ITCT

A forum for information sharing and collaboration among units responsible for technology across Oregon State University.

Membership

What is ITCT?

The Information Technology Coordination Team (ITCT) provides a forum for information sharing and identifies opportunities for collaboration among units responsible for technology across Oregon State University in order to advance OSU's mission and goals.

The ITCT is not a policy-making group, although it makes recommendations on procedures or policies to the appropriate University authorities. As a body, it is not directly responsible for implementation, though individual members may oversee implementation efforts.

The ITCT engages in the following activities:

  • Identifies university-wide IT issues and potential opportunities in consultation with various stakeholders.
  • Serves an advisory role on university-wide IT projects, initiatives, and issues that have an impact on the greater OSU community.
    • Develops recommendations and/or proposals for addressing such issues, and identifies and evaluates alternative approaches (including costs, issues of user support/training, and effectiveness evaluation).
    • Submits proposals for review and approval to the VP I&T, Provost's Council, and/or other university bodies, as appropriate.
  • Forms and/or manages working groups to develop, implement, and evaluate specific technology solutions proposed or approved for specific issues.

Meetings are conducted on the second Friday of each month. Because space and time is limited, attendance is limited to ITCT members or their proxy, as well as individuals invited to participate in specific discussions. Members are encouraged to share information and outcomes via Box, the committee mailing list, and/or in-person discussions with relevant stakeholders.

Agendas, meeting minutes, and handouts are maintained in the committee's shared Box folder and are open to members of ITCT. The ITCT mailing list is used for information sharing, discussion, and other announcements between members of the ITCT.

Vision and Role

In the early part of the 21st century, IT leaders across Oregon State University recognized that IT infrastructure was central to Oregon State's core functions: academics, research, and administration. The managers of that infrastructure were distributed throughout Information Services (IS) and other academic and administrative units across OSU, with most focused on just one or two of these core functions. As a result, decisions were occasionally made without sufficient consideration to the problems or issues associated with all of the stakeholders involved.

Recognizing that this led to needless misunderstandings, the IT Coordination Committee (ITCC) was established as a vehicle for improving the lines of communication, strengthening working relations, and promoting collaboration across university IT. In 2020, the ITCC was renamed the IT Coordination Team (ITCT), recognizing the evolving working relations of this group in becoming more team-centric.

The ITCT responds to four key observations:

  • Oregon State University consists of many talented and dedicated IT professionals throughout our campuses. Regular interactions at the IT leadership level help to promote information sharing, inclusivity, and communication between all levels of OSU IT.
  • Many IT tools and products span teaching, research, and administrative functions. Coordination and collaboration at the IT leadership level makes it possible to leverage potential savings across the three functional areas.
  • Technology implementation should be driven by the needs of the community. Simultaneously, technology can be responsible for expanding and redefining opportunities. The ITCC helps to create opportunities for technology innovation to happen.
  • By sharing experiences and collaboratively planning activities, IT leaders can make more informed decisions, utilize university funds wisely, and work cohesively to advance OSU's mission and strategic goals.