Greetings everyone,
I’m writing this message from the EDUCAUSE annual conference, where I’m in good company: more than 35 colleagues are representing U-M and sharing their expertise with IT leaders across higher ed. On Tuesday, I attended the Research University CIO conclave (RUCC) where CIOs shared some of their challenges. Discussion ranged from security concerns and Duke University’s STINGAR framework (similar to our MITN), to mobile apps and Arizona State University’s user-centric approach to digital properties, to the steps we are taking at Michigan to evaluate “where is our data.” We have opportunities to collaborate with several institutions, and I look forward to both learning from and assisting other teams.
You have so much to contribute to the mission of the university: your expertise and the environment you create through day-to-day interactions.
Last week, U-M’s Security at University of Michigan IT (SUMIT) conference convened hundreds of information assurance and IT professionals from U-M and around the state to discuss the latest trends in cybersecurity and privacy. And, at the end of this month, we all have the opportunity to participate in the Michigan IT Symposium. By partnering with and innovating collaboratively with our colleagues across campus and around the world, we will seen as a leader in the appropriate use of technology.
You all have so much to contribute to the mission of the university, both in the expertise you demonstrate in your role and the environment you create through your day-to-day interactions. In a meeting with a staff group last week, I shared and asked for feedback on the core working values that I believe are important to encourage and positively reinforce across our organization, including:
- Be user-centric
- Be collaborative
- Have a sense of urgency when helping our customers
- Be proactive
- Have a laser focus on customer service
- Be inclusive
A colleague suggested another important value to add to this list: Have patience. While important to have a sense of urgency when we are supporting our faculty, students, and staff, I agree that it is important to have patience: patience with our customers as we address their concerns, with ourselves as we adapt to change, and with each other as we continue to enhance and change our culture. I would love to hear from you about the core values that matter most to you, so please respond and let me know!
Looking ahead, I encourage you to make plans to vote on Election Day, Tuesday, November 6, and to exercise your right to participate in our democracy. I also want to recognize and thank the many Veterans in our community, several of whom shared their stories in a special Veterans Day edition of “Profiles in IT.” Thank you for your service.
I am so grateful for the opportunity to represent all of you in this leadership role at this amazing institution. Thank you, and please continue to reach out with any questions, suggestions, or ideas.
Best Regards,
Ravi
Ravi Pendse PhD
Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer
University of Michigan
rpendse@umich.edu
