Category Archives: Updates

Enterprise Technology Organizational Update January 2025

Updates, UTET

I’d like to share several updates from the Enterprise Technology Leadership Team, including how we’re evolving and continuing to create greater alignment across our teams, improve efficiency, and better position us to serve the university’s needs.

It has been a long haul to get to this point, but we are ready to make the necessary organizational changes that I have previously discussed with our team. Yesterday we announced changes to our org chart, new leadership team, and our new website. These changes are effective immediately. We prepared an informational “placemat” that describes our SLT roles and functions along with some FAQs. Please take a look.

Let’s take a look at the top level changes:

  • John Lovelace will be promoted to Associate Vice President of Infrastructure. John and I will work alongside one another to create the strategic long-term plans for the NextGen Network which will help transform the university into a more modern, digital university and enhance teaching, learning, research, and administration. Mike Martell will be promoted to Executive Director and his team will move under the leadership of John Lovelace. He will continue to lead the Data Center operations, Electronic Physical Security, and some aspects of our infrastrcuture.
  • Heather Hanna will be promoted to Associate Vice President of Engagement and Experience for Enterprise Technology. In this role Heather will oversee a critical and complex portfolio designed to bring all aspects of institution-wide IT customer experience, project management office, and IT business relationship management together to advance the mission of the University and provide a seamless experience to the campus community.  
  • Graham Chapman will be promoted to Associate Vice President of Enterprise Platforms. In this role, Graham will be responsible for managing and optimizing the university’s business applications, ERP systems, and academic information systems. Graham will ensure that these critical systems are integrated, efficient, and support the university’s mission of research, teaching, and community engagement.
  • Dave Moss will be promoted to Executive Director of ET Campus Solutions overseeing the management and optimization of enterprise environments such as document management, collaboration tools, web services, and identity management.
  • Mario Guerra previously led Longhorn Experience team which will now be known as Enterprise Learning Technology team. In his role as director, Mario will lead the efforts for digital accessibility and learning management. 

Finally, I’m delighted to announce the launch of the Enterprise Technology website. Thank you to Amanda Walker and Jana Tate for their assistance with getting this off the ground.

Enterprise Technology SLT Org Chart.

UT Works in the Wild!

Updates, UTET, UTWorks, ,

As I sit down to reflect on the journey we’ve embarked on with UT Works, I am filled with a sense of pride and accomplishment. Last month, we successfully replaced an obsolete mainframe software system with a modern, cloud-based solution. This new system, UT Works, is already having a significant impact on our operations.

The thing that is note-worthy to me personally is that this is the first program of this size and scope that I had a chance to be an Executive Sponsor of with our Chief Operation Officer, Jim Davis. It was an amazing experience getting to see our teams work toward such an ambitious goal. It gives me significant hope for our future modernization efforts.

The launch of UT Works is the culmination of two years of collaboration and planning across multiple University units. This new system is helping our team members enhance mission-critical projects, provide data for capital improvements, and streamline workflows. For instance, you may have noticed facilities’ team members now using iPads to manage their work — a clear sign of our transformation from outdated applications to innovative technological solutions.

UT Works worker using iPad to fix a problem.

The feedback we’ve received about the system has been incredibly positive, from frontline workers to project managers. One team member shared, “Learning and discovering UT Works together has been an incredible team-building experience, bridging the old and new!” Another mentioned, “The ability to take and view pictures of parts and equipment greatly aids in identifying necessary items for maintenance.” And one more added, “I love that both minor and major projects can be managed seamlessly in the same platform!”

The success of UT Works is a testament to the sheer number of determined people working in Business and Financial Services; Facilities Services; Planning, Design and Construction; University Housing and Dining; and Utilities and Energy Management. These team members worked with the UT Works technical team, UT Enterprise Technology, and the vendor to design a system that will meet the University’s future needs.

Operational excellence is the foundation of our work together, and this project is a shining example of that. I encourage everyone to recognize our colleagues across the University for successfully implementing this milestone. And if you see a member of our operational team in the field, give them a shout-out. Together, these great stewards of the University make this place run.

For those involved in this transformation, thank you for being part of this incredible journey. I want to continue to build on this success and strive for even greater achievements in the future. We have the team in place and our campus partners are lining up for the future.

September 2024 Updates from the Office of the CIO

Updates, UTET,

As we continue to innovate and improve our services at the University of Texas, I am thrilled to share some of the significant accomplishments and updates from our recent initiatives. These efforts reflect our commitment to enhancing the student experience, optimizing our operations, and staying at the forefront of technology.

New Q-drop Form Launch We are excited to announce the launch of a new Q-drop form and workflow on September 12. This new system standardizes the process for students to withdraw from classes after the census date, making it more efficient and user-friendly.

Fall 2025 Undergraduate Applications For Fall 2025, standardized test scores will once again be required for applications. Additionally, we have introduced Early Action, reduced the number of short answer questions, and implemented a new waitlist process to streamline the application experience.

Data Center Migration We are pleased to welcome UTMB as a new regional customer in our data center. This migration will help reduce operating costs and free up budget for other important projects.

UT Directory Modernization The UT Directory is undergoing a significant upgrade from a Perl interface to a Python framework. This modernization effort will improve maintainability and performance, ensuring a better experience for all users.

ID Card Modernization Our ID Card Center is also being modernized to enhance efficiency, reduce wait times, and transition functionality off the Mainframe. These improvements will benefit students, faculty, and staff alike.

Digital Accessibility Center We are establishing a Digital Accessibility Center to address accessibility issues, expand captioning services, and comply with new ADA regulations by April 2026. This initiative underscores our commitment to inclusivity and accessibility for all members of our community.

AWS Connect Implementation University Health Services has successfully implemented the first AWS Connect queue, with plans to expand further. This implementation will save costs and increase our internal expertise in cloud-based solutions.

These accomplishments would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of our ET team and all of our partners. Thank you for your continued support and collaboration.

CIO Updates September 2024Download

August 2024 Updates from the Office of the CIO

Updates, UTET,

I am thrilled to share the progress we have made in recent months. Our collective efforts have led to significant advancements that have not only enhanced our digital infrastructure but also improved the overall experience for our community.

One of our major accomplishments is nearing completion with two significant network equipment lifecycle projects. The installation of wireless access points is 97% complete, with 3,636 out of 3,759 access points installed across 160 buildings. This project supports newer encryption technologies, improves Wi-Fi performance, and accommodates more user devices. Additionally, the installation of vulnerable switch replacements is 96% complete, with 976 out of 1,020 switches installed across 162 buildings. This initiative reduces risk by eliminating switches that can no longer be security patched, vastly improves performance, and reduces the number of switch models we need to support, lowering the complexity of operations and improving service.

We have also made significant strides in teaching and learning technology. The Simple Syllabus Tool, which provides an easily usable, standardized template for syllabus production and submission, has seen a 259% increase in adoption for the Fall 2024 term compared to Spring. Additionally, we have completed 73 Canvas integration requests between July 1 and August 29, 2024, with 19 more in progress. These integrations ensure that faculty needs are met while protecting student data and lowering the University’s risk of exposing FERPA data.

Another noteworthy achievement is the launch of the Guest Authentication SSO service. This service enhances application access and security for UT guests, visitors, private industry partners, and research collaborators, significantly reducing the need for guest EIDs. Early adopters, such as the Texas Advanced Computing Center and The Alienware Longhorn Esports Arena, have reported high user satisfaction and seamless integration, illustrating the potential for broader application across the University.

These accomplishments are a testament to the hard work and dedication of our Enterprise Technology (ET) team and our partners. Your unwavering commitment and collaboration have been invaluable in achieving these milestones. Together, we have set a new standard for excellence and innovation.

Thank you for your continued support and collaboration. Let’s keep pushing the boundaries and achieving great things together.

CIO Updates August 2024Download

July 2024 Updates from the Office of the CIO

Updates, UTET,

Celebrating Our Achievements: A Summary of Recent Projects

As we continue to innovate and enhance our digital infrastructure, I am thrilled to share some of the remarkable work our teams have accomplished recently. These projects not only demonstrate our commitment to excellence but also highlight the collaborative spirit that drives our success.

Business Process Workflow for Mobile Application Development

Scott Richardson, Manager of the Technical Customer Support Team, recognized the need for a defined process for mobile application development. This initiative ensures that applications are useful, intuitive, secure, and aligned with the UT brand. Scott’s team has been instrumental in guiding customers through this process, and they are currently finalizing the workflow and approvals1.

REDCap Service for the Research Community

In collaboration with the VP-Research, our Campus IT Infrastructure and Services team has initiated a project to provide a central REDCap service for the campus researcher community. This secure, web-based application supports data capture for research studies and aims to offer a robust, scalable service shared across multiple colleges and units2.

GitHub Copilot Proof of Concept (POC)

There is significant interest across campus in testing GitHub Copilot to improve developer productivity and generate more secure code. This POC, a collaboration with Enterprise Technology and many CSUs, has received ISO approval and is now underway3.

MS Azure AI/ML Cloud Services Approval

We are excited to announce that MS Azure AI and ML services are now ISO approved for confidential data. This approval allows CSUs across campus to use these cloud services to support their business needs, significantly expanding our capabilities4.

New MyUT Student Portal

The new MyUT student portal, launched on July 25, 2024, offers a secure, streamlined, and personalized student service. This project, in partnership with Modo Labs, improves security, enhances the student experience, and reduces annual renewal costs. The new portal is a testament to the collaborative efforts of many teams across the university5.

Onboarding of New Data Center Regional Customer

We have successfully onboarded the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) as our newest and largest regional customer in the data center. This migration project helps lower the subsidy needed to run the data center, freeing up additional budget for Enterprise Technology6.

5G Cellular Wireless Network Upgrades

Our Network and Telecommunications team has overseen the installation of new radios and antennas to support 5G services on the main campus and at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium. These upgrades will significantly enhance network speeds, capacity, coverage, and reliability7.

Financial Aid and Scholarship Management Systems

We have rolled out new financial aid and scholarship management systems to modernize student services on campus. These systems provide improved compliance, better visibility into financial aid offerings, and more powerful tools for scholarship awarding committees8.

Acknowledgments

I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to the UT ET team and all of our partners for their dedication and hard work. These achievements would not have been possible without your collaboration and commitment to excellence.

CIO Updates July 2024Download