Strategic Initatives
As we look toward the future, Information Technology Services (ITS) is committed to enhancing our technological capabilities, improving user experience, and aligning our IT resources with the university’s goals. These initiatives aim to foster innovation, support academic and administrative functions, and keep the university at the forefront of technology integration in higher education. These strategic initiatives reflect our commitment to advancing Loyola University Chicago’s technological landscape to meet the current and future needs of our academic and administrative communities.
Updating Technology Governance
Effective technology governance is crucial for accountability, transparency, and compliance. ITS will work with the university to develop a modern governance framework that meets the university’s strategic, tactical, and operational technological needs. This framework will establish clear policies and procedures for managing technology resources and investments, ensuring effective decision-making and evaluation of new initiatives.
Last Year’s Efforts
- Institutional Data Governance (IDG): ITS partnered with the Provost’s Office of Institutional Effectiveness (OIE) establishment an Institutional Data Governance framework including supporting technologies and processes.
Upcoming Efforts
- Advisory Groups: Five Advisory Groups will be established which align with the major areas of focus in the University’s technology environment in an support of effective governance structure also fosters transparency in the planning, implementation and evaluation of technology resources and services. Learn more.
Enhancing the Loyola Technology Experience
We already have a strong portfolio of technology resources and services, and we seek to make these resources more accessible. By improving interoperability and creating user-friendly interfaces and platforms, our goal is to create a seamless technology environment for students, faculty, and staff.
Last Year’s Efforts
- Simple Syllabus Adoption: In collaboration with the Provost’s Office, ITS is launching Simple Syllabus, a new platform designed to streamline the upload and archiving of course syllabi. This initiative, beginning in the Fall 2024 academic term, is a key component of Loyola’s broader HLC reaccreditation efforts.
- Laptop-Centric Refresh Model: The University is transitioning from a traditional desktop workstation to a laptop-centric refresh model. As faculty/staff workstations reach the end of their lifecycle, they will be replaced with a laptop, a single docking station, two monitors for office use, a keyboard, and a mouse. This shift supports greater flexibility and mobility while maintaining a fully equipped office setup.
- PeopleSoft Environment Improvements: In 2024, we overhauled the application tier of our PeopleSoft environment, resulting in a higher performing experience for students, faculty, and staff.
Upcoming Efforts
- Transition to TeamDynamix: Starting Fall 2024, ITS will implement TeamDynamix to replace our current IT ticketing system. Key benefits include a streamlined Service Catalog, enhanced user experience, improved efficiency with automated workflows, and scalability for future growth.
- Media Asset Management: In 2025, ITS will launch a Media Asset Management (MAM) solution to centralize multimedia asset management for select production teams, providing a single, organized source for media files, tagging, and collaboration. This system will enhance efficiency, streamline workflows, and improve media organization and access across the university's teams.
- HSC Phone System: Will implement a new cloud-based phone system at the Health Sciences Campus by early 2025.
- Reduce Phishing Emails: Focusing on risk reduction, we will research additional methods to reduce phishing emails and compromised accounts.
Developing an Enterprise IT Architecture Plan
A comprehensive enterprise architecture plan is vital for aligning technology with the university’s strategic priorities. ITS will develop a roadmap encompassing enterprise technology, systems, data, and business processes, with the goal of enhancing operational efficiency and supporting the evolving technology needs of the university community.
Last Year's Efforts
- Operational Data Management: Creation of a long-term vision and strategy for operational data management and the performance of advanced analytics. Resources for this new strategy are referred to as operational "Data Analytics and Management Infrastructure" (DAMI).
- Internet-of-Things (IoT) Audits: The objective of this audit was to evaluate the security practices implemented on a sample of high risk IoT systems and validate they are following Loyola's policies, procedures, and industry leading security practices. Further objectives were to assess Loyola's IoT governance, including the definition of IoT systems, policies, and roles and responsibilities, and validate that the security practices implemented on a sample of IoT systems follow any Loyola policies, practices, plans, and industry leading security practices.
Upcoming Efforts
- Identity Access Management (IAM): Loyola's current Identity and Access Management System, in place since 2006, manages over 60,000 accounts but has notable limitations. It is difficult to update, requires manual intervention, and lacks efficient role management. To address these issues, Loyola will transition to a new cloud-based system in early 2025, which will improve automation, service, and security.
- Firewalls: Infrastructure Services assumed management of Loyola’s firewall environment and continues to work with the Information Security and Compliance team regarding their operation and policies. In 2025, Infrastructure Services and Information Security and Compliance will be collaborating to redesign the University’s firewall environment to reduce both complexity and operational expense.
Updating Mission-Critical Enterprise IT Resources
Many mission-critical technology resources are nearing the end of their useful life. ITS will develop a roadmap and execute plans to replace these resources, ensuring uninterrupted support for the university’s academic and administrative functions.
Last Year's Efforts
- Rome Center Infrastructure: Updated core infrastructure at the John Felice Rome Center campus. Added physical resources to all virtualization clusters at Loyola to accommodate future growth.
- CrowdStrike Implementation: ISC implemented an Endpoint Detection and Response solution from CrowdStrike. This software is designed to detect behavioral anomalies in workstations and servers and prevent zero-day attacks.
- Print Management: The implementation of PrinterLogic is nearly complete and will deliver a more streamlined printing experience for end users. The cloud portal will simplify the user experience of printer management and offer improved insights into printer utilization.
Upcoming Efforts
- Windows 11 Migration: We will develop a new Windows 11 image for Faculty/Staff and begin testing its compatibility with existing Loyola applications and deployments. Based on these tests, Windows 11 will be extended to other image versions, including labs, e-classrooms, and kiosks.
- Terminal Four CMS Cloud Migration: Terminal Four, Loyola’s Web Content Management System, manages content for luc.edu. Migrating to Terminal Four’s cloud platform will allow the vendor to handle hosting, monitoring, security patching, and upgrades, enabling Loyola to concentrate on content management support. This migration, targeted for completion in December 2025, will also reduce publishing latency and introduce new features like the program finder to enhance content management.
- WorkForce Ready Cloud Implementation: UKG’s WorkForce Central (Kronos) Time and Attendance platform is sunsetting with support ending after December 2025. WorkForce Ready is UKG’s cloud platform replacing WorkForce Central. Loyola will convert to WorkForce Ready Cloud in February 2025.
- Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Transformation Readiness: Moran Technology Consulting (MTC) partnered with Loyola to assess readiness for transforming the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) ecosystem, including HR, Payroll, Finance, and Student Information. In July and August 2024, MTC conducted 35 executive interviews and stakeholder workshops with participants from various university departments. MTC presented ERP roadmap with scenarios and recommendations to Loyola's executive leadership in September 2024.
- Enterprise Research Administration (ERA) System: Office of Research Services and ITS will partner to begin implementing Cayuse, a new cloud-based ERA system that encompasses 10 application modules across multiple functional areas.
- WebFOCUS: Finance and ITS are collaborating on a significant project to retire WebFOCUS through a transition of more than 750 reports to Microsoft Server Reporting Services (SSRS). This migration aims to enhance reporting capabilities, streamline processes, and improve data accessibility across departments. Upon successful completion of this initiative the institution will have more efficient and user-friendly reporting solution.
Updating Technology Governance
Effective technology governance is crucial for accountability, transparency, and compliance. ITS will work with the university to develop a modern governance framework that meets the university’s strategic, tactical, and operational technological needs. This framework will establish clear policies and procedures for managing technology resources and investments, ensuring effective decision-making and evaluation of new initiatives.
Enhancing the Loyola Technology Experience
We already have a strong portfolio of technology resources and services, and we seek to make these resources more accessible. By improving interoperability and creating user-friendly interfaces and platforms, our goal is to create a seamless technology environment for students, faculty, and staff.
Developing an Enterprise IT Architecture Plan
A comprehensive enterprise architecture plan is vital for aligning technology with the university’s strategic priorities. ITS will develop a roadmap encompassing enterprise technology, systems, data, and business processes, with the goal of enhancing operational efficiency and supporting the evolving technology needs of the university community.