Moving Forward
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MOVING FORWARD Texas A&M Information Technology ANNUAL REPORT 2009 » Delivered IT support by providing 24-hour help, hardware repair services, application development, software A MessaGE FROM maintenance, and LAN/workstation support services. Welcome to THE Fiscal Year 2009 » Achieved savings for the university and participating A&M System DR. PIERce CANTRELL members through shared IT infrastructure and services, including discounted Annual Report for TEXas A&M software licensing, bulk computer purchases, and federated identity Vice President & Associate Provost management for secure access to resources between institutions. Information TecHnology. FOR Information TecHnology THE Road AHead As our nation and the world experience difficult economic times, we are mindful about While many challenges confronted us in this year using funds entrusted to us wisely and prudently. Not only do we control expenditures of economic turmoil, we installed new services and now, we must have a sustained focus on managing costs going forward. We will strive continued to upgrade existing resources to meet the to return added value for every service we provide as we continue to support Texas needs of a growing university population. A&M’s mission and goals. We also must look beyond the immediate economic crisis and focus on improving our » Enhanced the university’s information technology environment to organization for the future. We will concentrate on building a higher level of trust with meet student educational and information needs, including continuing the academic community by being a more proactive and responsive organization. We implementation of the web-based student information system; providing will continue to adopt new, quality solutions because we believe that the successful use more discounted software options; increasing campus computer of technology can be transformative – enabling creativity, feeding innovative thinking, lab access; and augmenting teaching technology resources. and nourishing a passion for learning. » Increased access to research computing by providing Though many hurdles must be overcome, I am confident that our team of highly skilled supercomputing consulting services, which provide intensive and motivated IT professionals is up to the challenge. Most prefer to work quietly programming assistance for faculty and other advanced users. behind the scenes to provide essential IT services, without which the university could » Advanced communication capabilities by boosting mobile technology not function effectively. I am proud that their dedication, enthusiasm, and teamwork support on campus; augmenting conferencing capabilities; providing public demonstrate every day our values of excellence, leadership, and service. television and radio broadcasting; and commencing on the Voice-over- Internet Protocol conversion to replace legacy campus phone systems. I encourage you to share your questions and suggestions with me and members of our team as we strive to provide the best possible IT environment for Texas A&M. » Improved emergency notification by deploying the new Code Maroon system and Emergency Alert System (EAS) radios in campus departments. Dr. Pierce Cantrell Collaborated with local cities and counties for a joint emergency operations center and interoperable emergency radio system. Vice President and Associate Provost for Information Technology » Sustained high-quality network access for the university and The Texas A&M and Chief Information Officer University System by completing infrastructure upgrades to the TTVN wide area Texas A&M University data network and continuing support to the LEARN high-speed optical network. » Enhanced information security by installing email security appliances; deploying initiatives to tighten security for university information resources; and participating in a national campaign to raise awareness of computer security issues. Texas A&M Information Technology Annual Report 2009 2 3 university community. KAMU provides public radio and services to strengthen eLearning, including supporting television broadcasting services to Bryan/College Station and Blackboard Vista, the university’s enterprise-level surrounding areas. learning management system. ITS provides professional development opportunities and empowers instructors TTVN is the wide area data and interactive communications to use best practices in higher education to enhance network for The Texas A&M University System, which provides student learning through technology. They offer enterprise-level high-speed data networking services to the workshops, individual training, course design 11 A&M System university campuses, the Health Science TABLE OF CONTENTS WHO WE ARE consultation, online resources, and equipment for Center, seven research and service agencies, and the Texas instructors to complement various learning styles and A&M University branch campuses in Galveston and Qatar. foster effective course design. TTVN also provides interactive videoconferences with any site worldwide, Centra webconferences, and live and archived NETWORKING & Texas A&M Windows Media streaming audio and video webcasts. MESSAGE FROM THE VICE PRESIDENT. 2 Information SECURITY Information Technology ENTERPRISE WHO WE ARE . 5 Networking and Information Security (NIS) maintains The Office of the Vice President and Associate Provost Information SYSTEMS and supports the campus and community network for Information Technology and the departments of backbone and provides network connections. They are ENHANCING STUDENT ACADEMIC EXPERIENCES . 6 Enterprise Information Systems (EIS) is responsible for the Texas A&M IT provide services and resources that help responsible for Internet connectivity, campus wireless implementation and maintenance of new mission-critical, the faculty, students, and staff of Texas A&M University service, and remote office services. NIS is in charge of Elevating Faculty TEACHING AND RESEARCH . 11 enterprise-wide information systems at Texas A&M. The use technologies to achieve excellence in teaching, the information security program that maintains and existing legacy student information management system is research, learning, outreach, and administrative pursuits. enhances the overall security posture of the university. being replaced by Compass, the new web-based information STRENGTHENING COMMUNICATION. 16 This includes campus firewall maintenance, firewall and system, at the College Station, Galveston, and Qatar COMPUTING & sensor configuration, incident response and investigation, campuses. EIS also is responsible for Howdy, a comprehensive SUPPORTING CUSTOMER SERVICES . 19 and providing information and notification on viruses, web portal that serves as the “front door” to Compass and Information Services attacks, and vulnerabilities. NIS initiates and applies connects students, applicants, faculty, staff, parents, and IMPROVING NETWORK AND INFRASTRUCTURE RESOURCES. 22 Computing & Information Services (CIS) provides core IT policies and procedures, as well as develops and former students to web-based services at Texas A&M. IT infrastructure resources and facilities that support the administers information security awareness training for BUILDING COMMUNITY . 25 campus and the departments within Texas A&M IT. CIS all faculty, students, and staff. operates central campus servers that house mission- INSTRUCTIONAL MEDIA Services advancing SHARED services AND COST-saving MEASURES. 28 critical data and services, including email, Internet and Instructional Media Services (IMS) provides and supports Telecommunications network access, campus wireless, web sites, data center multimedia equipment and technology tools that enhance Telecommunications provides fast, reliable, and cost- operations, and administrative and academic systems. and improve the quality of classroom instruction. IMS BUDGET summary . 31 effective telecommunications services from data to CIS provides campus computer labs, 24-hour assistance maintains multimedia/computing equipment in technology- voice, dial-up to high-speed, and wired to cellular. They through Help Desk Central, hardware and software enhanced Smart classrooms across campus. These automated offer voice services to all A&M System offices in College support, custom application development, discounted systems allow instructors to use one interface to easily control Station and other offices in Texas, international locations, software for departments and individuals, as well as the classroom equipment including the data projector, screen, as well as all network service contracts for A&M System university’s Supercomputing Facility. computer, VCR/DVD player, and optional equipment such as member locations. They support security and surveillance a Smart Sympodium or document camera. IMS personnel also systems on campus, as well as manage the university’s QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? EMAIL [email protected]. deliver and set up equipment for classes or other functions in Educational two-way radio system. Telecommunications also rooms without permanent equipment. FOR A Digital VERSION OF THIS Report, VISIT Vpapit.tamU.EDU AND CLICK BROADCAST Services manages the campus cable television system and fiber optic cable plant, as well as the Emergency Alert System, “TEXAS A&M ANNUAL Report 2009” UNDER QUICK LINKS. Educational Broadcast Services (EBS) is comprised INSTRUCTIONAL a component of the university’s Code Maroon system of KAMU-TV/DT, KAMU-FM, and TTVN. They offer TECHNOLOGY Services that provides the ability