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Information Technology Strategic and Tactical Plan

Progress Report, October 2010

Work is underway to complete the action items in the new campus IT Strategic and Tactical Plan. To review the status and progress of items, as of the end of the 3rd quarter 2010, please click on the "spyglass" for each of the categories below. For the entire document click here.

Campus Cyberinfrastructure - Audit Items

Campus Cyberinfrastructure - Audit Items

ACTION ITEM

STATUS

Develop a plan to monitor security logs

Determine criticality of systems (sensitive/confidential data)

Determine servers, applications, databases, networking equipment supporting critical systems.

Research industry standards and best practices

Determine which logs must be monitored

Determine monitoring cycle for capturing/reviewing security logs

Done

Investigate effective software tools to analyze log data and generate exception reports

Identify tools available in the marketplace

Schedule vendor demos or WebEx conferences/meetings

Make decision of which product(s) is most appropriate

Proceed with procurement process: acquire product(s)

Install, test, and learn to use product(s)

Configure tools to aggregate & analyze log data on systems/servers

- Develop exception reports and notification mechanisms

Develop and implement actions plans/procedures

Done

In Progress

4th quarter

Dec 2010

Develop a Plan of Action to Relocate publicly accessible servers to a DMZ segment of the network

Identify critical servers

Identify required VLANs

Estimate number of servers to be positioned in each VLAN

Create VLANs

Review load balancer configuration

Replace/refresh equipment

Change addressing on servers not being replaced

Revise firewall rules

Reconfigure firewall devices to implement a “least privilege” security strategy

Done

In Progress

Complete computer security policy to include a password protected screensaver

Obtain approval for implementing the policy for audit compliance

Done

Activate and use the computer room space in 300 West Lexington Street facility

Install network switches and prepare the infrastructure for security card access/personnel occupancy

Relocate some CITS infrastructure and networking staff to this location

Begin installing network equipment, server hardware, and storage equipment

Done

Done

2nd quarter 2010 through 2011 beyond

Discuss and determine the design of the room and the equipment needed for production and backup systems, data storage, and high performance computing

Engage and obtain input from IT Advisory Committee

Engage and obtain input from a Faculty Research Computing Support Advisory Committee

Engage and get advice from vendor partners regarding contemporary computer room design and the capabilities and effective use of power, cooling distribution, and equipment

On Schedule

Ongoing

Develop a faculty research computing program that would support faculty research computing needs, define support requirements, include an effective sustainability model and incentives for using a facility that synthesizes a common computing infrastructure with computing systems, specific applications, and data storage all linked by a high-speed network across campus and to the outside world.

Finalize a research computing support program document that defines and explains the various aspects of the program. (4^th qtr, 2010)

Purchase and install storage equipment for faculty research data. (1^st qtr, 2011)

Install computing nodes to be used as computational resources for faculty projects. (1^st qtr, 2011)

On Schedule

Continue to configure and build-out the campus wireless network. Enhance wireless security while expanding campus wireless infrastructure.

Configure equipment for guest, faculty, student, and staff access

Cut-over to use new infrastructure and activate the myUMB authentication to gain secure access to the campus wireless network

Establish procedures for creating guest accounts and guest access to the wireless network

Provide easy and secure wireless access for faculty, staff, and students using mobile computing and handheld devices

Done

Done

Done

Done

Work closely with Facilities Management on the following projects:

Security camera project:

President’s Office

Campus Center

Fire alarm monitoring system

Medical Examiner building fiber installation

Done

Done

Fiber installation complete, Facilities will bring buildings on line after tests

Done

Work with Office of Research Development to provide server infrastructure support for KSS techTracS application, database, and web server

In Progress

E-mail and message delivery

Once schools are migrated to Exchange 2007, remove the Exchange 2003 Recipient Update Service from production and replace with the Exchange 2007 E-mail Address Policy Service.

Replace the end-of-life GroupWise connector that links up the campus Exchange environment to the GroupWise e-mail environments.

Upgrade Blackberry Enterprise Server to versions 5.x (1^st qtr, 2001)

Implement outbound e-mail delivery using IronPort infrastructure (3^rd qtr, 2011)

Done

On Schedule

In Progress

Work with the Office of External Affairs to provide the server infrastructure and database support for the Advance Development System project.

Implement development and production databases, applications, and web server environments.

Done

Continue to deploy contemporary IP Technology (VoIP communication devices) in new buildings as well as in existing buildings that have achieved campus standards for network equipment and building infrastructure.

Pharmacy School

Dental School

Social Work

Law School

HS/HSL

Saratoga Building

Done

To be completed 4th qtr, 2010

Work closely with Facilities Management and school facilities personnel to apply campus network standards in new and renovated facilities.

Pharmacy Hall

Pine St. Annex

Nursing Renovation

Bressler Building

Medical Examiner’s Office

Done

Scheduled for Jan 2011

Renovations underway

Done

Complete the Storage Area Network project for storing campus systems data in the new storage equipment located in the campus computer room

Migrate development systems to the new SAN

Apply best practices and EMC technologies for the storage of development databases on the new SAN

In Progress

Replace hardware for development and production systems, as well as network, security, and communications devices, as part of a planned refresh cycle as well as for building redundancy in network and server hardware.

Replace network switches, routers, and firewalls

eUM HRMS development database server

eUM Financial system development database server

Portal database, application and web servers

Servers that support Web applications and the Web Content Management System

4th quarter 2010

In Progress

Re-architect server configurations for Web applications and the campus Website Content Management System and position servers behind the Load Balancer

In Progress; to be completed in 4th quarter 2010

Build second network core facility in 620 W. Lexington Street to achieve network redundancy and disaster avoidance if a major fiber problem occurred at Howard Hall (3^rd quarter, 2011)

Develop an RFP for installing redundant fiber-optic cabling in duct banks that connect to every campus building and to the second network core.

Currently developing Plan

Explore the possible acquisition and use of newer, state-of-the-art videoconferencing systems

Evaluate Cisco Corporation’s “Telepresence” equipment and videoconferencing solution

Evaluate other brands (Tandberg and Polycom) of videoconferencing equipment

Test the use of Webcams for structured videoconferencing sessions

Test the use of Cisco Corporations VoIP televideo devices

Determine best solutions for multi-site connections via videoconferencing “bridging” technology

Ordered 3 Tandberg systems (HS/HSL, 620 W. Lexington, President's Office)

New Initiatives

eDirectory 8.8 upgrade/migration

Migrate OS from Windows to Solaris

Replace SSN as key with GUID in Aleph

In Progress; target 12/1/10
Target completion 12/1/10

Done

Access to Information Resources

Cyberinfrastructure and Infrastructure Services

Access to Information Resources

ACTION ITEM

STATUS

Develop and deploy self-service e-mail account provisioning for students

Replace current mass add process for incoming students

NEW: Create web interface for e-mail administrators and IT Help Desk to manage e-mail addresses

NEW: Implement handling for old students/employees returning as new students to reactivate the old UMNET e-mail address

NEW: Alias transition into Alias Organization Unit

Done

Establish a mobile computing program

Standards for mobile computing and handheld devices

Discounted pricing for mobile devices and service plans

Identify opportunities for mobile apps and prioritize based on value to the campus community and resources available

Establish a campus “App” Development Team that would be trained and learn how to develop apps for mobile devices

Begin developing applications that can be downloaded to mobile devices

Done

Done; view plans

Underway

Forming

1st quarter 2011

Administrative Systems

Enterprise Applications - Collaborative Systems

Administrative Systems

ACTION ITEM	STATUS
Continue developing e-forms for business, human resources, and student processes Complete a Request for Proposal for an “electronic toolkit” that will expedite the development of electronic business and human resources forms. Acquire an “electronic toolkit” for developing e-forms Obtain training and learn how to use the toolkit Perform an analysis of Travel forms, preparing for the conversion to electronic processing Begin the technical development of Travel e-forms, converting paper forms and processing to electronic processing Prepare training materials and instructions and implement the Travel e-forms (1^st quarter 2011) Continue with the Time Sheet project and make the non-exempt timesheet electronic (1^st quarter 2011) Undertake analysis of HR and Payroll forms and processes for the purpose of re-engineering processes and converting to e-forms Investigate feasibility of developing an electronic reconciliation and approval screen for the ProCard	Done In Progress Done 4th quarter 2010 On Schedule On Schedule Ongoing Investigating
Complete the Dunning Letter generation process	Ongoing
Finish the electronic interface for the Campus Center URecFit payroll deductions	Done
Continue to support and implement changes for current and future Salary Reduction mandates, if necessary, to the HRMS	Done
Investigate additional solutions to accept electronic payments (credit card) for services provided by business and service units on campus	Ongoing
Investigate and assess risk for compliance with electronic systems used for payment/credit card processing (Payment Cared Industry Data Security Standard) 4^th quarter 2010 Achieve standard and compliance, if necessary, systems used for credit card processing	Underway 2nd quarter 2011
Implement new fringe benefit allocation model	Postponed to FY2012
Upgrade Student Information Management System (Banner) to version 8.x and work on priority requests Provide Banner training/refresher courses as needed and requested Complete MHEC scholarship interface for Financial Aid and Bursar’s areas Enhance student service provider interfaces (PharmCAS, ADSAS, LSAC, and GRE) into Banner Implement CAPP module for tracking student progress/achievement: Law School Implement Web admissions, Registration, and Recruiting for Public Health Participate with the implementation of TargetX for recruitment management and communications to prospective School of Social Work students and provide guidance for the vendor to build an interface to Banner Plan, prepare, and implement the new Banner 8.x version (4^th quarter 2010) Evaluate and implement a Counseling Center scheduling application (4^th quarter 2010)	Ongoing In Progress Done and Ongoing In Progress Done Ongoing On Schedule Ongoing
COEUS grant proposal development and management system Perform COEUS production updates twice a year to keep current with federal regulations (unless mandates dictate additional upgrades). Implement phase II COEUS RAVEN reporting enhancements which will include updated pre-award and subcontract level reporting, award level reporting, new data items for reporting selection, new screen to display all current and proposed effort for an employee (originally 3^rd quarter 2010) Install Kuali 2.0 software on CITS servers to create a testing “sand box” area for access by UM staff Review Kuali software functionality and the impact on UM’s specific business practices. (2011) Work with Kuali Foundation on enhancements and product modifications based on UM’s software Review (2011)	Ongoing Go live changed to 11/5/2010 Done Beginning Soon Beginning Soon
Archibus space inventory management system Work with the Department of Capital Budget and Planning to review and possibly upgrade the Archibus system to the vendor’s latest release. (2^nd quarter 2011) Work with Department of Capital Budget and Planning on the development of UM’s phrase 2 enhancements. These enhancements will allow UM to assign space by individual projects and principal investigators for research administration reporting purposes. (2^nd quarter of 2011)	Done In Progress
Develop Web Applications for: OEA Credit Card Monitoring application International Student web application for the Office of International Services RSS feed function for displaying news from the Intranet application Implement WordPress for campus-based blogging capabilities Enhance InvenioIP application New HS/HSL circulation application to manage software purchases and inventory Develop Wellness Hub application to go with the new Wellness Hub website	On Hold; OEA is looking at vendors Done; awaiting final approval Done Done Done Done
Upgrade other administrative software applications: Web Content management system Cold Fusion Web Application User Productivity Kit training tool ImageNow document imaging and management Maximus effort report tracking system for grants	Done Done In Progress In Progress
Upgrade and enhance current reporting tools In addition to encumbering by fiscal year, investigate the feasibility to encumber salaries and fringe benefits by grant period. If doable, reflect encumbrance in RAVEN.	In Progress

Systems for Teaching and Learning

Support Teaching, Learning, Faculty, and Students

Systems for Teaching and Learning

ACTION ITEM

STATUS

Upgrade to Blackboard version 9.x
Prepare test environment and test

Prepare training materials

Train Blackboard administrators

Test 9.1 version

Train Faculty

Help summer faculty to build course materials

Perform acceptance testing

Cut-over to version 9.1 (in production)

Done

Improve support for academic applications by further opening lines of communication with vendors to ensure teaching and learning activities, priorities, and support needs are communicated effectively.

Reinstate a monthly Blackboard support telephone call to include representation by CITS, ETC Chairs, and other invited personnel with specific agenda items for discussion with Blackboard representatives

Provide an online surveying tool for teaching students how to survey

Upgrade the production Mediasite content capture system to the newest version (5.3)

Investigate and evaluate an online, real-time conferencing system for teaching and learning

Prepare and distribute a Request for Proposals

Evaluate responses and select a system

Done

Done, Survey Monkey

Group is formed; work is beginning in development of an RFP

Upgrade other academic teaching and learning systems

Questionmark online testing and assessment software:

Test new connector to Blackboard

Test QM version 5.x through fall 2010

Cut-over to new version (1^st quarter 2011)

NEW: Create weekly calls with Questionmark and campus users to resolve ongoing technical issues

New: Develop direct access to Questionmark server with local authentication and alternative grade reporting

NEW: Work with a Questionmark authentication team to establish myUM id for direct access

Done; major problems identified

Still testing iterative upgrades

On hold; pending testing

Done

About to begin; target finish is 12/10

Communications, Feedback, Service Delivery, and Support

Enterprise Applications - Communications

Communications, Feedback, Service Delivery, and Support

ACTION ITEM	STATUS
Expand Communications to and with the campus community E-mails to campus, school and department Communications personnel CITSBits online newsletters VOICE articles Web Postings In person meetings, IT Leaders, faculty, staff senate Electronic discussion boards Online brochures, advertisements Orientation materials, etc. Collaborate to identify and satisfy campus software needs Publicize software programs currently available in the campus Software Licensing Office Survey faculty, students, and staff to determine if other software programs are needed Negotiate licenses for any additional software programs that should be offered via the Software Licensing Office	Ongoing Ongoing; quarterly Ongoing; monthly Ongoing Ongoing Reviewing best tools Ongoing Done, Ongoing Ongoing
Help Desk Collaborations across UM, UMMC, and UPI Pursue additional opportunities for collaborating with Help Desk operations in UM, UMMC, UPI Hold regular meetings to discuss and share information: identify areas for collaboration; streamline and enhance service delivery Continue implementation of WebHelpDesk to improve how Help Desk requests are submitted, routed, and tracked. Work with the schools of Pharmacy, Nursing and Law (as well as the other schools as they acquirelicenses) to develop Tier 2 support. Deploy a development environment to test a new version of the software. Plan and proceed to implement self-service features of WebHelpDesk including enabling users to submit and review tickets via the Web.	Ongoing Ongoing Ongoing Ongoing Done Done
Work with Office of Research Development to provide access for faculty to research resources via a single web page	Done; view Research site
Design or redesign campus websites Redesign the campus Home Page and Website Complete Phase II of Dental School website Update the campus housing website Complete URecFit website Update software licensing website Update Writing Center website Develop a new Eldercare website Investigate feasibility of moving the BioPark website into the campus Content Management System Upgrade Graduate School website Convert web content and websites that are not currently in the campus Content Management System and campus web server environment Develop a consolidated Twitter page to manage and display OEA’s News Bureau information Develop a CMS solution to enable users to sign-up for RSS feed notifications Develop a new Wellness Hub website Undertake an assessment of the Campus Center website with a review of features and functionality needed for the site and then perform a redesign	Done Done Done Done Done Done Done Study completed; ORD privately contracting Hosting/Maintenance Ongoing Ongoing Done, but changes by Twitter made unusable, currently engaged with other OEA priorities Done, thru Coldfusion servers Done In Progress, redesign underway
Develop Training Resources specifically for Faculty Blackboard Training (On Demand, Online, and In Classrooms) Schedule more demonstrations and presentations of the tools and technologies that are or become available Develop Training Materials Post online, provide training on-demand Provide links that connect to campus training website	Done Done and Ongoing Done Done and Ongoing Done
Enhance the Campus Academic Systems and Services website to include a catalog of all the academic systems, communication and collaboration tools, and types of training available	Ongoing; more than 20 links already established
Implement an electronic communication tool(s) and create a campus forum(s) for sharing information regarding needs, new available technologies, services and support, e.g., discussion boards, blog, WebEx, Google Wave, Google Docs, etc.	On schedule; testing Google Docs, Teaming, SYMPA, huddle, et al.
Provide an online solution for document storage, sharing, and editing/collaborating for faculty	On Schedule for 1st quarter 2011