NIU engaged with an independent company, TSI, to perform an assessment on the Department of Information Technology. This was a comprehensive evaluation engaging key stakeholders campus-wide and took several months to complete.
Key Focus Areas
Information Technology Alignment with Institutional Goals and Objectives
Organization and Staffing of the Division of Information Technology
Information Technology Processes and Services Provided to the Campus Community
The University’s Technology Applications and Infrastructure (i.e. the IT ”stack”)
The Information Technology Financial Model
Feedback
Through a series of surveys and interviews focusing on over a dozen themes, TSI was able to rate IT’s performance. While feedback in general is always good to get, we have broken out the information into two groups positive and needs improvement.
Key Findings
Several findings from TSI resulted in recommended actions:
Finding
Lack of Effective IT Governance (IT Steering) that limits participation and prioritization of IT Portfolio
Actions
Keep IT Planning Council and CFAC In Place – As-Is
Re-Start IT Steering, Re-Form Membership and Subcommittees (Jan-2022)
Include eVPP/VP-CFO/Chief of Staff/CHRO/VP-Student Affairs at Top-Level Governance
Monthly Meetings to Review Portfolio Progress/Pipeline Requests/Business Cases
Finding
Some Confusion Exists Across Campus About Central vs. Distributed IT Services
Actions
Clear Up Confusion About Desktop Support/Classroom Tech Support – DoIT vs. D-IT
Update DoIT Website to Clarify Service Portfolio & Alignment
Enhance “Partnership Culture” between DoIT and Campus
Align IT Service Portfolio/Budget with Campus Multi-Year Plan/IT Steering
Finding
NIU Lacks Staff Capacity in Key Areas:
Information Security Management / Specific IT Functions Have NO Backup
Actions
Information Security Program Review with President/VP-CFO – key investments
FY22 DoIT Staffing Plan – ID Key Functional Investments (i.e. IdM/SPOF/Gaps)
Develop Student Intern/Employment Program – Career Path Opportunity (AY22/23)
Targeted 3rd Party Partnerships – Strategic Cloud/ServiceDesk/SOC
Develop Multi-Year DoIT Staffing Plan to Align with Multi-Year Budget Plan
Finding
NIU IT Infrastructure is Aging and has Key Vulnerabilities – WiFi/UPS/Telephones