Campus Technology (CTS) Update

A message from AVC and CIO Bob Beck:

Next Monday, July 22, “Phase 2” of the Implementation of Campus Technology Support (CTS) for the ISS Project will officially commenceI am pleased now to share another “who/what/when/how” update on Phase 2.

Who?

Phase 2 of the implementation of CTS will affect the following UWM “Hub 2” units:

  • College of Engineering and Applied Sciences
  • College of General Studies
  • Graduate School / Office of Research
  • Lubar School of Business
  • Peck School of the Arts
  • School of Architecture and Urban Planning
  • School of Continuing Education
  • School of Freshwater Sciences
  • School of Information Studies
  • UWM Libraries

What is happening?

The Campus Technology Support (CTS) Phase 2 Transition will formally begin next Monday, July 22, with an initial “staffing reorganization.”  This staffing reorganization will be followed by an incremental series of “service transition” activities for “Hub 2” units (including your own) that will continue through 2020.

The Transition process is designed to make gradual IT changes and improvements with minimal disruption to supported campus units in “Hub 2.”  During the Transition process, CTS will work with Hub 2 supported units, including yours, to ensure effective communication and a successful, progressive transition of IT services.

The IT support services ultimately to be provided by CTS to your unit after the Transition process is completed include:

  • Help Desk (immediately available)
  • IT Purchase Advising/Facilitation (immediately available)
  • Desktop Support
  • Classroom Services

Which IT staff members will be joining CTS?

The ISS Project’s Executive Sponsors, Provost Britz and Vice Chancellor Van Harpen, formally approved the “staffing plan” for Phase 2 of CTS.  Pursuant to that plan, eight full-time IT staff members will be joining CTS on Monday.

Transition discussions with some full-time IT staff members and their respective “Hub 2” units are continuing, so the ultimate number of incoming CTS staff may modestly increase.

When is it happening?

From July 22 through October, the incoming CTS staff members from Hub 2 units will help conduct “transition assessments” of their respective units.  Over these four months, the staff will determine the details and timing for any changes in IT services, in consultation with unit leadership, faculty, and staff members.

In October through January 2020, CTS will gradually implement the Transition Plans so that the “Hub 2” units like yours can receive the IT support services offered by CTS through the “shared services” support model.  Prospective changes in IT support process will be communicated by CTS before implementation.

PLEASE NOTE:  Because the transition of CTS IT services to your unit will be done gradually, the full scope of CTS services will not be available to your unit from CTS starting next Monday.  This will not mean a reduction in IT services for your unit.  Rather, it means that the full scope of services offered by CTS will become gradually available.  The pace of CTS service implementation for your unit will reflect your unit’s specific priorities, CTS capacities, and academic calendar considerations.   In some instances, changes to some existing IT devices, facilities, and services may be delayed until the Summer of 2020 to reduce the possible impact on instruction.  In a few instances, with unit prior knowledge and approval, CTS service changes may even happen this summer.

How will it affect Hub 2 IT staff?

On Monday, those IT professional staff members from Hub 2 units whose transfer has been endorsed will be reassigned to CTS.  Once in CTS, the staff will help facilitate transition planning tasks and activities. Even so, the reassigned Hub 2 IT staff will initially

  • serve in generally their same IT support roles,
  • support their same people, and
  • work from their same physical office spaces.

Staff alignment will be reviewed throughout the Transition process, and adjustments will be made as the IT services make the transition to CTS. A more complete CTS staff reorganization will be undertaken in early 2020.  The reorganization will be based on IT service process changes and on opportunities for staff specialization and advancement that result from the Hub 2 Transition.

Any later changes to role and office assignments will be discussed with the affected IT staff members before final recommendations are made.