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ITSS 2006 Goals, Priorities, and Future Plans

Priorities for 2006

• Security Initiatives: Improve security on desktop computers, servers, wireless devices, and the network as a whole. Install network-based security cameras to improve campus security.
• Customer Service Initiative: Improve customer service through activities of the ITSS customer service team, staff training, and improved tools for recording and reporting on customer requests.
• Web and Applications Development: Expand services in web development, database development, and other applications development in response to customer demand.
• Funding Model Changes: Respond to changes in how ITSS is funded, where more services are provided without charging back costs to customers. More central funding will require careful setting of priorities and management of resources.
• Infrastructure: Provide excellent, fault-tolerant infrastructure by improving network architecture, upgrading systems using clustering and redundancy, and expanding wireless network access.
• Technology for Teaching and Learning: Investigate new teaching and learning tools and provide support to faculty who wish to use them.

Goals for 2006

The goals below are not listed in order of importance. The projects listed under each goal are a subset of all we will do. We encourage each ITSS team to determine how their projects will help to support our goals.

Improve Classroom and Learning Technology

• Improve learning spaces, including classrooms, computer laboratories, informal spaces, and online environments.
• Expand next-generation classroom technology, including classroom control systems.
• Expand and support standard student response system technology in campus classrooms.
• Research and development for high-definition television and digital video.
• Redesign and implement new version of eGradebook.
• Expand eClass offerings.
• Provide support for new technologies, such as podcasting, vodcasting, WIKIs, blogs, and course management tools.
• Oversee classroom infrastructure for building and reconstruction projects: Sports and Health Center, Life Science, Chester Park, and Labovitz School of Business and Economics.

Improve Student Services

• Support collegiate laptop initiatives.
• Publicize and expand services of the Student Technology Assistance Center and Multimedia Hub.
• Upgrade the residence hall network.
• Expand authentication and authorization to partnership labs and basic-access computers.
• Improve support for student-owned computers.

Improve Services and Support for Customers

• Improve Help Desk reporting system.
• Review and consolidate service databases, such as help desk, uproj, maintenance, etc.
• Develop a campus information kiosk for Solon Campus Center.
• Work with Health Services to implement an improved medical records management system.
• Support replacement of several departmental computing applications.
• Evaluate software agreements for major UMD business processes and develop effective source code escrow arrangements.
• Support implementation of new (PeopleSoft) Enterprise Financial Systems
• Support changes brought about by PeopleSoft 8.9 Upgrade.
• Use information technology to enable research.

Improve Fiscal Management

• Revise our rates for FY2008 based on ISO principles and regulations.
• Improve software license process.
• Move accounting system to new enterprise financial system.
• Respond to changes in how ITSS is funded, where more services are provided without charging back costs to customers.

Improve Computer, Network, and Physical Security

• Lead initiative to improve campus computer and network security.
• Establish priorities, processes, and collaborative relationships with all UMD departments to bring the campus into compliance with the University Standard on Securing Private Data.
• Combat and reduce viruses, worms, scams, and other security threats.
• Improve security for credit card numbers, social security numbers, protected health information, and other private data. Store private data on secured, centrally managed servers.
• Establish effective change control processes and database security for campus business applications.
• Complete implementation and require conversion to secure email.
• Install video surveillance systems on campus, including 50 or more surveillance cameras in parking lots and residence hall entries.
• Establish compliance with auditor recommendations for backup and security.
• Work with campus units to consolidate servers into secure server rooms.
• Expand Simplex fire-alarm network to 10 additional buildings.
• Establish quarterly review of all ITSS servers for configurations, vulnerabilities, and patches.
• Improve response to high vulnerabilities identified by security scans.
• Improve physical security of all ITSS data centers.

Improve Campus Infrastructure

• Maintain high availability, scalability, service continuity, security, and data integrity of network and system infrastructure.
• Establish IP-priority on the network for ITV, IP video, and IP telephony.
• Extend capability for 100 Mbit data to the desktop to 36 campus buildings.
• Establish capability for gigabit data to the building in 25 campus buildings.
• Expand use of NetReg to the entire campus.
• Replace the voice mail system. Upgrade the telephone PBX.
• Record 50 percent of cable plant information in the UPlant database.
• Upgrade the campus data network to provide full redundancy in all buildings.
• Oversee telecommunications infrastructure for building and reconstruction projects: Bohannon Hall, Humanities Building, Sports and Health Center, Life Science,Chester Park, Marshall W. Alworth Hall, and Labovitz School of Business and Economics. The LSBE project will require a major telecommunications infrastructure reroute.
• Expand wireless network and move to next-generation wireless technology. Complete implementation of wireless plan by June 30, 2007.
• Plan move of primary data center to Kirby Plaza.
• Upgrade computer systems using clustering and mirroring techniques to provide maximum up-time.

Improve Working Environment for ITSS Staff

• Fill open staff positions. Welcome and train new staff.
• Review and revise ITSS staff handbook.
• Develop standards for work-at-home equipment for staff.

Participate in Campus Life

• Guide and enhance the use of technology across the UMD community.
• Maintain strong collaboration and coordination between IT staff within UMD units, ITSS, and OIT.
• Position the campus to move forward with technology through approriate funding, replacement, and budget models.
• Meet and coordinate activities with our campus partners.
• Contribute to campus governance and activities by serving on committees, task forces, commissions, etc., where appropriate.

Technology Development

• Research encryption for wireless data transmissions.
• Investigate new web design languages.
• Research interaction between authorization and authentication.
• Investigate improved email security using digital signatures and enhanced authentication.
• Investigate casting mechanisms and server support.
• Research automated security updates for desktops and laptops.
• Research game and simulation development.

Major Recurring Projects

• Work with collegiate units to develop new ways of delivering curriculum-based technology services to students.
• Upgrade to new operating systems in computer labs.
• Regularly review all ITSS policies.
• Improve compliance with web accessibility guidelines for UMD web site.
• Revise our rates based on ISO principles and regulations.
• Lead initiative to improve campus computer and network security.
• Increase network speed and reliability.
• Rewire campus buildings for phone, data, and video.
• Update and maintain the long-term infrastructure plan.
• Participate in all campus renovation and building projects.
• Exercise and update operational continuity plan.
• Upgrade and replace equipment and infrastructure to support delivery of excellent services.
• Upgrade and patch operating systems on server systems.
• Encourage staff training and professional development.
• Provide a working environment for staff that encourages them to remain employed at ITSS.
• Continue to emphasize importance of a healthy and safe working environment for staff.
• Review the IT landscape for useful emerging technologies.

Future Special Projects

• Participate in planning and development of high-tech classroom building.
• Develop off-site backup solution for major systems.
• Investigate on-campus wireless telephone service.
• Record cable plant in UPlant database.
• Integration of voice, data, and video over a common campus network infrastructure.
• Move to new location for offices and operations in Kirby Plaza.
• Coordinate campus solutions for video.
• Collaborate with UMD Library in development of an Information Commons.

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