ITSS Home : Customer Support : ITSS 2007-2008 Goals, Priorities, and Future Plans

Priorities for 2007-2008

• Security Initiatives: Find more efficient ways to respond to malicious network activity such as DMCA violations, bots, viruses, and other threats. Expand number of network-based security cameras to improve campus security. Provide solutions for emergency notification.
• Task Management and Prioritization Initiative: Improve customer service with improved tools for recording, prioritizing, responding to, and reporting on customer requests and other tasks.
• Web and Applications Development: Expand services in web development, database development, and other applications development in response to customer demand.
• Infrastructure: Provide excellent, fault-tolerant infrastructure by improving network architecture, upgrading systems using clustering and redundancy, and building a state-of-the-art data center.
• Learning Spaces: Apply learning-space theory to improve classrooms and computer labs. Partner with the UMD Library to create a Learning Commons.
• Move to Kirby Plaza: Complete the move of ITSS to Kirby Plaza. This will improve communications and coordination of our departmental efforts.

Goals for 2007-2008

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

• Apply learning-space theory to improve learning spaces, including classrooms, computer laboratories, informal spaces, and online environments.
• Participate in planning and development of high-tech classroom building.
• Expand next-generation classroom technology, including classroom control systems. Install 39 classroom control systems in the coming year.
• 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.
• Oversee classroom infrastructure for building and reconstruction projects: Sports and Health Center, Life Science, Chester Park, Labovitz School of Business and Economics, the old SBE Building, Civil Engineering, and Cloquet Forestry Center.

Improve Student Services

• Support collegiate laptop initiatives.
• Upgrade the residence hall network.
• Expand authentication and authorization to partnership labs and basic-access computers.
• Partner with the UMD Library to create a Learning Commons. Move the Multimedia Hub to the Learning Commons.

Improve Services and Support for Customers

• Improve customer service with improved tools for recording, prioritizing, responding to, and reporting on customer requests and other tasks.
• Develop an information kiosk for LSBE.
• Work with Health Services to implement an improved medical records management system.
• Support replacement of several departmental computing applications.
• Support implementation of new (PeopleSoft) Enterprise Financial Systems.
• Use information technology to enable research. Install and support a new cluster system for high-performance computing.

Improve Fiscal Management

• Revise our rates for FY2009 based on ISO principles and regulations.
• Convert telephone services to centrally-funded budget model.
• Improve software license process.
• Move accounting system to new enterprise financial system.

Improve Computer, Network, and Physical Security

• Combat and reduce viruses, worms, scams, and other security threats.
• Expand the number of video surveillance systems on campus. Improve backup solution for surveillance systems.
• Work with campus units to consolidate servers into secure server rooms.
• Expand Simplex fire-alarm network to 4 additional buildings.
• Establish a plan, with support, for ensuring that all campus laptops that hold private data have an appropriate encryption solution.
• Expand QuickStart 1 security requirement to campus wireless network.
• Improve response to illegal peer-to-peer file sharing.
• Improve authorization and authentication systems for computer systems and applications.

Improve Campus Infrastructure

• Maintain high availability, scalability, service continuity, security, and data integrity of network and system infrastructure.
• Expand IP-priority on the network for ITV, IP video, and IP telephony.
• Extend capability for 100 Mbit data to the desktop to 26 campus buildings.
• Establish capability for gigabit data to the building in 43 campus buildings.
• Expand use of NetReg to the entire campus.
• Upgrade the telephone PBX.
• Reduce IP telephony solutions from two vendors to one vendor.
• Record 50 percent of cable plant information in the UPlant database.
• Upgrade the campus data network to provide full redundancy in 25 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, Labovitz School of Business and Economics, the old SBE Building, and the new Civil Engineering Building.
• Expand wireless network to public areas in residence halls.
• Complete planning, construction, and move of primary data center to Kirby Plaza.
• Continue to upgrade computer systems using clustering and mirroring techniques to provide maximum up-time. Expand the use of virtual server technology to improve efficiency and reduce costs.

Improve Working Environment for ITSS Staff

• Continually review and revise ITSS staff handbook.
• Complete the move of ITSS to Kirby Plaza. This will improve communications and coordination of our departmental efforts.
• Improve social opportunities and build community within the ITSS staff.
• Continue to support professional development opportunities for ITSS 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.

Technology Development

• Research encryption for wireless data transmissions.
• Investigate new web design languages.
• Investigate improved email security using digital signatures and enhanced authentication.
• 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.
• Lead initiative to improve campus computer and network security.
• Increase network speed and reliability.
• Rewire campus buildings for phone, data, and video.
• 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

• Research off-site backup solution for major systems.
• Investigate on-campus wireless telephone service.
• Record cable plant in UPlant database.
• Replace and upgrade network connection database.