The IT governance structure provides a forum within which the University can evaluate opportunities for increased coordination to determine if they would yield increased efficiency and/or improved levels of service.
Each committee has the following responsibilities for their areas of scope:
- Develop and recommend or approve policy, as appropriate
- Define and progressively refine the boundary between the services that are provided centrally and the services provided by the academic divisions
- Participate in budget development through:
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- Approval of changes to priorities and services that do not require incremental funding
- Review, evaluation, and prioritization of requests for IT investments and services that require incremental funding
- Escalation of any requests that either require incremental funding or would have broad institutional impact to the IT Executive Committee for review and approval
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Committee members include community stakeholders and service partners across the University. It is expected that this IT governance model will continue to evolve over time.
Governance Committees
IT Executive Committee
Chair: Nicole Sampson, Provost
The IT Executive Committee is responsible for making decisions on all major IT investments for the University. Chaired by the Provost, this committee reviews the proposals and recommendations of the IT Advisory Committees and provides guidance on IT priorities in alignment with the University’s strategic direction. Membership includes the University EVP/CFO, Medical Center CEO, VP IT, Med Ctr CTO, VP for Research, Med Ctr CFO, SAVP/Finance, Vice Provost Academic Fin & Planning.
IT Policy Committee
Chair: James Purvis, AVP and Chief Information Security Officer
Co-Chair: Jimmy Paulino, Senior Counsel
This committee functions differently than other advisory committees as it reviews and approves policy decisions that govern the security of University data and systems. The committee submits for final approval to the Policy on Policies Committee any new policies or changes to existing policies. They oversee the University-wide information security strategy and interact directly with the Executives as needed. They also sponsor communications regarding information security policies or practices that impact the usability of university systems.
Research Executive Committee
Chair: Steve Dewhurst, Vice President for Research
This committee develops and recommends policy decisions that govern access to and provision of research computing systems and services at the University. They review and evaluate requests for major investments in research computing systems and services, such as support for the Center for Integrated Research Computing and big data, and present recommendations to the IT Executive Committee for approval. They also sponsor liaisons with external parties to further support investments in research computing, such as partnerships with government agencies, private corporations, and peer universities.
Data & Decision Support Planning Group
Chair: Tony Green, Vice Provost, Academic Finance & Planning
Co-Chair: Joe Testani, Deputy to the President
This committee advises on processes around data access, data definitions, and consistency in reporting and analytics. Members include leaders in analytics and institutional research from the schools and divisions.
Enterprise Systems Advisory Committee
Chair: Julie Myers, University CIO
Co-Chair: Lisa Nelson, Associate VP of IT Applications & Chief Applications Officer (URMC)
This committee develops and recommends policy decisions that govern access to and provision of the University’s enterprise systems and services. They review and evaluate requests for major investments in enterprise systems and services, such as the replacement of legacy systems, and present recommendations to the IT Executive Committee for approval. Areas of scope include student systems, finance systems, human resource systems, advancement systems, supply chain management systems, and data warehouse.
Business Systems Advisory Committee (URMC)
Chair: Jim Forrester, Associate VP of IT Technology and Chief Technology Officer, URMC
This is a special committee where all areas of scope reside exclusively within the Medical Center. This committee will develop and recommend policy decisions that govern access to and provision of the Medical Center’s clinical systems and services, and those of its affiliates. It will review and evaluate requests for major investments in clinical systems and services, such as future enhancements to eRecord and telemedicine, and review major investment decisions with the IT Executive Committee for awareness.
Educational IT Advisory Committee
Chair: Eric Fredericksen, Associate Vice President of Online Learning & Associate Professor in Educational Leadership
Co-Chair: Rick Libby, Ophthalmology M&D
This committee develops and recommends policy decisions that govern access to and provision of educational technology systems and services at the University. They review and evaluate requests for major investments in educational technology systems and services and present recommendations to the IT Executive Committee for approval.
Core Technologies Advisory Committee
Chair: Robert Evangelista, Associate Vice President IT & Chief Technology Officer
Co-Chair: Kevin Sciacca, Director, ISD Infrastructure
This committee develops and recommends policy decisions that govern access to and provision of the University’s network systems and services. They review and evaluate requests for major infrastructure investments in network systems and services and present recommendations to the IT Executive Committee for approval. Areas of scope include network systems, telecommunications systems, unified communications, mobile, teleconferencing systems, and videoconferencing systems.
Data Center Systems Advisory Committee
Chair: Robert Evangelista, Associate Vice President IT & Chief Technology Officer
Co-Chair: Alan McNiff, Interim Senior Associate Vice President, Facilities & Services
This committee develops and recommends policy decisions that govern access to and provision of the University’s data center facilities. They review and evaluate requests for major infrastructure investments in the Data Center facilities and its associated systems and services and present recommendations to the IT Executive Committee for approval.
AI Governance Council
Chair: Nicole Sampson, Provost
Co-Chair: Julie Myers, University CIO
This committee acts as an ultimate approval and decision-making body. Their goal is to capitalize on agility and speed of ethical AI innovation, while balancing risk mitigation. They align AI/ML goals and the scope of system implementation with strategic business objectives/initiatives while ensuring that external and internal policies are followed and guidelines and best practices are documented and communicated. They are charged with review and approval of all new AI/ML models and solutions.