ITEC: The name of the organization is the State University of New York (a.k.a. SUNY or University) Information Technology Exchange Center (hereinafter referred to as SUNY ITEC) with resources located at and hosted by SUNY Buffalo State College (hereinafter referred to as Host).

Member: A Member is a membership fee-paying organization or institution that receives services from ITEC.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
Historical View
Mission
Governing Principles
Member-Based Offerings
University-Wide Program
Technology Infrastructure
A View Toward The Future 

Introduction

ITEC is one of several special purpose organizations established by participating Members to support multi-Member, computer-related group activities targeted at improving the quality, quantity and cost-effectiveness of Member-based and University-wide computer services.

Historical View

Most of SUNY’s common Information Technology architecture is an outcome of the “17 Campus Computer Procurement” (a.k.a. Procurement) of the mid-1980’s.  This Procurement program set the “cornerstone” for the development of the University-wide Information Technology (IT) architecture well into the future.   ITEC, SUNYNet, and the SUNY Training Center are special University-wide programs that resulted from this Procurement.  Student Information and Campus Administrative Systems (SICAS) Center, Office of Library Information Services’ (OLIS) Library Automation and Implementation Program (LAIP) and SUNYConnect, and Learning Environments (LE), are programs that were developed based on this Procurement.

ITEC, formerly known as the Common SUNY Support Center (CSSC), was established in 1989 to provide campuses of the University with cost effective access to a library of software products, related user and support documentation, and professional expertise to aid campuses with product installation and maintenance.

ITEC started with three professional staff and one computer operator.  It was an integral part of the Computing Services organization at Buffalo State College.  The Associate Director of Systems in Computing Services at Buffalo State College implemented ITEC program under the direction of the Executive Board and System Administration.  This allowed for minimal administrative overhead costs in starting up ITEC as a University-wide program.  In 1997 the Executive Board hired a full-time Director to lead ITEC.  At that time ITEC became a department at Buffalo State College.  ITEC personnel are employees of SUNY and ITEC adheres to all laws and regulations of the State of New York and all policies and procedures of SUNY.

In 1994, SUNY commenced a broad program, the Educational Technology Initiative under the stewardship of the Advanced Learning & Information Services (formerly Office of Educational Technology) to transform the University’s technological infrastructure and transform the applied use of technology to better serve the educational needs of the State of New York for the 21st Century.  The Common SUNY Support Center (CSSC), because of its experience and focus on technology support, was designated to enhance its services. The charge to the CSSC was in recognition of its ability to provide effective services that are not available to campuses as independents.  At this time, the name was changed to Information Technology Exchange Center (ITEC) to better reflect the expanded mission.  

ITEC’s charter members are:   Alfred State, Buffalo State College, Canton, Cobleskill,  Cortland, Delhi, Farmingdale, Geneseo, Health Science Center at Syracuse, Morrisville, Old Westbury, Oneonta, Oswego, Plattsburgh, Potsdam, and SUNY Central Administration (now called System Administration).

Mission

ITEC is a cooperative, voluntary organization funded by its Members, to acquire and share technology in a cost effective way for all of the University.

Specific objectives for ITEC are:

1.      to provide the University with technological leadership to further the effective application and support of technology in academic programs, administrative operations, and underlying information technology infrastructure.  This may include assisting University-wide Programs with support for planning, evaluation, and implementation of technology, particularly interoperability among applications across SUNY;

2.      to provide cost effective ways to acquire, maintain, and distribute software as a University-wide asset;

3.      to provide cost effective networked facilities for Members to access common software, thereby eliminating the need to provide this software locally;  

4.      to provide a mechanism and forum for sharing knowledge among Members related to academic instruction, research, and administrative information systems;

5.      to enhance services to Members. These additional services shall be based on the principle of cooperative and combined matching of Member needs with available products.  This should result in cost effective solutions better than what individual Members can negotiate;

6.      to provide requested computer services and facilities including staff, software, equipment, and communications.  The services includes: software distribution; software support; IT business continuity / disaster recovery and planning (IT BC/DRP); security, network, and application testing; hosting center; and remote services; and

7.      to provide a home for, as well as distribution and technical support of, University-wide academic and administrative technology programs
.

Governing Principles

Strategic development of SUNY ITEC is based on several fundamental principles:

1.      that services are beneficial and cost effective to the Members;

2.      that membership is voluntary;

3.      that the funding of the basic operations is shared across the membership;

4.      that all offerings are self-sufficient and self-funded; and

5.      that new initiatives are considered in consultation with the Executive Board and do not adversely impact existing offerings.

Refer to the ITEC’s Bylaws (http://www.itec.suny.edu) that control the management and operation of ITEC.   

 
 Member-Based Offerings 

The following are the ITEC offerings for Member-based programs:  

• Software Support and Services

• Business Continuity / Disaster Recovery and Planning Services

• Remote Services

• Information Technology (IT) Hosting Services

• Academic Software Initiative

 Refer to the Support Services document (http://www.itec.suny.edu) for additional information on these offerings. 

 
University-wide Programs

ITEC provides IT services for the following University-wide programs:

• Office of Library and Information Services

  • SUNYConnect

• Learning Environments

  • SUNY Training Center

• SUNY Learning Network

• SICAS Center

• SUNY-wide Technology Contracts

Technology Infrastructure

The mission of ITEC requires a variety of software, hardware, and telecommunications facilities to support Members and University-wide programs.   

Software (Non-Operating Systems):

ITEC’s runs the major software that is used by campuses and University-wide Programs.  This includes: Oracle server and client products; IBM Lotus Notes server and client products; Hyperion products; compliers and utilities (C, C++, APL, COBOL, FORTRAN, SAN management, network management, security, etc.) from Cisco, HP, IBM, IBM Lotus, IBM Tivoli, Micro Focus, Microsoft, Veritas; SunGard’s Banner (for the SICAS Center and Hosting), Maple, Mathematica, Minitab, ESRI GSI, and SolidWorks. 

Hardware and Operating Systems:

ITEC’s operating systems include: Alpha systems running HP’s OpenVMS, HP / UX (UNIX), LINUX (SuSE, Red Hat Advanced Server); IBM’s AIX and LINUX; SUN UNIX; Apple (workstations, laptops, and servers) running OS 9.x, OS X, UNIX and XP; Intel systems (workstations, laptops, and servers) running Windows (95/98/2000/2003 Server/XP), and LINUX. 

Networking:

ITEC has a comprehensive LAN with firewall and packet-shaping intranet via SUNYNet (connecting all SUNY campuses), and the Internet.

The network, servers, workstations, desktops, and laptops have installed, and updated daily, the latest protection, software for viruses, Trojan horses, worms, etc.

A View Towards the Future

During recent years, all SUNY campuses have experienced operating budget reductions.  In the last decade SUNY’s institutions have had to make multiple fiscal year adjustments with most of them reducing the total campus budget allocation.  Despite these cut backs over the decade, the SUNY campus’ administration and System Administration have been keenly aware of the growing role and importance of  information technology for future teaching, learning, research, and administration.  The challenge for each institution will be to: 

• incorporate and integrate the current and emerging technologies into the curriculum of all academic disciplines so as to improve the instructional experience for all students;
• enhance research facilities for students and faculty at the University;
• streamline access to local and SUNY-wide information resources; and
• maintain administrative information management systems.

ITEC Buffalo State College Twin Rise 200 1300 Elmwood Avenue Buffalo, NY 14222 (716) 878-4832

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