What We Imagine Doing; Informed by the Plan for Pitt

Enriched Student Experience

Enrich the overall college experience—academically and socially

• Personalized learning
• New generation mobile apps for engagement with university and beyond
• Information at anytime, anywhere, on any device, customizable to the student’s desire
• Professional experience opportunities, perhaps for credit
• Microsoft partnership for possible student ecosystem
• Accessibility is considered as part of the student experience

Student Outcomes:

• Higher recruitment and retention numbers
• Better overall experience for students
• “Buzz” about Pitt
• Individualized learning opportunities
• Information when students want/need it, on any device, customizable

Enhanced Faculty Support

Develop an environment that enhances the research enterprise in concert with faculty input

• Standardized classroom technologies
• Portfolio of IT services to support the research enterprise
• Effective software licenses in support of Pitt researchers
• Implementation of Canvas learning management system
• AWS and Microsoft Azure cloud services in support of teaching and research missions
• “IT Power Plant” services to support faculty needs

Faculty Outcomes:

• Better support for research activities, yielding more grants
• More grant funds for basic research instead of needing to run own IT shop
• Standard classroom configurations allowing more time teaching, rather than worrying about technology

Digitization of the Campus

Create a digitally enabled foundation for teaching, learning, and research

• Create an intelligent, data-driven campus able to provide information to the community
• Utilize smart platforms; improve the public safety footing of the campus
• Provide pervasive wireless connectivity across campus, buses/shuttles, and the Oakland Fifth & Forbes Avenues corridor
• Utilize IoT devices to provide data for better managing our environment
• Work with all IT staff to make Pitt Information Technology the premier destination for IT professionals
• Include accessibility as part of overall campus initiatives

Campus Outcomes:

• Intelligent campus able to provide information to students, faculty, staff, and alumni community
• IoT allowing data collection to better inform decision making
• Pervasive Wi-Fi across the campus and beyond
• Better tools and training to enhance staff productivity
• Training opportunities for staff to move into new jobs if interested

Community Engagement

Enhance the city around us and reduce the digital divide

• Enhance use of technology in Homewood and Hill District Community Development Centers
• Leverage vendor partners to offer certification programs at these community centers
• Participation in community programs by hiring community members into CSSD programs
• Provide support services/sponsorship to businesses who can connect to our wireless efforts
• Expand summer IT camps for city youth

Community Outcomes:

• Better community engagement with Pitt
• Technology-enabled community development centers
• Improved skillsets of community members
• Participation in OnePGH initiatives

Regional Impact

Create a connected destination for innovation

• Work with non-profit organizations to support OnePGH initiatives
• Expand community development engagement across the region
• Enhance technical skills of a critical mass of community members to attract business to the area
• Provide support services/sponsorship to businesses who can connect to our wireless efforts
• Expand summer IT camps for community youth across the region

Regional Outcomes:

• Expansion of community development programs in the region
• Better skilled workforce as a result of the above
• Better support for “organic innovation”
• More entrepreneurs viewing our region as a destination