FY2021-22 - Information Technology

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In December, 2021, the new Information Technology department (informally, Berkeley IT) was launched after an 18-month Organizational Design Project was completed. Beyond the name change from Information Services and Technology (IST), the new department was strategically realigned to better serve the needs of the campus community. New name, with the same great services to access at technology.berkeley.eduDedicated Berkeley IT staff partner with other teams across campus to provide technical support and services for students, faculty, staff, and alumni. This collaborative community is known as One IT. The accomplishments presented here are specific to Berkeley IT but a full list of campus priorities aimed at continuous improvement of the campus experience are outlined in the IT Strategic Plan

Information Technology's FY21 Operating Results & FY22 Budget can be found here.

IT continued to be a strategic enabler this year as the entire campus collectively continued to work, teach, and learn through the pandemic. Incredible feats were accomplished by Berkeley IT teams to deliver services and support to the campus community as COVID protocols shifted throughout the year. In fact, FY21 goals focused on COVID response and recovery priorities after hearing the collective voice of campus stakeholders and clients: Do less and focus on COVID-related activities including remote instruction, return to research, and remote work. The biggest overarching accomplishment has been supporting a fully remote 2020-21 academic year, then gearing up and supporting a hybrid model in both fall 2021 and spring 2022.

Information Technology is led by Jenn Stringer, Associate Vice Chancellor for IT and Chief Information Officer.

Information Technology Achievements

The following projects are just a sampling of the achievements of Berkeley IT in FY21. All of these projects are great examples of the collaborative efforts that exist between Berkeley IT and our campus-wide IT partners  who make up our One IT community

  • IT for COVID Recovery: Supported campus in using technology to aid in COVID recovery and returning to the physical campus. A few examples of solutions IT teams helped to develop: Symptom screener; essential worker tracking; a refactored campus application; PeopleCards COVID Compliance and Authorized Access Tools; Campus Access Badging and Berkeley Mobile Application; Campus COVID Recovery Dashboards; Wi-Fi Density Tracking; and technology support for testing applications. The Student Technology Equity Program (STEP), implemented at the onset of the pandemic, continued to connect students to the technology they need for academic success. The UVA Wi-Fi Enhancement Project also brought wireless network coverage to all 975 apartments at University Village, Albany.

  • Security IS-3 Implementation: Completed a Unit Assessment pilot program for IS-3 Implementation and made improvements based on feedback. Identified units for the next cohort, including high-risk research units. Socialized the IS-3 framework with campus leadership and the research community. View list of IS-3 accomplishments.

  • Enterprise Data and Analytics: Provided campus leaders and analysts with the information and data exploration tools needed to make critical decisions while navigating the monumental instructional, research, operational and financial challenges posed by the pandemic. Data exploration tools and projects included: COVID Dashboards; Instructional Resilience Research; Enterprise Data Lake; and Cal Viz Consortium.
  • Student Information Systems (SIS), Phase 2: Completed critically needed enhancements to improve the utility of SIS — on time and on budget. Project deliverables focused on operational efficiencies leading to a more reliable, secure, and integrated information system.
  • Strategically Aligned IT Organization: Berkeley IT began their Organizational Design Project (ODP) in FY21 to build an agile central IT organization that serves as a strategic partner with the Berkeley community to efficiently deliver campus IT services. Created a structure and culture that is inclusive, and actively embraces diversity and equity, where IT professionals can do their best work. They launched their new organization in December 2021.

Further details about this year's accomplishments are featured on the FY21 Accomplishments pages of the Berkeley IT website. 

Image of STEP IT Program icon
Image of student receiving loaner Dell laptop

A student receiving a new loaner Dell laptop as part of the STEP Program connecting students with all types of technical equipment to support their academic success. Photo credit: Gretchen Kell.

Goals & IT Priorities for FY22

Many of the priorities outlined in the FY22 IT Strategic Plan include projects that require more than a single year to complete. The campus will see some continued work in areas where IT has already shared accomplishments. Here are some highlights of their plan: 

  • Network User Experience Improvements: The goal is to offer a broader and clearer range of connectivity options and to modernize and improve the capacity of various network services. Improving the overall network is not a single, linear project. Instead, several coordinated projects are happening in tandem.

  • Data Center & Cloud Services Strategy Roadmap: Develop a multi-year strategic plan to address Berkeley’s immediate/future computing and data storage needs through a combination of public cloud and on-premesis capabilities. Create a data center services roadmap that the campus needs; plan the multi-year retirement of the Earl Warren Data Center; engage stakeholders and continue to develop/maturing cloud services and infrastructure in a hybrid model.

  • Campus IT Governance: Establish a new governance model, charged by the EVCP and VCA, to engage key campus stakeholders in governance around critical technology-related issues, including the Productivity Suite set of applications and tools; enterprise applications; data ownership and handling; and IT Policy.

  • Accessible Digital Tools and Content: In partnership with campus stakeholders, continue to support the implementation of the UC IT Accessibility Policy and further evolve the institution’s posture in relation to accessibility of all online applications, digital tools, and content.

  • Enabling a Successful Return to Campus: Continue to support the campus in using technology to aid in COVID recovery and transitioning to the physical campus. Provide leadership and guidance around best uses of technology for remote/hybrid operations as well as ensuring health and safety. Convene workgroups as needed to produce the best recommendations, solutions, and tools to meet campus needs.

For full details of Berkeley IT’s Goals and FY22 priorities, visit the IT Strategic Plan website

FY21 Operating Results and FY22 Budget

Information Technology