We partner with the University at Buffalo community to achieve UB’s Top 25 Ambition by providing secure and transformative IT services and support.

UBIT will shape the future of learning, research, and service at UB through visionary, secure, and inclusive technology ecosystems.

Goal:

Develop a workforce of experts by fostering a thriving, inclusive, collaborative and resilient organizational culture and structure that supports professional growth, promotes engagement, and a strong sense of purpose and shared identity.

• Why it matters:
  • An RI/research-ready IT team must be skilled, curious, and supported in their career growth.
• What it means:
  • People-First Culture
• How we communicate it:
  • “We invest in our people and empower them to grow, lead, and innovate.”

Objectives:

• Build systematic approaches to attract, identify, and cultivate top IT talent resulting in sustainable organizational growth and a robust pipeline of skilled professionals
• Build comprehensive career pathways and expand professional development opportunities leading to increased engagement, retention, and advancement within the IT workforce
• Establish transparent, equitable, and competitive compensation practices that support R1/research aspirations ensuring that investment in people is reflected in recruitment and retention outcomes
• Foster and sustain a positive, people-first culture, evolving as a collaborative strategic partner across the university to enhance engagement, shared purpose, and organizational resilience
• Create and maintain a comprehensive organizational succession planning framework, ensuring leadership, continuity, and long-term institutional success

Goal:

Build and sustain collaborative partnerships to align UB-wide IT resources and initiatives to drive the university's overarching goals, ensuring that every technology investment maximizes institutional impact through intentional investment, efficient resource allocation, and continuous value optimization.

• Why it matters:
  • Siloed IT won’t succeed. Deep partnerships with students, faculty, researchers, and administration are critical to long term growth, managing resources, and achieving sustainability.
• What it means:
  • Trusted Partnership
• How we communicate it:
  • “We co-create solutions with the community, not just for them.”

Objectives:

• Communicate value proposition of UB-wide IT initiatives to increase stakeholder understanding and support for strategic technology investments
• Build and implement a comprehensive relationship building and campus engagement program to strengthen collaboration and drive campus-wide alignment with IT goals
• Create standardized systems and processes for operational and support needs, resulting in improved efficiency, consistency, and operational excellence across UBIT
• Engage the campus community to develop and grow the IT workforce, ensuring a diverse, skilled, and future-ready team that supports UB’s strategic goals
• Partner with all university IT groups to enhance strategic alignment, leading to unified efforts and maximized institutional impact from technology investments

Goal Statement:

Enhance the university experience by delivering a resilient, inclusive, and adaptive digital ecosystem that prioritizes exceptional customer service—ensuring that technology and services are accessible, customer-focused, and responsive to the diverse and evolving needs of the UB community.

• Why it matters:
  • Seamless customer experience and dependable service are the baseline for everything else.
• What it means:
  • Commitment to Excellence
• How we communicate it:
  • “We deliver secure, reliable, and customer-centric services every time.”

Objectives:

• Enhance and build relationship within VPCIO and with campus partners to improve overall digital experience for the university community
• Identify, develop, and support personalized, interactive, and transformative technologies to elevate customer experience in classrooms, research labs, offices, and across campus
• Meet customers where they are—through spaces, training, and communication strategies—to ensure technology and services are accessible and responsive to diverse needs
• Develop dashboard that displays collective VPCIO operations and statuses, providing transparency and actionable insights for stakeholders
• Improve the change management process and follow best practices to ensure smooth transitions and minimize disruptions for the university community

Goal Statement:

Position UBIT as a catalyst for transformative innovation by harnessing the potential of artificial intelligence and strategic technology initiatives to advance the University at Buffalo’s mission in research, education, community impact, and institutional excellence. 

• Why it matters:
  • A top-tier R1 university needs cutting-edge, agile, scalable, and experimental technology and support structures.
• What it means:
  • Forward-thinking mindset
• How we communicate it:
  • “We embrace emerging technologies and respond quickly to change.”

Objectives:

• Facilitate adoption of a 'Yes...and' mindset across teams to shift organizational behavior toward forward-thinking, collaborative problem solving—resulting in faster iteration and more constructive solution design
• Establish an Innovation Hub to provide shared space, structure, and support resulting in coordinated pilots, accelerated timelines, and scalable innovations that advance university priorities
• Promote risk-taking, experimentation, and feedback through safe-to-fail initiatives and rapid learning loops resulting in higher rate of validated insights and continuous improvements of services
• Allow dedicated resources (funding, time, and talent) for innovation and experimentation resulting in a sustained pipeline of new services that support UB strategic goals
• Develop an inclusive strategic planning process that meaningfully engages diverse stakeholders resulting in aligned priorities, transparent roadmaps, and equitable decision-making

Goal Statement:

Cultivate a university-wide shared responsibility for cybersecurity and privacy that promotes innovation and usability while safeguarding University at Buffalo and its people.

• Why it matters:
  • Research integrity and institutional reputation depend on robust cybersecurity and ethical stewardship.
• What it means:
  • Security First, Always
• How we communicate it:
  • “We protect information and build trust through transparency and accountability.”

Objectives:

• Implement secrets and password management system to strengthen protection of sensitive information and reduce the risk of authorized access
• Develop automated network and configuration reviews and changes to proactively identify vulnerabilities and ensure continuous improvement of security controls
• Improved Identity and Access Management processes to enhance user authentication, authorization, access, and overall security posture across the university
• Develop and implement a network source of truth to provide accurate, real-time visibility into network assets and configurations, supporting effective security management
• Mature incident response program by including automated response and investigation capabilities, resulting in faster detection, containment, and resolution of security incidents

Goal Statement:

Drive a university-wide, data strategy through targeted investments in systems, governance, and stakeholders that enable insight, informed decisions, innovation, and institutional impact.

• Why it matters:
  • R1 institutions make high-impact decisions—data and insights must be trusted, timely, and ethical.
• What it means:
  • Data-Driven Decision-Making
• How we communicate it:
  • “We use data responsibly to inform strategy and improve outcomes.”

Objectives:

• Centralize and democratize data access for all UB staff to enable timely, trusted, and ethical insights that support informed decision-making and institutional impact
• Modernize UB’s data platforms to provide scalable, reliable, and innovative infrastructure that empowers research, education, and operational excellence
• Develop data skills and culture across the university to foster responsible, data-informed decision-making and continuous improvement
• Re-imagine data governance to ensure ethical stewardship, transparency, and accountability in the use, management, and protection of institutional data