Princeton University Desktop Systems Council Committee Charter

Transcription

1 Princeton University Desktop Systems Council Committee Charter Managed Environments Governance Modified: October 2011 Purpose of the Desktop Systems Council Committee Mission The Desktop Systems Council Committee oversees the use and maintenance of computers participating in the managed environments. The scope of the Council s activities is to advise the university on standards for the managed computing platforms for institutionally owned computers. This includes but is not limited to the fully managed environment DeSC Standard; the managed desktops with fewer restrictions named the DeSC Lite environment; and the managed Mac environment, MacDeSC Standard. This is accomplished by OIT: Sharpening the alignment of IT resources and investments with business strategies and objectives Attracting, retaining, and training a skilled IT group to support the managed computing environment Enhancing collaboration and communication between the Council, OIT and department stakeholders Leveraging the purchasing power of the university to reduce costs Implementing effective technology project management oversight and best practices Ensuring alignment with OIT projects, OIT project certification and OIT services.

2 Primary Functions The primary function of the Desktop Systems Council is to oversee the three managed environments (DeSC, DeSC-Lite and MacDeSC) in complying with University policy requirements. The Council provides a stabilizing influence so the various computing environments organizational concepts, directions and projects are established and maintained with a visionary view. The Council provides insight on long-term strategies in support of university mandates and OIT initiatives. Members of the Council ensure that the university s administrative and academic objectives are adequately addressed and information technology remains under control. In practice these responsibilities are carried out by performing the following functions: Standing biannual meetings but if no agenda items, meeting at least annually; Monitoring and reviewing activities and issues that impact managed environments; Controlling objectives as emergent issues force changes to be considered; Resolving conflicts and disputes, reconciling differences of opinion and approach; Establishment and enforcement of policies and standards for DeSC Standard and MacDeSC Standard, and to a lesser degree, for DeSC-Lite computing environments. Ensure alignment with university schedules, policies and services. Additional Functions Participation in smaller working committees. Evaluate Council s role to oversee deployment and maintenance for additional computer environments that gain wider campus use. Approval Responsibilities The DeSC Committee is responsible for approving DeSC and MacDeSC policy and technology elements such as: Review and approval of functional policies submitted by the Planning and Implementation of Support for Client Software (PICSS) Technical Group for use with clients participating in the DeSC Program Environments; Strategic Roadmap recommendation submitted by Working Committee

3 The DeSC Committee Membership The DeSC Committee is a group with decision-making authority, who are accountable for the prioritization and approval of DeSC strategic goals and policies. The DeSC Committee will consist of the following members and Chair: Name Steven Sather Marvin Bielawski Joseph Crouthamel Geoffrey Gettelfinger Judy Hanson Paul Lynn Dave Morreale Steven Niedzwiecki Jennifer L. Poacelli Vikki Ridge Leila Shahbender Charlayne Beavers Title Associate Chief Information Officer and Director Support Services DeSC Chair Deputy University Librarian Technical Support Analyst, Computer Science Department Manager, Physics Department Manager, History Lead Programmer Administrative Information Services Senior Manager OIT Desktop Support Manager Security and Data Protection Department Manager Civil and Environmental Engineering Senior Human Resource Manager Facilities Manager Student Computing Technology Integration Manager DeSC Coordinator Membership terms are three years with reappointment possible. Members may vote to include additional stakeholders to attend meetings as needed. The Members may establish advisory and working committees (internal and external) as needed. The Committee reports to Betty Leydon, Vice President for Information Technology and CIO

4 Role of the DeSC Committee member It is intended that the DeSC Committee leverage the experiences, expertise, and insight of key individuals committed to building professionalism in information technology. Council Committee members are not directly responsible for managing information technology activities, but provide support and guidance for those who do. Thus, individually, Council Committee members should: Understand the strategic implications and outcomes of initiatives being pursued; Appreciate the significance of the activities for some, or all, major stakeholders and represent their interests; Be genuinely interested in the initiative and be an advocate for broad support for the outcomes being pursued; Have a broad understanding of managed computer environment issues, and specific approach being adopted; Check adherence of activities to standards of best practice, both within the organization and in a wider context; Help balance conflicting priorities and resources; Wear department-wide hats; Role of the Stakeholder The DeSC Committee Stakeholders are affected by the actions and decisions of the DeSC Committee. Since Stakeholders have a technical expertise, they may provide the DeSC Committee members with additional information to clarify IT issues prior to the DeSC Committee making a decision. DeSC Committee Stakeholders should: Understand the strategic implications and outcomes of initiatives being pursued; Appreciate the significance of the project for some, or all, major stakeholders and represent their interests; Be genuinely interested in the initiative and be an advocate for broad support for the outcomes being pursued; Have a broad understanding of project management issues, and specific approach being adopted; Enforce adherence of activities to standards of best practice, both within the organization and in a wider context; Help balance conflicting priorities and resources; Report on the status of activities and IT issues; Review project status reports; Develop the Agenda content and send it to the Chair for review, approval and distribution; Foster positive communication between divisions regarding activities progress and outcomes.

5 Council Committee Meetings Meeting Schedule and Process The committee will meet biannually, if there are agenda items, and at least annually and limit the meeting to one hour and 30 minutes. The DeSC Chair will facilitate the Committee Meeting with the assistance of the DeSC Coordinator. Meeting Agenda At each meeting, projects, policy and issue items will be reported to the Council members using an agenda outline as following: Review status of Working Committee Objectives New strategic issues arising since the last meeting Review and approval of changes to the DeSC Program roadmap Outstanding issues and conflicts Review and approve IT policies endorsed and submitted by the PICSS Technical Group which impact clients participating in the DeSC Program Review and summarize new actions