it town hall · 10/20/2015 · topics university context •strategic planning: “a plan for a...

IT Town Hall Meeting

Scott F. MidkiffVice President for Information Technology and CIOProfessor of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Virginia [email protected]

October 20, 2015

10/20/2015 IT Town Hall Meeting 1

Topics

University Context

IT Strategic Plan, Operational Plan, Annual Report

Six Key Topics for IT

Four Key Initiatives for IT


Topics

University Context• Strategic Planning: “A Plan for a New Horizon”

• Visioning: “Beyond Boundaries”

• Discussion of “Destination Areas”





A Plan for a New Horizon“Structural shifts caused by technological innovation”• In what and how faculty teach and students learn

• In how research is conducted and disseminated

• In how we operate the university enterprise


http://www.president.vt.edu/strategic-plan/2012-plan/2012-strategic-plan.pdf

A Plan for a New Horizon: Envisioning Virginia Tech 2012-2018

“Virginia Tech faces a new horizon defined by a future characterized by geopolitical and geo-economic transition, an accelerated pace of globalization, and structural shifts caused by technological innovation.”

http://www.president.vt.edu/strategic-plan/2012-plan/2012-strategic-plan.pdf

Beyond Boundaries (VT 2047)

http://www.beyondboundaries.vt.edu/


Beyond Boundaries is a one-year visioning process that will inform the university's long-range future and next strategic plan.

Beyond Boundaries

Advancing as a global land-grant

institution

Preparing students

for the world in which they will live and work

Discovering new funding models

Envisioning the campus of the

future

Envisioning the campus of the future• Determining future facilities and

infrastructure needs for the ways in which

students, faculty, and staff learn and work

• Exploring the role of technology in

tomorrow’s university

Advancing as a global land-grant institution• Responding to growing global interdependence

• Applying research to 21st century problems on a global

scale

• Connecting knowledge to society through Extension

and outreach

• Serving a more geographically-diverse student

population

Preparing students for the world

in which they will live and work• Preparing global citizens

• Advancing academic quality

• Innovating teaching and learning

Discovering new funding models• Responding to changing funding models

• Evaluating new and diverse revenue sources

• Addressing affordability and accessibility

From BOV information session, 5/31/2015.


Topics

University Context






Strategic Plan

• Where do we want to go?

• 6 year horizon

Operational Plan

• How do we get there?

• 2 to 3 year emphasis

Annual Report

• Did we make progress?

• 1 year retrospective

http://www.it.vt.edu/publications/


IT Strategic Plan for 2012-2018 Addressing “A Plan for a New Horizon,” Virginia Tech’s strategic plan

• Pillar 1: Enabling Networked Learning in the Networked University

• Pillar 2: Providing Competitive Advantage through Sustainable Advanced Cyberinfrastructure and Collaboration

• Pillar 3: Leveraging Information Technology to Distinguish the Virginia Tech Experience

• Pillar 4: Advancing Information Technology for Enterprise Effectiveness

Strengthening information technology at Virginia Tech

• Pillar 5: Ensuring the security and resilience of information technology resources

• Pillar 6: Improving communications with customers and partners

• Pillar 7: Strengthening the information technology organization


Topics

University Context





1. Focus on the core missions of the university.

https://www.vt.edu/about/buildings/war-memorial-chapel.html


2. Cutting through the silos, across the university, is how Virginia Tech will get to the next level.

http://vmturbo.com/about-virtualization/silos-everywhere-breaking-down-the-barriers/


3. We need to shift resources to bringing new value, not just maintaining legacy technology.

http://7-themes.com/6782664-cool-snowflake-background.html

“Run”

“Grow” and “Transform”


Time

Res

ou

rces

4. How do we build partnerships across the university and, just as importantly, beyond the university and across IT and within our own units?

http://www.sustainability.vt.edu/


5. Security is more important than ever – 2FA will be a significant step forward, but it is far from all we need to do.


6. Inclusive@VT initiatives: hiring, climate, accessibility.

Initiative 1: Launch a multi-year effort to improve recruitmentwithin the IT organization

Initiative 2: Launch a multi-year effort to improve the workplace environment within the IT organization

Initiative 3: Launch a university-wide, extensively collaborative, multi-year effort to promote and enhance accessibility in information technology in order to improve the experience of individuals with disabilities at Virginia Tech


Topics

University Context



Four Key Initiatives for IT• Next Generation Learning Management System (in support of Pillar 1)

• Evolution of High-Performance Computing (in support of Pillar 2)

• Residential Network Upgrade (in support of Pillar 3)

• Two-Factor Authentication (in support of Pillar 5)


Next-Generation Learning Management System Canvas implementation: About 48% of students, 22% of faculty, and 12% of

course sections are in Canvas for at least one class this semester


48% 22% 12%

Next-Generation Learning Management System Our goal is for 1/3 of courses to be active in Canvas for the 2016 Spring Semester


Evolution of Research Computing

Compute• Explicit support for a broader range of

research problems

Storage

• Archival storage

Networking• 100G connectivity through MARIA

• 10G research network pilot

Resources• Investment Computing Program


MARIA 100G “Ribbon Cutting” at Old Dominion UniversityOctober 6, 2015 (Photo from ODU)

Evolution of Research Computing: NewRiver HPC Cluster


Residential Network Upgrade

Leading edge capabilities• IEEE 802.11ac wireless

• 1-Gbps Ethernet

Large scale, compressed timeline• 34 residence halls

• 1,800 access points

• Mostly accomplished in Summer 2015

Partnership

• Residential and Dining Services

• NI&S

• Finance


Two-Factor Authentication

Urgency CAS Windows Other

HighCentral IT CAS applications

Accounts with elevated privileges

MediumOther CAS applications

Servers with sensitive data

VPN

LowDesktops and other servers

Other


Two-Factor Authentication: Near-Term New “Login” authentication service supports two-factor

authentication• Offers option to register devices (deferred use of two-factor)

Plan to migrate all SAML-based services to the new Login service on November 9, 2015• External and internal federated services

• Registration of two-factor device(s) can be deferred, for now


Two-Factor Authentication

The mantra is “Everything, Everyone,” but how do we get there?• Central IT – we need to protect our most critical data and resources and be a model

• Rules of engagement – when connecting to critical systems

• Policy – driven by data sensitivity and criticality of resources

• Best practices – facilitating wide adoption, maintaining usability

We need to …• Provide leadership, communication, transparency in a dynamic endeavor

• Understand the challenges and the tradeoffs between usability and security

• Make available the infrastructure

• Promulgate best practices

• Offer effective training and support

• Implement practices and policies to address growing security threats


it town hall · 10/20/2015 · topics university context •strategic planning: “a plan for a...

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