Strategy and Initiatives

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Strategy and Initiatives

Strategy for IT at Harvard

In 2022, the CIO Council assessed progress toward the goals of the 2018 University IT Strategic Plan and created a plan for an agile and collaborative approach to future direction, focusing each year on key strategic initiatives with University-wide impact. The Council is working on five initiatives in FY24:

Academic Tools and AV Technology

  • Assess the landscape of AV technologies and academic tools deployed across Harvard and create a service catalog and resources for best practices

  • Develop and foster an ongoing, University-wide approach to vendor management

  • Establish central consulting resources and subject matter expertise for implementing and supporting AV technology

Research Computing

  • Support the development of a University-wide approach to provisioning and funding Research Computing resources

  • Advise on and contribute to the development of governance, service and funding models to expand and simplify access to Research Computing services and related tooling

Asset Management

  • Develop an automated inventory of Harvard-owned servers and workstations in order to identify those systems that are currently unmanaged; bring those unmanaged systems into existing fortification and vulnerability scanning programs
     
  • ​​​​​​​Develop an approach and expectations around management of IoT and personal devices

Collaboration

  • Improve the user experience, simplify the environment, and advance Administration, Research, and Learning through the delivery of an integrated set of office collaboration, communication, and storage options
     
  • Reduce risk and strengthen Harvard’s security and policy posture

Generative AI

  • Support responsible and secure experimentation with generative AI tools and track local activity across schools and units

  • Align procurement efforts for commonly requested tools

  • Consolidate information on all available tools to support informed decision-making, tool selection, and access to education and training for various use cases

  • Convene AI Community of Practice to facilitate information sharing across schools and units

Funding processes

IT Capital Fund

 

The IT Capital Fund provides multi-year funding for University-wide, administrative and academic information technology projects.

 

FAS/HUIT Project Review Board

 

The FAS/HUIT Project Review Board (FAS/HUIT PRB) is charged with making a semi-annual funding approval for new IT investments in FAS.

Small Ask Process

 

The Small Ask Process funds smaller IT projects to advance important and innovative ideas, increase visibility and transparency, and strengthen connections with HUIT.

 

Multi-Year Technology Planning (MYTP)

 

The new Multi-Year Technology Planning (MYTP) process will aid Harvard in providing its faculty, students, staff, and researchers with the best possible digital campus.

 

Emerging Technology and Innovation Program (ETIP)

The Emerging Technology and Innovation Program (ETIP) was developed to foster a culture of curiosity and experimentation by identifying, testing, and assessing emerging and innovative technologies at Harvard. ETIP is an inclusive approach to innovation, soliciting ideas directly from members of the HUIT community.

Projects

Current
 

The File Share Project will provide faculty and staff with standardized, cloud-based tools for personal file storage and validate a direction for departmental file sharing in support of University research and administrative needs.

Past

 

The Harvard Cloud Program enables Harvard to realize the transformative benefits of the Cloud through the adoption and provision of common services that are secure, cost-effective, and reliable.