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University IT Programs

The Office of the CIO provides leadership and facilitates cross-University collaboration with the IT professionals in the Harvard Schools and Departments. These initiatives provide the information technology support for the academic and business goals of the University.

The CIO organization consistently strives for excellence in providing Harvard with:

• Dependable and robust University IT infrastructure systems.
• Collaborative planning and collegial advisory groups.
• Dependable and efficient administrative systems.
• Innovative and insightful technology support for academic priorities
• Comprehensive and effective distance learning programs.

These objectives are realized through CIO-sponsored initiatives in these major areas:

• Academic Information Technology as co-chair of the Harvard Academic Computing Committee, a forum for sharing knowledge and developing plans for IT in support of academic priorities.
• Administrative Information Technology as leader of the Central Administration Information Technology organization, the consortium of the University's core administrative and technology infrastructure groups.
• Infrastructure IT and the diverse array of technology services offered to the University community. University Information Systems provides core technologies in support of the academic and administrative goals of the Harvard community.

Academic Programs

The primacy objective for the use of information technology in academic initiatives is to enhance teaching, learning, and research. Information technology is widely used in support of Harvard's academic programs. Key applications include:

• Facilitating instruction and research
• Cataloging, managing, and providing access to the holdings of Harvard libraries and museums
• Delivering digital resources such as databases, full-text publications, and digital images to the Harvard community
• Supporting collaboration among students and faculty members.

A number of online resources provide insight into the diverse world of academic computing at Harvard.

The Harvard Academic Computing Committee (HACC) site describes HACC's role in coordinating strategies for academic IT; the site also highlights HACC-sponsored events and initiatives, such as the Faculty Workshop on the Use of Technology in Teaching and Learning and the Provost's Funds for Innovation in Instructional Computing and Distance Learning.

Many schools have various groups that are responsible for supporting the academic computing needs of their faculty.

Administrative Information Technology

The Office of the CIO provides oversight and support for Harvard’s administrative systems through its Office of Administrative Systems (OAS).  OAS partners with Harvard's Financial Administration and Office of Human Resources by providing technical and process expertise in the development and support of central administrative systems. The Office of Administrative Systems is organized into practices addressing system-oriented activities in areas such as Finance and Administration, Procurement, Research Administration, Human Resources, Student Information Systems and others.

More information about OAS organization and initiatives may be found at http://oas.harvard.edu/index.shtml. 

Infrastructure Information Technology

The Office of the CIO provides oversight and support for the provision of information technology products and services for the Harvard community. Harvard's central information technology organization, University Information Systems (UIS) provides telephone, computer, software, and network services.

One example of critical infrastructure technology is the Harvard Core Network, providing high bandwidth to support innovative applications for teaching, research, and communication. Many of the technology initiatives currently under way at Harvard relate to or rely on the Harvard core network. Click here to view a map of the core network.

More information about infrastructure technology can be found at www.uis.harvard.edu.

 

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