OU Help Desk

Kresge Library, Room 202
100 Library Drive
Rochester, MI 48309-4479
(location map)
(248) 370-4357 (HELP)
Fax: (248) 370-4863
helpdesk@healthydairyland.com
Office Hours: M-F 8:00am - 5:00pm

University Technology Services

Dodge Hall
118 Library Drive
Rochester, MI 48309-4401
(location map)
uts@healthydairyland.com

Enhancing Technology Services

Project Background
With guidance from the BerryDunn consulting firm, University Technology Services has taken on a comprehensive, strategic review of OU’s existing technology infrastructure and, based on this assessment, develop a plan to provide students, faculty and staff the most beneficial technology services attainable. With the prospect of such resources being put in place, UTS looks forward to support continuing, organic growth of the university.

An important focus will be to improve service and satisfaction provided to campus community members both on and off campus. UTS will look to enhance its current work to manage risk and meet emerging compliance needs tied to a complex array of information technology services.

The BerryDunn Oakland University Information Technology Operating Model Report Summary can be found here (Requires Login).

Project Approach

This initiative will be pursued in four distinct phases as noted below.

  1. Facilitate Planning and Campus Communications
  2. Evaluate and Assess Current and Future IT Needs
  3. Conduct National Peer Benchmarking
  4. Develop Operating Model and Execution Plans
Project Updates

Project Summary: May – November 2023 Progress

Over the last 7 months, BerryDunn and the Oakland project team have accomplished the following items.

November - 2023
Activities Summary
  • Participated in leadership meetings to discuss Report findings and meaningful next steps for the University
  • Conducted report presentations to core teams
  • Planning for report distribution and campus engagement
Deliverables
  • Updated report summary documents as needed
  • Full Report updated with feedback

October - 2023
Activities Summary
  • Conducted remote and on-site open sessions for Oakland faculty and students
  • Developed IT Benchmarking Project – Full Report
Deliverables
  • IT Benchmarking and Analysis Findings Presentations
  • Full Report

September - 2023
Activities Summary
  • Conducted remote and on-site open sessions for Oakland faculty and students
  • Developed and distributed Oakland campus survey
  • Developed IT benchmarking analysis and project summary report
Deliverables
  • Campus Survey
  • Peer Benchmarking and Project Summary Report

August - 2023
Activities Summary
  • Continued facilitating interviews and focus groups with DTS staff and functional groups
  • Conducted meetings with 8 peer institutions
  • Began developing peer benchmarking analysis
Deliverables
  • Peer Benchmarking Questionnaire
  • Peer Benchmarking Analysis

July - 2023
Activities Summary
  • Facilitated focus groups with DTS staff
  • Facilitated interviews and focus groups with Oakland functional groups, including leadership across the University
  • Developed survey analysis regarding services provided by IT staff
Deliverables
  • DTS Meeting Agendas
  • UTS and DTS survey analysis

June - 2023
Activities Summary
  • Conducted on-site project kick-off meetings with Oakland leadership and Town Hall sessions with the campus community
  • Continued facilitation of UTS meetings
  • Created and distributed DTS survey
Deliverables
  • DTS Survey
  • On-Site Meeting Schedule and Agendas

May - 2023
Activities Summary
  • Facilitated focus groups and interviews with UTS leadership and staff
  • Created and distributed UTS survey
  • Planned for on-site meetings and campus engagement
Deliverables
  • Project Communication
  • Project Kickoff presentation(s)
  • UTS Survey
  • Interview/Focus Group Agendas

PROJECT COMMUNICATIONS
Update on Technology Services Town Hall

Tuesday, June 6, 2023

Colleagues,

As we shared with you late last month, OU is partnering with BerryDunn, an independent consulting firm experienced in higher education transformations, to evaluate university IT operating models and enhance the quality of the university's technology services.

Unfortunately, a previous communication regarding a university-wide town hall event focusing on this project included an incorrect location for the meeting. It will take pace from 10:45 a.m. to noon on Thursday, June 8, in the Oakland Center Ballrooms. All University personnel are welcome to participate.

At the conclusion of a comprehensive study, BerryDunn will provide the university with recommendations related to the IT services needed to support campus needs.

If you have any questions about this project or Thursday's town hall, please contact us at UTSIntegration@healthydairyland.com.

Sincerely,

Bhavani Koneru
Chief Information Officer

Project Schedules

Upcoming Events
Project Implementation Kick-off Townhalls - To Be Determined

Past Events

  • September 26, 2023 – 11am to 12pm, Remote Town Hall for All Students with UTS and BerryDunn consultants to understand the strengths, challenges, and opportunities for the way that technology services.
  • September 26, 2023 – 9:30am to 10:30am, Remote Town Hall for All Faculty with UTS and BerryDunn consultants to understand the strengths, challenges, and opportunities for the way that technology services.
  • September 20, 2023 – On-site Town Hall with UTS and BerryDunn consultants to understand the strengths, challenges, and opportunities for the way that technology services.

These events will be held in the Oakland Center, Banquet Room A

  • 10:15am to 11am – All Student Open Session
  • 11am to 11:45am – All Student Open Session
  • 1pm to 2pm – All Faculty Open Session
  • 2pm to 3pm – General Session (faculty, students, staff)
  • September 19, 2023 (Tuesday) – On-site Town Hall with UTS and BerryDunn consultants to understand the strengths, challenges, and opportunities for the way that technology services.

These events will be held in the Oakland Center, Meeting rooms (128-130), with the exception of the 4:15pm session to be held in Oakland Center, Ambassador room A-B (157-158)

  • 8am to 9am – All Faculty open session
  • 9 :15am to 10am – Faculty and Staff session for College of Arts and Sciences
  • 10:15am to 11am – Faculty and Staff session for School of Business Administration
  • 11:15am to 12pm – Faculty and Staff session for School of Education and Human Services
  • 1pm to 1:45pm – Faculty and Staff session for School of Health Sciences
  • 2pm to 2:45pm – Faculty and Staff session for School of Nursing
  • 3pm to 4pm – Faculty and Staff session for School of Engineering and Computer Science
  • 4:15pm to 5pm – Faculty and Staff session for OUWB School of Medicine
  • September 14, 2023 (Thursday) – Remote Town Hall for All Students with UTS and BerryDunn consultants to understand the strengths, challenges, and opportunities for the way that technology services.
    • 12:30pm to 2pm
  • September 12, 2023 (Tuesday) – Remote Town Hall for All Faculty with UTS and BerryDunn consultants to understand the strengths, challenges, and opportunities for the way that technology services.
    • 2pm to 3:30pm
  • June 8, 2023 (Thursday) – Initiative/Project Kick-off Meetings, In-person and remote session in the Oakland Center, Founders Ballrooms
    • 9am – University Technology Services Staff
    • 9am – Distributed Technology Services Staff
    • 9am – University/Campus Town Hall
FAQ

Who is BerryDunn?
Founded in 1974 BerryDunn is a national consulting practice that works with over 150 higher education institutions. To remain independent and objective BerryDunn does not sell software or managed services and solely focuses on assisting organizations achieve desired outcomes. BerryDunn was selected to be OU’s partner through the open RFP \ bid process.

Why has BerryDunn been engaged to assess OU?

  • Strategic review of organic technology service growth
  • Improve customer service and satisfaction for on-campus and remote constituents
  • Manage risk and prepare for emerging compliance needs
  • Increase collaboration among IT staff and across the campus community
  • Plan for emerging technology trends
  • Embed and leverage technology trends in OU’s operation to improve teaching & learning and realize business outcomes

How is BerryDunn assessing OU’s current status and needs?
BerryDunn is engaging with campus in a variety of ways including meeting directly with Stakeholders, for example through Town Halls, conducting targeting surveys, as well as focus groups.

What are the expected deliverables from the BerryDunn engagement and when are they expected.
As a result of the initial engagement BerryDunn is committed to working with the OU community to deliver an Operating Model by fall 2023.

How does the Operating Model align to positions and the current reporting structure?
The operating model is focused on services and the most effective way to offer them to campus; it is not reporting structure based. For example a single centrally managed wired and wireless network provides end user consistency and economies of scale, however specialized laboratory equipment is likely to be more effectively supported within the unit. BerryDunn will be looking at how existing services are being offered and proposing how and what services should be offered  moving forward.

How is BerryDunn determining what Operating Model is appropriate for OU?
BerryDunn will be doing this via a variety of methods. They will be collecting information to determine campus needs via interaction with various stakeholders including town halls, surveys, and targeted forums with staff having IT responsibilities. They will also be benchmarking OU against other higher-education institutions including peers and those who are successful in areas we aspire towards. This information will be aggregated and analyzed by BerryDunn to create the proposed Operating Model.