Welcome back, Catamounts! As we return to campus for the spring term, I am energized by the momentum we have built together and the collaborative spirit that continues to define the University of Vermont (UVM). This letter offers a short look ahead, a reminder of our Enterprise Technology Services (ETS) plan, and a spotlight on the university-wide work advancing Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital transformation efforts. 

A Quick Reminder: Our ETS 2025–2026 Plan 

Last spring, we introduced a focused 12-month ETS plan to “reset” and align our work across teams and campus partners—laying groundwork for longer-term strategy and modernization. It emphasizes people, partnership, sustainability, and an agile approach to opportunity. You can revisit the plan here: ETS 2025–2026 Plan. 

Spotlighting Progress on the Plan 

In partnership with our partners across the university, the ETS team has been busy. We wanted to take a moment to spotlight just some of our work and highlight our commitment to progress in the plan and what we heard from our UVM community: 

Pillar One — A Focus on Foundations 

This pillar strengthens how we provide services, govern through policy, manage resources, and standardize processes — so innovation can sit on a solid base.  

• Change begins at home – we have been working hard at internal communications, setting meeting cadences, meeting norms, and promoting One ETS (Enterprise Technology Services | The University of Vermont). Understanding ourselves gives us a better foundation to help you.
• As part of improved communications, we have implemented a new IT Status service page.
• We have expanded our student internship programs and career paths for our student employees.
• We have started a discovery process around a potential issue-tracking system (Footprints) replacement, understanding what solutions might support an improvement to broader service management.  

 Pillar Two — Governance and Partnerships 

This pillar is about bridges—between ETS and our academic, administrative, and research partners—and the governance that supports them.  

• We have standing meetings with all major partners and governance groups across the university. We appreciate these relationships, especially as we seek to collaboratively support large initiatives such as Catamount LEAP.
• We hired a new Director of Client Services, Joe Pawlaczyk, who is working with our team to evaluate our service portfolio with the university's current and upcoming needs. Among many new efforts, we are happy to share we have a new surplus service for IT equipment – stay tuned for more details very soon!
• We are pleased to announce the appointment of Susan Skalka as Director of Enterprise and Application Services and Database Administration. Susan brings a strong record of leadership in enterprise systems and will guide a team dedicated to the data, systems, and workflows that support our community’s experience.
• We are committed to more ongoing and timely communications. Please stay in touch with our ETS news and watch for an upcoming project dashboard to help provide updates and information on major university-wide and/or high-impact projects (coming soon!).
• We have a few key training programs we are offering to folks and opportunities for just-in-time drop-in learning. If you are interested in training around AI and/or want to join a drop-in session, visit here and for researchers, look here.  

Pillar Three — Strategic & Digital Transformation 

Here, we connect university priorities with technology—supporting efforts like data governance, ERP modernization, and university-wide digital initiatives.  

• In partnership with OIRA, we have launched a Data Governance Program and a Data Governance Council. We are happy to share a wonderful output of folks' hard work, a university data glossary.
• We have spent hours with our campus partners to document all major software and systems across the university, understanding opportunities to improve our data integrations, workflow, and service experiences, and ensure thoughtful resource management. This work has helped inform our efforts around Catamount LEAP and approved ETS projects.
• Catamount LEAP is underway - a commitment to aligning our people, processes, and technology to create a more connected and agile UVM. This initiative empowers our community to rethink how we work—removing barriers, embracing digital tools, and building systems that support excellence across every unit.
• We have launched seven active working groups as part of our AI Taskforce structure. You can find a full update on AI efforts happening across the university here.
• We have been hard at work upgrading our Self-Service Banner 8 experience to Self-Service Banner 9. This new upgrade will improve many services, stay tuned for more information coming soon.
• We have been working closely with our partners across the university to evaluate and enhance our services around Brightspace, our learning management system. 

Pillar Four — Securing Our Future & Expanding Opportunity 

This pillar advances security posture and access—from research computing environments to enterprise safeguards and training.  

• We are committed to keeping our community safe. In parallel to our ETS plan, we are developing a security plan that is in the final draft and will be published soon. We are also working hard on several projects related to this work. We welcome you to re-read our up-to-date news on connected efforts here. Initiatives and Updates
• ETS is building a new secure computing environment for researchers who need to store highly sensitive data. This new enclave will provide high levels of security, ensuring that researchers can safely store their research data and meet compliance and regulatory requirements. This service will announced officially in the coming weeks.
• We have committed to a wireless-first strategy to help expand services around strong wireless connectivity across the university. We have many projects queued up for this summer and will share an announcement around all the residential, academic, and administrative buildings receiving timely and improved upgrades.
• UVM is committed to our land-grant university. As part of that, I helped lead a state-wide conference committed to bringing IT professionals and partners from across Vermont together. I will be co-sponsoring the event this upcoming summer, all are welcome to join. Save the date.
• The Vermont Advanced Computing Center | The University of Vermont and ETS are building a new state-of-the-art supercomputer named IceCore to provide massively parallel computing power and AI capabilities to UVM researchers. This effort is funded by a $2.1M NSF grant secured by PI Chris Danforth, as well as internal UVM funds. 

With appreciation for all you do—and optimism for what we will build together this spring. 

Best, 
Dr. Kellie B. Campbell (she/her) 
Chief Information Officer