The University of Maryland’s strategic plan (see http://www.umd.edu/strategicplan) describes an ambitious agenda for the university, including an emphasis on improving our information technology infrastructure and effective utilization of technology for instruction, research, and business activities. Seventeen action items from the university plan have been assigned to OIT (see http://www.oit.umd.edu/pp/plan/umplanit). OIT has been working with the Information Technology Advisory Committee (ITAC) to integrate these items into a more comprehensive IT strategic plan for the university.

The IT strategic planning process (see http://www.oit.umd.edu/pp/plan/process.pdf) is expected to be completed this Fall. In April 2001, OIT engaged its entire organization in developing a statement that identifies its view of the strategic direction for information technology at the university (see http://www.oit.umd.edu/pp/plan/strategy.html). According to our vision for IT (see “OIT Vision Statement”), success for our organization will be measured against our ability to exhibit leadership and expertise, promote partnerships, and provide reliable and responsive customer service. The mission of OIT conveys similar aspirations and is an attempt to signify the unique role assumed by the central information technology unit for the university (see “OIT Mission Statement”).

The goals and objectives are the cornerstone of the information technology strategic plan. The goals describe our ambitions and future directions in broad terms while the objectives are the specific steps that will help us achieve the goal. The goals may also be seen as building blocks where the success of one goal is dependent on the other. The IT goals that we have established are:

• Workforce Infrastructure - Create a highly motivated and skilled IT workforce to provide the central and local support and services necessary for first-class IT infrastructure at all levels.
• Communications Infrastructure - Develop and maintain a leading edge communications infrastructure capable of delivering “anytime, anywhere” access.
• Enabling Technologies, Systems, and Services - Develop and maintain effective, efficient, secure, transparent “middleware” solutions and enterprise (university-wide) services.
• Teaching, Learning, and Research Infrastructure - Create an academic environment where students gain IT skills necessary for success and where faculty can use IT effectively and innovatively for education and research.
• Business Process Support Infrastructure - Create an advanced business environment with effective, integrated information systems and IT operations facilities that support the business processes of the university

We are presently fleshing out the objectives and priorities through focus groups and other information collection activities. Feedback or questions about the IT strategic plan can be addressed to Rodney Petersen at 301.405.7349 or it-plan@umail.umd.edu.

We recognize that strategic planning and organizational alignment are just the beginning of a long and important journey towards improving the university’s IT infrastructure and enabling us to become a great research university. We believe, however, that the by-products of both the strategic planning document and the process used to develop it will lay an essential foundation for success. We also hope that you will see marked improvements from OIT in the coming months in our ability to provide leadership, innovation, and quality customer service.