Catalyst and Technology Partnership Groups Realigned

December 6, 2006

Colleagues,

I am pleased to announce that at the end of this month Louis Fox and his technology units under Catalyst Learning Technologies will begin reporting to me.

As you know, the University has been looking hard at how to better structure its crucial university-wide information systems, information management, information technology, and
technology infrastructure endeavors. One step in that process is the recently announced creation of the new Vice Provost for Information Management & CIO position. This includes the gathering of various groups (e.g., AIS and the Strategic Initiatives Office) and staff focused on information systems and information management into the new Office of Information Management (OIM). The new office is headed by Sara Gomez, and reports primarily to the Provost, but also reports to me on technology issues.

In another important and related step, the UW has been seeking to better and more formally align its technology oriented information technology and technology infrastructure teams with C&C, with the Chief Information Security Officer function, and with other Vice President for C&C technology responsibilities. These teams include eScience, Web and messaging infrastructure, personal productivity, and teaching/learning technologies. It is in this context that Louis and his technology units are being brought into alignment with C&C. At the same time Louis's Educational Partnerships group will be moving to Vice Provost David Szatmary's Office of Educational Outreach.

As you know, we have had wonderful and very productive collaborative relationships with Louis and his staff for years. The President, Provost, Louis, and I are certain that this new
relationship will enable us to achieve important synergies for the university that would otherwise not be possible.

This change involves shifting the reporting relationships of Louis and his technology oriented units (Catalyst Learning Technologies) from the Provost to the Vice President for Computing and Communications. As a part of that shift Louis's title will change from "Vice Provost" to "Associate Vice President" and he will serve on my Executive Council (EC) leadership team. At the same time, we will be looking for all opportunities to pull his folks into roles in our various planning and other processes. With this change, we embrace Louis and his team as part of the extended C&C family (including OIM!), and seek to create even greater collaboration, synergy, and partnership.

Please join me in reaching out to our new colleagues and making them both feel, and be, an integral part of our extended technology family of people and units! Louis and his folks are
greatly skilled people who have accomplished a tremendous amount of considerable importance with little in the way of UW resources. They will be sensational collaborators for us all.

Sincerely,

Ron Johnson
Vice President for Computing and Communications