Mission and Vision
Mission
UMass Amherst Information Technology ensures comprehensive, high-quality technology services that enhance academic, research, and service goals and support business processes for all students, faculty, and staff.
Vision
Adopting a data-driven business model, UMass Amherst IT delivers flexible, user-centered solutions and operational excellence through innovative, inclusive, and resilient technologies.
Focus on
People
- User Experience
- Research Excellence
- Cultivate the Workforce
Data-Driven Innovation
- Innovation in Teaching Technologies
- Data-Driven Transformation
- Emerging Technologies
Responsible Stewards
- Sustainable Tech Future
- Secure and Resilient
- Operational and Financial Agility
Enhance User Experience
Transform the digital experience of our students, faculty, staff, and other university constituent groups with seamless, inclusive, and accessible technology services.
Initiatives
- Implement the “Journey UMass” initiative to provide an integrated, personalized student lifecycle experience.
- Ensure digital equity by achieving compliance with ADA Title II for all university systems.
- Enhance constituent management systems to support diverse audiences, including alumni and prospective students.
- Create a feedback-driven process to continuously refine digital services based on user needs.
Enable Research Excellence
Expand high-performance computing capabilities and innovative technologies to drive discovery and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Initiatives
- Expand Unity/Harmony research computing capabilities to support interdisciplinary projects.
- Upgrade high-speed research networks to facilitate cutting-edge scientific collaboration.
- Harness AI to advance research capabilities through UMass GenAI Platform and additional secure AI environments from UMass IT.
- Partner with researchers to integrate computing resources tailored to high-impact projects.
- Provide ongoing training and support for research teams to maximize the use of advanced computing technologies.
Cultivate the IT Workforce
Empower a diverse and skilled IT team to lead the way in innovation and operational excellence.
Initiatives
- Expand IT workforce development through career ladders, mentorships, and IT Student Ambassador programs.
- Launch initiatives for recruitment and retention to diversify talent pipelines.
- Partner with UMass academic programs to provide meaningful internship opportunities.
- Realign IT organizational structures to enhance hiring resilience and meet future organizational needs.
Foster Innovation in Teaching Technologies
Provide flexible learning experiences through secure and accessible platforms, tools, and resources that support student success and academic excellence.
Initiatives
- Finalize campus transition to a single Learning Management System (LMS) to reduce complexity and improve student success through a mobile-first learning platform.
- Strengthen and refine Canvas LMS to provide an accessible, inclusive, and flexible learning and teaching experience for students and faculty.
- Expand multi-modal teaching environments and future-focused tools to support diverse learning needs.
Accelerate Data-Driven Transformation
Modernize systems and foster data excellence to empower informed decision-making and institutional growth.
Initiatives
- Create and implement an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) roadmap for lifecycle management of SPIRE and related systems.
- Build a modernized data and analytics environment to enable data-driven decisions across departments.
- Develop a cohesive enterprise architecture strategy to streamline data workflows and system integrations.
- Formalize governance policies to ensure data stewardship and promote a culture of data excellence.
Advance Emerging Technologies
Establish UMass Amherst as a leader in harnessing Artificial Intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies to benefit the University, the Commonwealth, and society.
Initiatives
- Launch the UMass GenAI Playground, a growing ecosystem of AI tools and services, designed specifically for UMass Amherst.
- Develop UMass AI services to enhance communication and support for diverse constituent groups.
- AI Partnerships with Governor’s Office and MGHPCC
- Establish governance frameworks and literacy programs for ethical AI integration across academic and operational settings.
Build a Sustainable Tech Future
Design technology infrastructure and practices that ensure scalability, sustainability, and environmental stewardship.
Initiatives
- Strengthen UMassNet to support the university’s current and future connectivity needs.
- Transition legacy infrastructure to modern cloud computing solutions when supported by data.
- Expand green computing efforts at MGHPCC to align with environmental goals and reduce carbon footprint.
- Integrate sustainable practices into all technology procurement and development processes.
Strengthen Security and Resilience
Secure the university’s digital assets through resilient cybersecurity and advanced identity ecosystems.
Initiatives
- Implement a nimble and flexible Identity and Access Management (IAM) system to enhance digital identity security and streamline access to campus digital assets.
- Enhance cybersecurity strategy that promotes proactive risk management and builds a culture of awareness.
- Expand cybersecurity measures to include incident response, education campaigns, and secure infrastructure upgrades.
- Integrate cybersecurity initiatives with academic and research activities to foster collaboration and innovation.
Operational and Financial Agility
Streamline governance and processes to enhance efficiency and maximize resource utilization.
Initiatives
- Establish a Project Management Office (PMO) to align IT operations with university priorities.
- Retire outdated legacy platforms and consolidate duplicate services to improve efficiency.
- Focus on continuous improvement by leveraging data insights to refine processes and optimize services.
- Strengthen governance practices to ensure alignment with financial and operational resilience goals.