A message from Tom Duever, Interim Vice-President, Academic and Provost; and Mary Wells, Dean of Engineering
We are beginning the implementation phase of the Information Technology (IT) Functional Review, following endorsement by the Budget Implementation Steering Committee (BISG). During the fall term, the Functional Review Implementation Team considered appropriate responses to the following key themes from the IT Functional Review report:
- A high level of duplication of IT services across the institution
- Inconsistent IT roles and unclear decision-making authority
- Challenges in coordinating and standardizing IT processes across distributed environments, undermining efficiency and effectiveness
- Multiple local approaches to similar institutional needs, often overlapping with one another
To address these findings, the University will realign IT people and services across campus under the enhanced institutional mandate of the Chief Information Officer, which will enable clear institutional accountability for IT people, services, risk, and projects.
These changes do not signal a reduction in IT services, a reduction in local expertise, or the ability of units to receive IT support that aligns with their strategic objectives. Rather, the changes are designed to connect IT service delivery within a coordinated institutional IT structure capable of supporting the University’s research, teaching, and administrative activities at scale.
We recognize that our historical distributed IT structures have grown organically over many years and through good intention. Recognizing the complexity of the University’s digital environment in 2026 and beyond, clearer institutional accountability and tighter structural alignment for IT activities is now required. This realigned reporting structure establishes a clear accountability path for IT people and services to the Chief Information Officer, strengthening institutional alignment of IT activities and enabling a unified approach to managing cybersecurity and operational IT risks.
To ensure service continuity, protect critical projects already underway, and carefully manage the amount of change for IT people, implementation will occur in stages.
Stage 1: Reporting Realignment
Academic Support Unit IT (effective May 1, 2026)
IT staff within Academic Support Units will transition into the Information Systems & Technology (IST) department under a new, realigned reporting structure. The Deputy CIO role and a Director, ASU IT Services (a two-year interim role) will provide leadership during the transition period for staff roles that are realigned.
Faculty IT for Arts, Environment, Health, and Science (effective July 1, 2026)
IT staff within the Faculties of Arts, Environment, Health, and Science will be combined into a new Faculty IT Services group within IST. IT leaders and staff from these four Faculties will report to the Director, Faculty IT Services in IST.
Faculty IT for Engineering and Mathematics (effective September 1, 2026)
The Faculties of Engineering and Mathematics will reorganize their IT structures within their Faculties in consideration of the Faculty IT Services group and associated refreshed IT governance mechanisms, bringing a stronger focus on shared IT standards across the institution.
Stage 2: New IT Operating Model Design and Harmonization of People and Services
It will take time to build a new, harmonized IT service offering. Stage 2 will be informed by a new IT Transition Working Group, as well as a Core Committee led by the Chief Information Officer with continued executive sponsorship from us, and support from external consultants. An outcome of this operating model will be a reorganization of IST in order to serve the campus community in a new IT service model that ensures efficient and effective IT service and project delivery. As part of this IT service analysis and subsequent reorganization of IST, a key goal will be to identify IT services that may be duplicative. Additionally, stage 2 will include important conversations about where an embedded model of IT support is most appropriate.
This work will also align with efforts within the Faculties of Engineering and Math to create an enhanced IT service delivery structure within their Faculties. Refreshed IT Governance will be an important outcome of this work to ensure long-term collaborative alignment of IT services throughout the institution, as well as updated, common IT career paths for all IT roles on campus.
Stage 2 is expected to take approximately one year to complete, beginning Summer 2026, with significant opportunities for engagement by both campus leaders and IT staff. In the long-term, IT Transformation work is expected to yield both service harmonization, a reduction in the complexity of our IT environment, and cost reductions to support the University’s return to a balanced budget.