
- Providing Insights and Guidance: Collaboratively identifies research computing needs, explores potential solutions, and advises on resource allocation.
- Fostering Collaboration: Facilitates communication and collaboration between researchers, IT staff, and university leadership, ensuring a cohesive approach to research computing.
- Promoting Best Practices: Shares best practices and knowledge within the research community to optimize the utilization of available resources.
2. Aamusted Institute for Computational Science and Engineering (AICSciE):
- Mission: This interdisciplinary institute functions as a dynamic hub where researchers from diverse backgrounds come together.
- Focus: AICSciE leverages the collective expertise of its faculty and researchers to tackle new and pressing computational challenges across various scientific fields.
- Impact: Through collaborative research efforts, AICSciE contributes significantly to the advancement of scientific knowledge and discovery.
Synergy for Research Excellence:
The RCAG and AICSciE work in synergy to cultivate a thriving research computing ecosystem at Aamusted University. The RCAG provides strategic guidance and facilitates resource allocation, while AICSciE fosters a collaborative environment where researchers can leverage these resources to push the boundaries of knowledge. This combined effort ensures that Aamusted University is well-positioned to support cutting-edge research endeavors and contribute meaningfully to the global scientific landscape.