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Dear Strategic Resources and Support team,
I am writing this month to make you aware of some organizational changes within Strategic Resources and Support. Please bear with me on the longer than usual email, as I wanted to share these moves at the same time, as many are strategically related.Ìý
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- We are creating a new Division of Public Safety, and on Wednesday we will be announcing a search for a new associate vice chancellor for public safety.Ìý
- Non safety-related units within Integrity, Safety and Compliance will shift to other units within SRS.
- The Office of Data Analytics will move from Finance and Business Strategy to be integrated into the Office of Information Technology
- I am promoting:Ìý
- Jennifer McDuffie to deputy chief operating officer
- Robyn Fergus to vice chancellor of human resourcesÌý
- Jon Leslie to vice chancellor of strategic relations and communicationsÌý
The goal of these changes is to ensure an organizational structure that best aligns with university goals and priorities, best meets the needs of our campus, and best positions each of our units for success.Ìý
Below are more details about each to help provide clarity as the shifts are made in the coming days, weeks and months and you work with these units.
Why we’re making these changes for the ISC organization
Dan Jones’s upcoming retirement has provided the opportunity to rethink the structure of the ISC organization. In consultation with Dan and other SRS leaders, we believe separating the safety and compliance aspects of ISC best serves these aims. The new AVC of Public Safety position elevates the progressive work we’ve been undertaking around campus safety in recent years within the campus structure to ensure continued progress and innovation. At the same time, moving the non-safety-related functions of the former ISC division to units more closely related to their job functions helps better position them for success in support of our campus mission.Ìý
What is happening with ISC units
- New Division of Public Safety, to be led by a new AVC for Public Safety.
- CUPD will report to the new AVC.
- Emergency Management will come out of CUPD and report directly to the new AVC.
- Administrative functions like HR and finance will also come out of CUPD, and report to the new AVC in support of the public safety division.
- A new threat assessment position will be created and report directly to the AVC.
- Flight Operations will report to the new AVC.
- Compliance will begin reporting to Jennifer.
- The Digital Accessibility Office will move to the Office of Information Technology.
- The audit liaison responsibilities will move to the campus controller’s department in the Office of Finance and Business Strategy.
When ISC changes are occurring
- Compliance, Digital Accessibility and Audit will begin their transitions immediately.
- I intend to have the new AVC for Public Safety hired and in place by early in the spring semester, at which time the reporting lines for Emergency Management and the administrative functions will shift.
- We intend to post for the new threat assessment role after supporting changes to the campus exclusions policy are approved this fall.
Why ODA is integrating into OIT
We are making the Data Analytics move in order to enhance the way we serve and support our educational and research mission. The move to OIT recognizes data as a campus-wide asset that is critical to decision-making at all levels of the university. And it creates a number of benefits, including, among others, more closely aligning data analytics and data engineering and providing our campus community with a unified point for accessing data and getting their data and analytic needs met.
What moves are occurring in relation to the ODA shift
- Jess Keating will report to Chief Information Officer Marin Stanek and lead a Data and Analytics division of OIT as the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Data and Analytics.Ìý
- Most current ODA staff will continue to report up through Jess, and some members of OIT’s current data engineering team will join Jess’s team.Ìý
- ODA’s Faculty Information Systems team led by Alex Viggio will report to Mick McTigue, who will have a new title of Director of Specialized IT Services.Ìý
When the ODA move occurs/next steps
- Supervisory changes related to this shift will become effective Dec. 1.Ìý
- In the ensuing weeks and months, OIT will communicate with campus stakeholders about any shifts that may occur in processes for accessing data and having other data-related needs met.Ìý
SRS promotions
- Jennifer’s new title recognizes the vital role she has played in ensuring the day to day effectiveness and efficiency of Strategic Resources and Support. She will continue to provide operational leadership for the team and serve as a backup for me in my absence.Ìý
- Robyn’s and Jon’s new titles reflect the critical campus-wide roles HR and SRC play. Their respective work is infused across all of our colleges, schools and major operating units such that student success and research discovery would not be possible without their impacts.
- I hope you will join me in congratulating Jennifer, Robyn and Jon.
Supporting each other
I recognize that significant organizational change takes time to implement and adapt to. I request that you show compassion and patience for your colleagues affected by these changes as they work through the transitions. I am grateful for their flexibility and dedication during this time and for all that each of you do for this university every day.Ìý
Sincerely,
Pat
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