While many resources are involved in a university-wide endeavor like IT strategy, OU has established an IT Operating Structure that formally defines the OU Information Technology (OU IT) department as well as other operating structures that may be available under specific circumstances. Collectively, these groups represent OU's IT Community and work together to further the University's mission to change lives.
OU INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY is a single, systemwide administrative department of the University of Oklahoma with enterprise responsibility for “information & technology” on all OU campuses. As designated by the OU Board of Regents, the IT Senior Associate Vice President and Chief Information Officer (CIO) oversees and is responsible for technology investments, services, programs, policies, projects, and strategies – as well as managing risks for each – for the University of Oklahoma system. The CIO and OU IT are supported by the IT Executive Steering Committee (ITESC), which utilizes a three-tier IT Governance framework to inform & prioritize decision-making.
OU Information Technology is tasked with addressing the University’s challenges, changes, risks, and opportunities by investing in key areas that are fundamental to both the University’s administration and its vision for the future. OU IT enables the university to accomplish its strategic and mission goals in ways that are Efficient (overcoming uncontrolled & hyper-individualistic spending and investment), Mission-Aligned (overcoming gaps in key capabilities that support our missions and strategies), and Future-Ready (overcoming barriers that reduce OU’s effectiveness or drive for excellence). OU IT accomplishes this through reduction of technical complexity, elimination of silos, and optimization of staffing for greater effectiveness and efficiency. All our systems & services are system-wide, aimed at streamlining and centralizing, letting us expand capabilities that support the University of Oklahoma to Change Lives. OU Information Technology is accountable to the OU Board of Regents, OU executive leadership, and OU IT Governance.
OU IT is the primary authority for information and technology management across all campuses of the University of Oklahoma. Operating under the governance of the IT Executive Steering Committee (ITESC) and overseen by the IT Senior Associate Vice President and Chief Information Officer (CIO), the department is responsible for the strategic planning, implementation, and management of enterprise-wide technology solutions. OU IT has the primary authority to:
DISTRIBUTED IT organizations within existing OU academic, administrative, or research units are specialized teams or individuals designated by OU Information Technology and approved by IT Governance. These organizations are responsible for addressing the discipline-specific or administrative function information and technology needs of their specific units at the University of Oklahoma.
A DIT organization is responsible for implementing and managing technology solutions that are tailored to the department's functions, while also ensuring integration with the university's overarching IT infrastructure and data. DIT organizations are equally subject to OU IT Governance and are responsible to fully comply with university risk, security, and other policy, including the use of available standardized contracts and purchasing processes that ensure transparency of the University’s technology spend. The DIT organization contributes to the elimination of technological silos, streamlines operations, and enhances the department's ability to fulfill its role in the university's mission to Change Lives.
Department IT organizations are specialized teams or individuals designated by the OU IT Department and approved by OU IT Governance. These organizations operate within specific academic or administrative departments or research units and are responsible for:
INDEPENDENT SYSTEM ADMINISTRATORS are individuals with information & technology responsibilities that augment their primary role as faculty, researcher, or staff and who operate independently of OU IT and departmental IT organizations within the University of Oklahoma. These roles emerge to fill gaps in technology services or to meet specific, immediate needs that are not addressed by the official IT teams. While they operate outside the formal IT structure, their activities can have a significant impact on the university's technology landscape and risk profile.
While Independent System Admins are primarily accountable to their supervisors and units, they must register with OU IT, comply with all OU policy, complete all required training, and obtain any necessary exceptions to manage and implement technology solutions while collaborating and aligning with OU IT or Departmental IT to keep the University’s computing environment safe & secure.
OU IT is the primary authority for information and technology management across all campuses of the University of Oklahoma. Operating under the governance of the IT Executive Steering Committee (ITESC) and overseen by the IT Senior Associate Vice President and Chief Information Officer (CIO), the department is responsible for the strategic planning, implementation, and management of enterprise-wide technology solutions. OU IT has the primary authority to:
