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Operations Manual The University of Iowa

PART VI. SERVICES

CHAPTER 3: INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES

(Amended 9/93; 10/94; 10/95; 9/98; 9/00; 10/01; 9/02; 12/03; 11/04; 12/05; 12/06)

Note: Effective December 2006, this policy has been revised. For indiviidual changes, see the redlined version.

3.1 General
3.2 Academic Technologies
3.2(1) Support for Instructors
3.2(2) Support for Researchers
3.3 Administrative Information Systems
3.4 Campus Services
3.5 Systems and Platform Administration
3.6 Telecommunication and Network Services

3.1 UNIVERSITY CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER -- INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES.
Information Technology Services (ITS) provides integrated information technology support for the University of Iowa campus. ITS provides computing facilities; administrative information systems; voice, data, and video communications networks and services; technological resources for teaching and research needs; Instructional Technology Centers (ITCs); and a variety of related services and support.

Information Technology Services is a group of five departments (see VI-3.2 through VI-3.6 below). Each department has its own decision autonomy, budgets, and business plans, which guide its actions and decisions. The Associate Vice President and Chief Information Officer (CIO) provides coordination, capital planning and control, policy approval, and other institutional coordination, intended to support the successful operation of each ITS department.

The CIO also leads the campus IT Professionals, a group of ITS collegiate and administrative IT staff. The group's general purpose is to facilitate discussion, strategies, infrastructure/enterprise solutions, and good communication on information technologies.

Information Technology Advisory Committee (ITAC) is a charter committee appointed by the governing body of the faculty, students, and staff and Faculty Senate, confirmed by the President of the University. The committee's general charter is to advise and recommend on University IT policies, services, and development.

For more information on any of these services, please see http://cio.uiowa.edu or contact Information Technology Services by phone or e-mail (its-information@uiowa.edu).
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3.2 ACADEMIC TECHNOLOGIES.
The Academic Technologies department provides assistance to instructors and researchers who use technology. The group offers a wide range of services and support, as detailed below.

3.2(2) Support for Researchers.

The Research Services group of Academic Technologies supports researchers in their use of computing technologies in research endeavors. For more information on any of these services, please contact Research Services by phone or e-mail (its-academic@uiowa.edu).

3.3 ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION SYSTEMS.
The Administrative Information Systems department provides information technology solutions and services that enhance the administrative operations of The University of Iowa business, collegiate, academic, and service groups. These services include the full spectrum of development activities (design, programming, implementation, and maintenance), database management and administration, information access, consulting, and project management. These services are provided for internally developed and purchased software. Additionally, Administrative Information Systems provides coordination and support for the University Data Warehouse which provides end users with decision support, and web-based reporting environments for Admissions Office, Grant Accounting, General Ledger, Human Resources, Payroll, and University Billing Office data. For more information on any of these services, please contact Administrative Information Systems.

The administrative systems supported encompass a diverse set of University functions such as academic and financial student records, library automation, central business office functions, human resources, payroll, and personnel services. Administrative Information Systems major customers include the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost, Registrar, University Housing, Admissions, Financial Aid, Finance and Operations, Business Office, Accounting Services, Human Resources, Facilities Services, Research, and University Libraries.

The University's administrative systems are hosted on a variety of computing platforms (IBM Enterprise Server, Unix, Linux, and Windows servers) and databases (IMS, DB2, Oracle, MS SQL Server, and MS Access) using many different development environments (PL1 Batch and CICS, PeopleSoft, CGI/Perl, Java, and MS Access). Administrative Information Systems services are supported through strong partnerships with sponsoring customer departments and other ITS departments.

The Administrative Information Systems department is organized into customer-centric and service-oriented work groups. Currently, there are four work groups aligned directly with major customer groups (Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost, Finance and Operations-Finance, Finance and Operations-Business, and Finance and Operations-Human Resources) to provide their specific support needs. The remaining two work groups provide broad services across all the administrative customer base. These work groups are the Web Development and Support Group and the Institutional Data and Data Management Group.
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3.4 CAMPUS SERVICES.
The Campus Services department provides computer-related information, account management, training, computer access, and problem resolution to University students, faculty, and staff. For more information on any of these services, please contact Campus Services. Services include:

3.5 SYSTEMS AND PLATFORM ADMINISTRATION.
Systems and Platform Administration (SPA) works in partnership with campus IT providers, especially IT departments, to provide for and sustain reliable, available, and responsive computing infrastructure. Our work helps our partners deliver information technology services to students, faculty, and staff of the University, and to external customers important to the University mission.

The Systems and Platform Administration department provides computing environments that enhance the academic, administrative, teaching, and research functions of the University. SPA also provides comprehensive management or assists with the management of Large Systems, Unix Systems, Windows Services, Enterprise Client Management, Directory and Authentication Services, and Computer Operations at The University of Iowa. The Systems and Platform Administration department is committed to providing secure, reliable, cost-effective services using the most appropriate and efficient technological tools available. The Systems and Platform Administration department is responsible for hardware and software installation, configuration, and maintenance. The department is also responsible for resource management, troubleshooting, and storage services, including backup and security. The Systems and Platform Administration department is organized by server, client, directory, and operations support. For more information on any of these services, please contact the Systems and Platform Administration director.

3.6 TELECOMMUNICATION AND NETWORK SERVICES.
The Telecommunication and Network Services (TNS) department provides planning, development, implementation, and support of networking, data, video, cable television, and voice communications for the University main campus (except for The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics) and the Oakdale Campus. TNS also ensures that the services provided to the University community are cost-effective, dependable, ubiquitous, and of the highest possible quality. For more information on any of these services, please contact Telecommunication and Network Services.


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Page last updated July 2007 by Office of the Senior Vice President for Finance and Operations