IT Governance

Overview and Benefits of IT Governance

IT Governance is the structure and framework around the planning for IT services. By developing and using these frameworks built on best practices, KU will ensure that appropriate reviews are performed on IT solutions before they are purchased or implemented.

These reviews will be done with an eye toward alignment with KU Strategy, and supporting the core missions of the University of Kansas. The structure also allows for security reviews, and feasibility reviews, so that any IT solutions implemented are secure, and are in the best interest of KU.

KU Information Technology, in partnership with the campus community, has established a governance structure to prioritize technology initiatives for the university. The development and implementation of this IT Governance framework was developed using best practices and lessons learned from other higher education institutions, and knowledge gained from industry consultants such as EDUCAUSE and Gartner.

Benefits of IT Governance

Well-structured and collaborative IT Governance has many benefits for the university, including:

  • Accountability / appropriate use of funding
    • Ensure that funds used for technology solutions are used appropriately, and solutions have been thoroughly reviewed and vetted.
  • Remove redundancies of services and support
    • Ensure that KU is not purchasing duplicate solutions, or that new solutions can be applied to everyone at KU.
  • Adaptability and feasibility
    • Ensure that purchases or changes to services can be used by universally by everyone at KU, and that the requested changes are even possible.
  • Stewardship of IT resources
    • Ensure that IT is assigning the appropriate staff to the highest priority efforts, and KU can provide on-going support for the solution.
  • Security review
    • Ensure that the solution meets all security and risk concerns, including data integrity.
  • Transparency and communication
    • Wide inclusion on decision-making for core IT services, and sharing information when changes are made.
IT Governance Website

Campus Collaboration

KU IT seeks insights and feedback from students, faculty and staff in a number of ways, both formal and informal. One of the most important is our work with a variety of groups to help us understand customer needs and inform and guide our decisions.

Service Experience Councils

Service Experience Councils are a way to include campus representatives in developing the future of core services provided by KU Information Technology. Each of these Councils is comprised of subject matter experts from campus, who collaborate with KU IT in the future direction of particular technology services. KU IT staff who support the individual services also participate in the Councils.

The Service Experience Councils also develop recommendations on IT Projects as they pertain to core IT Services. After an IT project is submitted, it is reviewed by the appropriate Council, which assists KU IT in determining service direction for all IT projects.

All of the Service Experience Councils make recommendations and report outcomes to an IT Strategic Council. The IT Strategic Council is responsible for setting annual objectives for the Service Experience Councils, and taking recommendations provided by the Councils to develop the overall IT strategy for the university.

Visit the IT Governance website for more information about Service Experience Councils.

CIO Strategic Advisory Councils

CIO Mary Walsh created the Faculty/Staff Strategic Advisory Council and the Student Strategic Advisory Council to help KU IT listen to and better understand the needs and experiences of students, faculty and staff. Each Council meets three times a semester to discuss opportunities and barriers with campus technology. KU IT staff also shares information on new and current IT initiatives for the Council members to discuss and provide feedback.

Academic Computing and Electronic Communications (ACEC)

As a standing committee of the University Senate, the ACEC works with administrative personnel and other governance bodies to support and improve the academic computing and telecommunications environment at KU and to develop policy concerning information security, intellectual property rights, and other matters relating to information technology.

The committee is comprised of:

  • Five faculty members (one must be a representative of the KU Libraries).
  • Two staff members.
  • Two students (one undergraduate and one graduate student).
  • Deputy CIO for Technology or designee (ex officio, nonvoting member).
  • Associate Vice Provost for Integrity and Compliance or designee (ex officio, nonvoting member).

Academic Change Management Committee

The Academic Change Management Committee is comprised of representatives from the Office of Faculty Development, the Center for Online and Distance Learning (CODL), the Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE), Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging, and KU IT. The group advises and guides decisions related to changes and the overall direction related to technologies and services that support teaching and learning.