Page 3 - 2021 OIT Progress Report

WELCOME FROM THE CIO
LOOKING AHEAD: PLANNING FOR THE NEXT ITERATION OF IT SERVICES
We are incredibly fortunate to be at SMU at this historic time.
Together, we successfully navigated the worst of the pandemic, welcomed the largest incoming class, and delivered high quality instruction to students across the globe. SMU’s focus on excellence
in both research and instruction helped our students navigate the
hybrid experience while still becoming world changers. Our staff
joined together in numerous collaborative efforts to support all facets
of our campus. Now we embark on a new capital campaign with renewed focus on boldly shaping tomorrow.
We continue to promote individualized support and service while also laying the foundation to support SMU in the future. We’ve added expertise in artificial intelligence, high-performance computing, identity management, and data visualization. We’ve continued to mature our business processes so we can quickly respond and deliver meaningful IT solutions. Most importantly, we continue to build relationships with faculty, staff, and students to provide collaborative and innovative ideas that are turned into actions. Although we’ve made great progress, there is significant work ahead of us to support the road to R1.
We are reaching the end of SMU’s current IT strategic plan, which guided our efforts from 2018 to 2021. We are now developing a new three-year plan, closely aligning with the University strategic plan that concludes in 2025. Our focus remains on providing the right service and support for research, teaching, and innovation at SMU. We welcome your input on what we do well and what we could do better.
We look forward to another great year serving SMU.
Michael Hites, Ph.D.
Chief Information Officer Southern Methodist University