A message from our Chief Information Officer

Zach Loch, CIO

 

At the heart of our university’s mission are three enduring commitments: student success, research excellence and service to our community. Technology plays a critical role in advancing each of these priorities – not as an end in itself, but as a powerful enabler of learning, discovery and impact.

Student success is our north star. From the moment a student first connects with our campus to the day they graduate and beyond, technology should remove barriers, illuminate pathways and create opportunity. Our focus is on providing reliable, secure and intuitive digital experiences that support teaching and learning, connect students to the resources they need and help faculty and staff better understand how to support every learner.

Research and discovery are central to our identity as a university. Information technology underpins modern scholarship – powering data-intensive research, enabling interdisciplinary collaboration and safeguarding the integrity and availability of research data. Our aspiration is to provide researchers with the platforms, tools and partnerships they need to ask bold questions, explore new ideas and translate knowledge into real-world impact. We strive to be a trusted partner in the research enterprise, aligning infrastructure, security and innovation with the evolving needs of our scholars.

Service to our campus, our region and society at large guides how we design and deliver technology. This means operating with a service mindset, listening closely to our community and continually improving how we support the university’s mission. It also means being responsible stewards of resources, prioritizing cybersecurity and privacy, and ensuring our systems are resilient and accessible.

None of this work happens in isolation. Progress depends on collaboration – among students, faculty, staff and partners – united by a shared commitment to excellence and innovation.

Together, we continue to leverage technology in service of our mission, empowering our students, advancing discovery and extending the reach and impact of our university.

To learn more of our most important accomplishments over recent years, visit the ITCS Annual Report page.

Zach Loch, Associate Vice Chancellor and Chief Information Officer