With the new academic year comes a new Information Technology organization, one focused more than ever on two critical goals: providing easier and better access to services and collaborating more closely with the campus. Both goals are expected to help the IT organization to more effectively address the present and future requirements of information technology services at UC Davis.

To achieve these goals, Dr. John Bruno, Vice Provost for Information and Educational Technology, has put in place a first-rate team to assist him in his campuswide information technology policy and planning role (see "Assembling the Team" below). In addition, Vice Provost Bruno has initiated an internal restructuring of several IT service units.

This internal restructuring was prompted in large part by the recommendations made by the Administrative Unit Review Committee last year (see the report at http://it.ucdavis.edu/adminrev). Among its 43 findings, the Committee recommended a better structure and presentation of services for at least three reasons:

• to better serve the campus community's needs;
• to improve access to computing services in a changing, fast-moving technology world;
• to manage our resources more efficiently.

"The previous format of our organization was established almost 10 years ago when the Division was first established," says Vice Provost Bruno. "During the past decade, there have been significant changes in the environment in which the campus operates and in critical operational areas, such as academic and administrative computing. We simply have to do a better job of integrating planning and operations. We have to give the campus better support and strategic direction, and we have to do a much better job of accommodating rapid growth, new demands, and new opportunities."

The new organizational structure reflects two emphases: campuswide information technology and policy planning (provided by the Office of the Vice Provost) and four basic types of operational services (provided by IT departments, under the leadership of Dave Shelby, the new Chief Operations Officer): computing, communications, document services, and instructional and digital media services. While some changes will not be completed until the end of September, a summary of the most critical changes is provided in "New IT Structure: Highlights" in this issue.

"We expect that this restructuring will benefit our clients and the whole campus community," says Bruno. "Improving access to our services is a high priority for us, but that is not the only reason for this restructuring. By streamlining the structure of our complex organization, we hope to signal the beginning of our transformation to a more efficient and responsive organization."

The overall reorganization was developed over the last few months, during which the Vice Provost consulted extensively with IT unit directors, managers, and staff, including those who would be most affected.

"It will take a little time for us to work through the changes," says Bruno. "We do want these changes to be smooth and thoughtfully executed, and we plan to obtain feedback from our clients so we may continue to improve access to our services."

The Vice Provost encourages faculty, staff, and students to bring matters that should be considered during IT's reorganization to his attention at vpiet-info@ucdavis.edu.

Three key positions in the Vice Provost's Office were filled over the summer, continuing recruitment efforts begun during last academic year and outlined in the last Vice Provost update (IT Times, Summer 2000).

• Dave Shelby, Chief Operations Officer: Previously the Assistant Dean of the Division of Biological Sciences, Shelby assumed his new position on September 1. In this new role, Shelby oversees all IT units (with the exception of the new Instructional Technology and Digital Media Center), working closely with unit directors. As a member of the Vice Provost's Office, Shelby also participates in campuswide technology policy and planning.

  Shelby is no stranger to the IT organization, having previously served as Chair of the Five-Year Administrative Unit Review (AUR) of the Division in 1998-99.

  "My positive impressions of the Division during the administrative review have been reinforced by the significant changes that have occurred since Vice Provost Bruno was appointed one year ago," says Shelby. "I am looking forward to working with Vice Provost Bruno on policy issues that will affect the nature and direction of the organization. I am pleased to have the chance to work directly with members of the Vice Provost's Office and with IT unit directors, managers, and staff."

• Robert Ono, Security Coordinator: In this major new position, Ono will have responsibility for implementation on our campus of new universitywide computer and network security policies. Under the Universitywide Electronic Information Security Guidelines, each chancellor must designate an Electronic Information Security Guidelines Coordinator for the campus; Ono will act in this capacity at UC Davis. Since security concerns are not limited to the IT organization, Ono will be very active in campuswide policy and program development. Ono and Policy Analyst Randy Moory expect to work together closely on development and implementation of security-related policies.

• Professor Harry Matthews, Faculty Director for Instructional Technology and Digital Media Center: Matthews brings to this position a long history of being at the forefront of instructional technology on this campus. His tenure as Chair of the Academic Computing Coordinating Council (AC4) has prepared him well for this role. (See "The Academic Computing Coordinating Council (AC4): What it is, what it's doing, and why I agreed to chair it," IT Times, January/February 1999.) Since beginning as the center's director on July 1, Matthews has appointed a workgroup to identify the services this new unit will offer. He's also charged a committee with recruiting an associate director for the center. (See "IT's New Instructional Technology and Digital Media Center Open for Business" in this issue.)

The UC Davis Technology Infrastructure Forum (TIF) was initiated by Vice Provost Bruno as the newest element of a larger campuswide consultative process known as the UC Davis Information Technology Coordinating Framework. Like all other components of the Coordinating Framework (including the Academic and Administrative Computing Coordinating Councils), the Forum provides a formal way for Vice Provost Bruno to seek direction from the campus for resolving critical technology issues.

Members of the TIF have been selected and two co-chairs named: Professor Ken Joy, Computer Science, and Eric Rothgarn, Planning & Budget Office. "I am very pleased with the composition of this group," says Vice Provost Bruno. "Not only is this truly a campuswide group, with representation from all major constituencies at UC Davis, but we also have a number of experts and specialists who no doubt will be able to inform our discussions and decisions." Strong support from deans and vice chancellors (who nominated persons from their areas for membership) has produced a group with outstanding qualities, both in knowledge and experience.

Forum participants are charged with identifying and addressing "middleware" issues, such as computer and network security, authentication, and digital certificates, beginning with their first meeting on September 27. "This Forum is a good opportunity for the campus to improve the way technical issues on campus are dealt with. It's a chance for us to think ahead strategically," says co-chair Rothgarn.

In mid-October, the Vice Provost's Office will move from Academic Surge to Everson Hall. Subsequent to this move, a small contingent from the Vice Provost's Office, including Vice Provost Bruno and Chief Operating Officer Shelby, will relocate to new offices in Mrak Hall early next Spring. All phone numbers and email addresses will remain unchanged.