At the University, the use of information technologies to enrich teaching, scholarship, and health care continues to evolve, with technically adept students and creative faculty pushing boundaries ever further. Digital technologies have become essential to the U.Va. experience - in the classroom, the laboratories, the libraries, the residence halls, and beyond. Streamlined business processes, digitized resources, expanded IT labs and classrooms, and a robust infrastructure assure tangible gains in pursuing and disseminating knowledge, solving research problems, improving health care, and realizing efficiencies. During 2005-06, staff in the Department of Information Technology and Communication (ITC) continued to expand these services and create and implement new ones in collaboration with faculty, staff, and students across the Grounds. A shared vision and sense of purpose in furthering the University's missions has brought about a strengthened infrastructure, improved IT support services in the libraries, and expanded computation-research capabilities.

Executive Leadership and Succession

Following seven years of leading the Department of Information Technology and Communication, Vice President and Chief Information Officer Bob Reynolds returned in summer 2006 to his roles in the School of Medicine as Professor of Medicine and Public Health Sciences and the William Hobson Professor in Information Sciences. Dr. Reynolds is devoting the majority of his efforts to the Department of Public Health Sciences, beginning as acting chair of that department.

During his tenure as vice president and CIO, Dr. Reynolds created numerous programs to enhance the University's digital security, oversaw substantial increases in network capacities and the development of a wireless network, and expanded support for research computing, among many other achievements. He was instrumental in developing the region's connection to the ultra high-speed National LambdaRail network, which is bringing to the University new possibilities in scientific research and development. As chair of the Mid-Atlantic Terascale Partnership, Dr. Reynolds led the consortium of the Commonwealth's research universities that owns, sponsors, and operates the network for the region. He helped organize and formalize the Virginia Higher Education CIO Group, which communicates and negotiates the needs of higher education with the Commonwealth's Virginia Information Technology Agency. Dr. Reynolds' expertise in institutional and IT planning was essential in successfully bringing the Department of Information Technology and Communication through several years of state budget constraints. Together with ITC's managers and staff, he pursued operational efficiencies that assured the University's ability to provide exceptional IT programs and services with limited financial resources.

Succeeding Dr. Reynolds is James L. Hilton, previously associate provost for academic, information, and instructional technology affairs and a professor of psychology at the University of Michigan. He also served as interim director of Michigan's University Library. Mr. Hilton, who was appointed following a national search, is an award-winning teacher, a leader in information technology policy, and an advocate for strong collaboration between the academic and technology cultures in universities. He began his work using information technology to deepen undergraduate learning while teaching the school's introductory psychology course to 1,200 students.

In spring 2006, Mr. Hilton appointed Mike McPherson as associate vice president and deputy CIO. Mr. McPherson worked closely with Mr. Hilton in the Provost's Office at the University of Michigan. Over the past two decades, Mr. McPherson has held several leadership positions in information technology in higher education. Most recently, he served as special counsel to the Provost at the University of Michigan. Mr. McPherson has also served as director of information technology for the College of Literature, Science & the Arts at the University of Michigan, and as the manager of IT operations for the College of Engineering at Michigan State University.

Helping to lead the department are ITC's directors, a group with deep technical knowledge and a strong understanding of the University and its needs. Each of these directors headed an operational division of ITC during 2005-06:

Advanced Technology	Timothy M. Sigmon, Director
Applications and Data Services	Donald L. Reynard, Director Deborah M. Mills, Associate Director
Budget and Administration	Linda S. "Susie" McCormick, Director
Communications and Systems	James A. Jokl, Director Martha R. Stearns, Associate Director
Computer Support Services	Teresa W. Lockard, Director Anne L. Lind, Associate Director
Security Coordination and Policy	Shirley C. Payne, Director

Staff Leadership

ITC staff are exceptionally active in state and national information technology organizations, holding leadership positions, collaborating to solve common problems, and organizing and speaking at conferences. Their external activities bring reciprocal rewards both for the University and for the organizations to which they volunteer their time.

ITC staff members are active in Educause, the nation's leading professional association for information technology in education. Director of Security Coordination and Policy Shirley Payne is co-chair of Educause's Security Education & Awareness Work Group and serves on the association's Security Task Force Leadership Team. Ms. Payne continued work on the Educause Security Incident Response Policy Sub Group. She delivered two security-related presentations at the annual Educause conference. Tracy Scharer of ITC's Enabling Technologies Group serves as the co-facilitator of Educause's User Services Constituent Group.

Ms. Payne's other activities include serving as chair of VA SCAN, the Virginia Alliance for Secure Computing and Networking. She delivered a presentation on security compliance at the alliance's annual conference. Other ITC members of VA SCAN include Jim Jokl, Brian Davis, and Marty Peterman. Kevin Savoy of U.Va.'s Audit Department is also a member.

Ms. Payne also serves on the Virginia Council on Technology Services, and she participated along with former Vice President Bob Reynolds in the state's higher education CIO group. She continued the work of reviewing and commenting on drafts of new policies, standards, and guidelines put forth by the Virginia Information Technologies Agency. Ms. Payne gave a presentation about U.Va.'s security program at the ACC Security Summit, a gathering of CIOs and security officers from institutions in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Brian Davis of the Security and Policy Office made numerous presentations during the year. One talk, entitled "Institutional Insurance: Creating a Comprehensive IT Security Risk Management Program," was given to the Virginia Local Government Web Alliance. Mr. Davis also delivered a presentation on creating campus-wide IT security risk management programs to the College and University Auditors of Virginia.

Several ITC staff members are involved with the Association for Computing Machinery/ Special Interest Group on University and College Computing Services (SIGUCCS). Computing Support Services Director Terry Lockard serves on the board of SIGUCCS, and she served as publicity chair of the planning committee for the spring 2006 Computer Services Management Symposium sponsored by SIGUCCS. ITC's Jayne Ashworth was a member of the Program Committee for the fall 2005 ACM SIGUCCS Conference (and co-chair of the Technology Track) in Monterey, California. She also is a member of the Program Committee for the fall 2006 conference, which will be held in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. This year, Ms. Ashworth chaired the Training and Documentation Track and reviewed and edited in the Technology Track. She was recently selected for induction into the SIGUCCS Hall of Fame.

Many ITC staff members also are involved in the Association of College Computing Services (ACCS) of Virginia, a state organization that supports the sharing of information among technology professionals in Virginia's colleges and universities. Trisha Gordon is a member of the ACCS board, and she organized and chaired the first annual ACCS Portal Symposium in Charlottesville as part of that association's spring 2006 conference. Anne Lind also served on the ACCS board. Karen McDowell delivered a presentation on security at the association's spring conference and Scott Crittenden presented an overview of podcasting. Shirley Payne participated in a panel discussion on top computing issues in higher education at the ACCS conference.

Director of Communications and Systems Jim Jokl and Director of Advanced Technology Tim Sigmon continued their long-term participation in the Common Solutions Group. Mr. Jokl also chaired the Higher Education PKI Technical Activities Group (HEPKI-TAG) and co-chaired the Net@Edu Integrated Communications Strategies group. He is a member of the Internet2 middleware architecture group (MACE), and he chairs the USHER Policy Authority. Mr. Sigmon made several presentations about the MyUVa Portal and implementation of Sakai software, including one at the ACCS conference.

Director of Budget and Administration Susie McCormick chairs the Research and Doctoral Constituent Committee of the Southern Association of College and University Business Officers. She also is a member of the board of that organization. ITC's human resources officer, Debbie Mincarelli, is a member of the Albemarle/Charlottesville Human Resources Association and serves on the association's annual Conference Committee. She also is a member of the Society of Human Resources. Sandy Bryant and Deborah Mills became certified project managers during 2005-06.

ITC staff members Janet Belew, Sharon Drumheller, Mark Smith, and Sandy German assisted with the University of Mary Washington's move-in day in late summer 2005. These staff members shared resources and gained knowledge about incoming students and their technology needs at other Virginia universities. ITC Webmaster Steve Stedman is a founding member of beTech, an organization that encourages enthusiasm within the University of Virginia Web community for bleeding edge technology.

Internal Communications Improvements

In fall 2005, ITC evaluated its internal communications and cross-divisional project processes. After reviewing suggestions from staff, ITC directors implemented several improvements, including sending project updates to the ITC-all e-mail list, requiring cross-divisional project and standing committee updates to directors every six months, and beginning a series of meetings between managers and directors. The new quarterly information-sharing meetings between managers and directors began in June.

Internship Program

For several years, ITC has sponsored a program that enables staff to temporarily join new groups within the department. Participants broaden their skills and experiences through working with new groups for six to twelve months. Because of budget constraints beginning in 2001-02, the department no longer covers funds to backfill positions vacated by interns. Now, staff are offered the ability to participate in the internship program only if they are able to find positions where backfilling is not required or where another intern can assume the vacated position. During six months in spring and summer 2006, two ITC staff members participated in the program by switching positions with one another.

Student Laptop Use

Although student computer ownership at U.Va. has been nearly universal for several years, the types of machines they bring with them are changing. Increasing numbers of students own laptops. In fall 2005, roughly 92 percent of incoming students brought laptops, compared to 85 percent in fall 2004 and 70 percent in 2003.

ITC and other University units, such as the libraries, encourage the use of laptops because they facilitate working with others and working at locations such as the library. Computers offered for purchase through the University's Desktop Computing Initiative (described below) reflect this change, as does the technical support provided to students. In addition to the joint ITC-Library Mobile Computing Support program in the libraries (described in Goal III), ITC is expanding its support for students' laptop use. Wireless access is available in each student residence hall that has a designated study/lounge, as well as in some computer lounges and coffee shop areas. As of fall 2006, wireless access will be expanded to include the student residence halls on Alderman and McCormick roads.

Desktop Computing Initiative

Introduced seven years ago, the Desktop Computing Initiative (DCI) is a voluntary computer-purchase program designed to help make U.Va.'s IT environment more homogenous, advancing effective and efficient document-sharing, communications, and technical support. The program encompasses machines offered to faculty, staff, and students, as well as those purchased for use in computing laboratories and classrooms. By leveraging the University's buying power, DCI offers competitive pricing on a core set of Dell and Macintosh personal computers and such services as pre-loaded common software, pre-set Internet configurations, computer installation, and old equipment removal. DCI vendors donate dozens of machines to the Laptops for Students program, which assists students with financial need in acquiring DCI computers and is run by U.Va.'s Office of Student Financial Services. In addition, institutional assistance has been available for some students participating in the Access U.Va. financial aid program.

Participation in the DCI program is very strong. In 2005-06, nearly 1,700 students purchased DCI machines, compared with 1,600 the previous year. Computers purchased for use by faculty and staff and in computing labs and classrooms were slightly fewer in number. In 2005-06, some 1,350 machines were purchased in this category, compared to 1,700 the previous year. Computers offered through DCI change with evolving technologies and user needs. Because the overwhelming majority of students (92 percent in fall 2005) bring laptops with them to the Grounds, only laptop computers are being offered for student purchase through the program beginning in summer 2006.

The DCI program is jointly managed by ITC's Computing Support Services Division and Cavalier Computers, which sells and installs DCI machines. A Grounds-wide advisory committee oversees DCI's technical and programmatic elements, and a committee of senior-level University managers assists with policy matters. DCI is designed to meet the routine computing needs of students, faculty, and staff, not the high-end computing power required for research. Programs that address research computing needs are described in Goal IV of this report. In addition to the computers available through DCI, the state offers faculty and staff discounts on computer purchases through a set of contracted vendors.

Advanced Network Capacities

A robust and reliable network is essential for both routine and advanced uses of digital technologies. As networked computing demands increase, ITC staff work on several projects to meet the ever-rising needs for network capacity, speed, and dependability. Staff make regular enhancements to the University's traditional and wireless networks, and manage several projects dedicated to the high-performance needs of researchers. The University was a founding member of Internet2 (described along with other infrastructure programs and improvements in Goal V), and it has continued its leadership in such ventures as the National LambdaRail Initiative (described below), which facilitates vastly greater bandwidth uses.

National LambdaRail Initiative

In spring 2006, the regional node of the National LambdaRail (NLR) network was activated, connecting Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C., to a new, nationwide infrastructure with the data capacity of 40 gigabits per second. Because of the vastly increased capacities provided by the NLR, U.Va. researchers are able to conduct new kinds of data-intensive experiments, collaborate more effectively with peers around the world, and be more competitive in their bids for large research grants from such agencies as the departments of energy and defense and the National Science Foundation. The additional capacity is essential for collaborative research projects involving large data sets and for transportation of specialized applications. Access to the NLR will extend U.Va.'s research competitiveness in such areas as physics, molecular chemistry, engineering, meteorology, and health care, among many others. Participating in the NLR also provides a significant upgrade in U.Va.'s network capacity to the Internet2 Abilene network. During summer 2006, ITC is moving the University's backup Internet connection to run over the NLR.

Former Vice President and CIO Bob Reynolds led the formation of NLR's regional consortium, known as the Mid-Atlantic Terascale Partnership. In addition to the University of Virginia, current members include Virginia Tech, William & Mary, Virginia Commonwealth University, Old Dominion University, George Mason University, NASA, and the Thomas Jefferson Laboratory. Oak Ridge Associated Universities is an associate member. The Commonwealth's connection to the network is funded through participating research universities and through the generous support of the State of Virginia.

SURA Grid Project

Grid-based computing technologies have much potential to enhance the University's research computing environment by facilitating the sharing of computer resources, providing a more consistent user interface, and preparing researchers to connect to various regional and national grid-computing initiatives. While much potential exists and large grid-based systems are being built, many aspects of grid technology are being actively researched and enhanced. Among these are different mechanisms for intercampus authentication and trust and the integration of directory services for grid authorization.

ITC's Communications and Systems Division is working on the SURA (Southern Universities Research Associations) Grid project to prototype the use of a public key infrastructure (PKI) bridge as the basis for intercampus authentication and the use of LDAP directories to automate some of the user management and authorization functions. This work is being done with the expectation that much of what is being learned will be applicable to building the U.Va. grid. The effort is a continuation of the staff's previous work in conjunction with the University's Computer Science Department on the Globus Toolkit during the National Science Foundation Middleware Initiative Testbed project.

During 2005-06, staff deployed the Globus software, which is being enabled on ITC-operated research computing clusters in summer 2006. The myProxy servers and software system have been installed and will facilitate Globus job submission via the Computer Science Department's Grid Portal. Additional work on the project continues.

InCommon/Shibboleth

In 2005-06, ITC joined Internet2's InCommon Federation to enhance ITC's middleware software infrastructure. The InCommon Federation supports user access to protected resources by allowing organizations to make decisions about granting access to resources based on information about a user's authorization presented by his or her home institution. InCommon eliminates the need for researchers, students, and educators to maintain multiple, password-protected accounts. Built using Shibboleth authentication and authorization technology, InCommon enables cost-effective, privacy-preserving collaboration among InCommon participants. Shibboleth is being developed to enable the sharing of Web resources that are subject to access controls such as user IDs and passwords.

In spring 2006, staff installed new servers for the InCommon Federation Shibboleth deployment. Shibboleth leverages institutional sign-on and directory systems to work among organizations by locally authenticating users and then passing information about them to the resource site.

Advanced Technology Group

The Advanced Technology Group (ATG) functions largely as ITC's research and development unit. The group investigates emerging open-source tools and collaborates with faculty and staff to create technical solutions for specific needs. Some of the group's projects are short-term; others require several years' work. Long-term projects include continued development of the ATG-created Instructional Toolkit (described in Goal III), work on the MyUVa Portal (described below), and implementation of Fedora Project software (also described below).

MyUVa Portal and Sakai Educational Partners Program

In fall 2005, ITC introduced the newest version of the MyUVa Portal, which provides single-login access to e-mail, Home Directory, courses, calendars, library, and other resources. The new version was developed by ITC's Advanced Technologies Group and is based on the open-source Uportal architecture. New features include the ability to change the graphic design of the portal pages, as well as selectable and moveable content channels and a calendar application. The portal has been augmented with a podcast tab, on which users can subscribe to a weekly MyUVa-based podcast or listen to audio files online.

Initial features have been targeted to students, and one of the portal's most heavily used resources is the New Students tab. Implemented two years ago, the New Students tab is a one-stop resource for incoming students to locate, complete, and track the tasks required to prepare for their arrival on Grounds in the fall. In spring 2006, during the first two months that the MyUVa Portal was made available to incoming first-years, more than 3,500 new students logged in.

In addition to making improvements to MyUVa, ITC staff began implementing in summer 2006 the Sakai Project's Web-based collaboration tools in a pilot environment. The project creates an online home for collaborations among committees, research groups, and project teams. To allow non-U.Va. persons to participate in collaborative endeavors, staff designed a Web-based system that contacts users via e-mail and enables them to enter necessary information online. Users are being surveyed about their experience, and the tools are slated to be ready for more general use in the fall.

Fedora Project

For the past five years, members of the Advanced Technology Group have participated in a long-term collaboration called Fedora, along with staff from the University Library's research and development group and staff from Cornell University. Fedora (Flexible and Extensible Digital Object and Repository Architecture) is producing new, flexible tools that allow scholars and others to store, manage, and deliver their digital assets for multiple purposes. The digital repository system uses only open-source software and can be implemented for such things as institutional repositories, digital libraries, content management, digital asset management, scholarly publishing, and digital preservation. At U.Va., Fedora is integrating the University Library's extensive, diverse digital collections into a single repository, simplifying users' access to the collections. The University Library hosted a Fedora Users Conference in June 2006.

Fedora software was first released in 2003 for implementation and testing, and it is continuously evaluated and fine-tuned. The software has been downloaded by thousands of organizations and institutions around the world, such as the Technical University of Denmark, the University of Athens, the National Library of Wales, the National Library of Australia, and the American Geophysical Union. In addition to being implemented at U.Va. and Cornell, Fedora is being deployed by Rutgers University, Yale University, Indiana University, Northwestern University, and the University of Delaware, among other institutions. The Fedora Project is supported by generous grants from the Mellon Foundation.

Projects to Enhance Diversity

During the past year, ITC helped to advance the University's efforts in recruiting and hiring a diverse faculty by collaborating with the Provost's Office to create a Web-based tutorial about diversity matters for faculty search committee members. Implemented in fall 2005, the new online tutorial is required for all members of tenure-track faculty search committees. Created by members of ITC's Enabling Technologies Group, the 20-minute tutorial describes several scenarios related to diversity issues and poses questions about the circumstances. At the end of the tutorial, a list of references and resources is presented with appropriate Web links. A feedback page also is included, with all user information recorded anonymously.

During 2005-06, ITC staff members also helped to develop U.Va.'s new Bias Reporting Web site. Created in collaboration with persons from the Dean of Students Office, the new site provides information about types of bias complaints and hate crimes, steps to preserving evidence, and offices for additional support and resources. ITC staff created the incident report form, and University Relations developed the other portions of the new site. The site also provides a description of the University's response when biases are reported as well as a link to hate crime statistics at U.Va.

Streamlining Equal Opportunities Programs Office Procedures

ITC's Enabling Technologies Group staff have partnered with others to create two systems that streamline processes coordinated by the Equal Opportunities Programs (EOP) Office. One project is a tutorial that educates search committee members about the legal regulations under which the University conducts applicant searches. The other is a hiring and recruitment tracking system that provides a mechanism to secure organization-level and EOP approval for such things as search committee membership, advertisement text, recruiting plans, interviews, offers, and exemptions. The tracking system supports the work to maintain necessary documentation of good faith efforts taken toward attainment of equal opportunity/affirmative action goals and to strengthen U.Va.'s efforts in hiring members of underrepresented groups. The new system helps to assure that recruitment efforts reach a broad pool of potential candidates and that all candidates receive equitable consideration.

Advisory Committees

The University's information technology programs are guided in part by the students, faculty, and staff who serve on several advisory committees. The University Committee on Information Technology (UCIT) is a president-appointed committee and the umbrella organization under which other committees function. During 2005-06, UCIT was led by Kirk Martini, associate professor of architecture and civil engineering. Organized under UCIT are the Administrative Technology Council, chaired by Vice President for Finance Yoke San Reynolds, and the Student Information Technology Advisory Council, chaired by Andrew Leonard.

During the past year, UCIT continued work begun the previous year to formulate a "case statement" for resources needed to fund the University's unmet current and future information technology needs. Also during 2005-06, UCIT reviewed and commented on the University's draft ten-year academic plan and the Research Computing Task Force's draft report on computing infrastructure needs.

Providing University-wide planning in support of the academic mission is a group known as the Deans Technology Council. Created in 1999 by and chaired during 2005-06 by Vice President Reynolds, the council includes members from all schools, the University Library, the Provost's Office, the Health System, and the College at Wise During the past year, the council discussed mobile computing support, ISIS performance issues, higher education restructuring, classroom technology support, and the MyUVa Portal, among other topics.

Virginia State Government

Shirley Payne, ITC's Director of Security Coordination and Policy, leads the department's work to advocate for the needs of IT in higher education and to guide state information technology direction. Ms. Payne, assisted by Brian Davis, monitors state legislation that is introduced pertaining to digital technologies, and provides assessments to U.Va. officials about the proposed bills' impact on the University. During the past year, she continued her review and assessment of drafts on new policies, standards, and guidelines developed by the Virginia Information Technology Agency. Ms. Payne also continued her service on the State's Council on Technology Services, and participated along with former Vice President and CIO Bob Reynolds on the Higher Education CIO group. Vice President Reynolds served on the Integrated Government Advisory Committee of the Joint Commission on Technology and Science. One of Ms. Payne's most pressing activities for 2005-06 was work associated with the higher education restructuring legislation, described below.

Higher Education Restructuring

Ms. Payne worked through the year to develop and negotiate the additional authority over IT activities that the new higher education restructuring legislation enables. She served on the team that negotiated the management agreements with the State for the "Level 3" institutions, which includes U.Va., Virginia Tech, and William and Mary. The team was divided into groups that handled negotiations in the areas of human resources, finance and accounting, capital projects, procurement, leases, and information technology. Ms. Payne led all three institutions in coordinating the schools' work to define IT negotiation points, develop support materials, and participate in negotiations. Once negotiations were concluded, she continued in this coordination role to develop consistent restructuring policies across the three institutions.

During 2005-06, Ms. Payne and her colleagues worked on several policies related to information technology. New policies being adopted by each university define performance measures and industry-benchmarked practices related to IT security; project management; accessibility; and infrastructure, architecture, and operations. A specially appointed U.Va. task force drafted a new policy and high-level plan for enhancing the University's IT accessibility. The plan includes a recommendation for an IT accessibility coordinator and a list of short-term "quick wins," many of which are underway. Also during the year, a U.Va. task force drafted the new project management policy and supporting guidance. A security policy was developed as well as a policy on infrastructure, architecture and ongoing operations. Additional work continues. In 2006-07, Ms. Payne and others will focus on tracking performance against the IT management agreement and on assuring policy compliance.

State Governmental Relations Web System

ITC staff continued their collaboration with persons from U.Va.'s State Governmental Relations Office to develop a Web interface for a database of proposed legislation in the Virginia General Assembly. The new system facilitates a process that is designed to monitor legislative issues and activities in Richmond so that the appropriate University officials can be informed in a timely manner. Phase I of the system was completed in time for the 2005 General Assembly session, and it replaces an e-mail process and provides for one-time data entry of legislation and information regarding the associated impact to the institution. During 2005-06, ITC staff worked closely with the State Governmental Relations Office on phase II, which adds features to online system, as well as an extensive reporting capability.

"virginia.edu"

Staff in ITC's Customer Communications and Publishing Group publish information about the department's programs and services that enrich the work of students, faculty, and staff. With its award-winning online magazine, "virginia.edu," the group extends that mission to include communication about broader issues involved in information technologies. The magazine is published once a year. Its audience includes U.Va. faculty and staff, colleagues at other universities, and corporate and government officials. Topics covered include emerging technologies, cyber security concerns, and legal matters, among many others. Updates also are given about U.Va. IT projects and programs.

Goal I Appendix