Information Technology Task Force
Meeting # 1: Interim Vice President Ray Lavigne's Charge

Ray Lavigne began the meeting by thanking the committee for agreeing to participate in this planning effort and anticipating a question:

Why are we undertaking another IT planning task force in view of the many well-intentioned and well-founded efforts?

"The intent is to build upon the efforts of previous efforts, which have not resulted in a concrete widely-accepted plan for IT at UVM, to develop a strategy for implementation and budgeting. In April President Ramaley asked me to develop a strategic and tactical IT plan, including a proposed expansion of the Library and the replacement of the Telecommunication system. President Ramaley believes that technology and specifically information technology is critical to UVM's future."

Charge

• Review recent efforts to describe the IT vision and/or plan for UVM.
   
• Develop a vision for information technology at UVM, including a definition of the desired future role of IT on campus. Complete an assessment of the University's existing resources (hardware, software, infrastructure, people, and the information technology organizational structure). Develop a strategic and tactical (long and short-term) plan for realizing the vision.
   
• Recommend any changes in organization and a realistic budget plan to go along with the vision and IT plan for the campus.

The IT vision and plan must include research, instruction, and administrative information technology applications.

Examples of issues to be addressed are:

• What is the appropriate organizational structure for IT at UVM?
   
• What should the criteria be to evaluate the success and progress of the plan?
   
• Should IT be more centrally managed or should more decisions be distributed and decentralized?
   
• Should UVM adopt standards for hardware, software, etc.?
   
• What is the role of the Web in management and communication?
   
• How should UVM manage the Web?
   
• How do we provide IT support to UVM students, faculty, staff and departments, and how do we fund it?
   
• Given that there will be more worthwhile initiatives than we can fund and support, how do we set priorities?

These are just some of the questions and issues that should be included in the evaluation of IT and its development of an IT vision and plan.

"In terms of the timetable, I recommend that a draft report be ready for campus comments by the end of October. After review and comment by the campus, a final proposal should be delivered to the Provost and Vice President for Administration for their review and approval by January 15, 1998."