Purpose
The purpose of the IT Strategy Board is to:
- Review key developments in information technology for potential impacts to, and adoption by, the University of Washington.
- Recommend critical opportunities and actions that will best position the University to adopt strategic information technologies to support and advance its teaching, learning, research, and service missions.
- Review the breadth and scope of the University’s information technology (IT) portfolio to recommend appropriate investments in new capabilities to support the UW’s core missions, and to realize efficiencies and cost savings in its business operations.
- Make recommendations on strategic plans, policies, and investment priorities for information technology at the University.
- Provide advice and recommendations on major University IT projects to the Vice President for UW Information Technology and CIO, as stipulated by the University’s Information Technology, Telecommunications and Networking Projects and Acquisitions Policy (APS 2.3).
Scope
The scope of the IT Strategy Board encompasses activities of UW Information Technology (UW-IT), including oversight of major IT projects, service improvements, and infrastructure investments. In addition, the IT Strategy Board makes recommendations about university-wide IT strategies, investments, projects and initiatives.
Structure
The establishment of three boards to govern IT at the strategic, project and service levels is intended to make decision-making about information technology across the University more comprehensive and holistic. The IT governance structure was established in 2012 and builds upon previous governance efforts.
The structure is comprised of three IT governance boards:
- IT Strategy Board provides strategic direction on information technology at the University.
- IT Service Investment Board makes recommendations about services provided by UW-IT, including priorities and investments for major UW-IT projects.
- Technology Recharge Fee (TRF) Advisory Committee provides analysis, identifies issues, and makes recommendations that inform the annual review of the Technology Recharge Fee.
- IT Service Management Board ensures alignment of UW-IT services with institutional IT strategy and priorities, as identified by the other two governance boards, and optimizes the design, delivery, operation and sourcing of those services.
The IT Strategy Board identifies high-level strategic direction, opportunities and policies to be used in making decisions about UW-IT services and projects. This strategic direction is used to guide the recommendations of both the IT Service Investment Board and the IT Service Management Board. Similarly, the IT Strategy Board considers issues and recommendations brought forth by the IT Service Investment Board.
Membership
The IT Strategy Board is comprised of UW faculty and administrators who broadly represent the University’s key missions of education, research, healthcare and service, as well as the University’s administrative operations. The membership should not be thought of as roles-based, but instead as reflecting ‘thought leaders’ across the institution, encompassing teaching, basic and applied research, and healthcare. The membership includes:
- Faculty from across the institution reflecting disciplines such as data intensive science.
- College administration with a stake in the impact of IT on teaching, learning and research.
- Healthcare and biomedical researchers involved in planning and support.
- Administrators with a stake in the ability of the University to drive administrative efficiencies throughout the institution.
The IT Strategy Board is advisory to the President and the Provost of the University. The Chair of the IT Strategy Board is the Vice President for UW Information Technology and CIO. The term of appointment for membership is a minimum of one academic year.
Meetings
The IT Strategy Board meets three times annually, or as needed, and may participate in other activities as needed. Meetings of the IT Strategy Board are scheduled and supported by the Office of the Vice President for UW Information Technology and CIO.