The Academic Technology Coordinators (ATCs) fill a niche that is often missing between centralized, university-wide technology services and unique, discipline-specific needs of faculty, administrators, and others across the university.

The ATC program is an effort to meet these needs. Each ATC has an office in a college or academic unit and focuses on meeting technology needs of individuals there. ATCs also serve as a formal link between the university-wide services of OIT and the college or unit. As liaisons, ATCs keep the lines of communication open. Through improved communication, OIT receives feedback on existing programs and receives suggestions for new services that may benefit faculty in multiple colleges and offices. At the same time, ATCs help faculty and others take advantage of the university's state-of-the-art information technology environment and expertise and services available through OIT. ATCs also meet weekly as a group and share information about technology needs, services, standards, and emerging technology trends--information that is, in turn, shared in their local college or unit.

The ATC group includes "Academic Technology Coordinators", who work directly with faculty and others to promote academic use of information technologies in the colleges, and "Technology Associates", who provide technical services in other academic-support units on campus.

This program is provided by the University of Maryland's central Office of Information Technology (OIT), which serves the university in many ways: assuring a state-of-the-art I.T. environment, providing centralized services, and reaching out directly to colleges and other academic units.