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Technology Governance
at WSU

Applies to all information technology resources, services, and initiatives within the university.

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What is Technology Governance?

Technology governance at Washington State University (WSU) is a structured framework designed to serve our university community by managing and overseeing all technology-related resources, services, and initiatives.

This framework ensures that technology decisions are made transparently, collaboratively including input from across the technology community and affected stakeholders, and in alignment with the university’s strategic goals and university community needs.

It involves setting policies, standards, and procedures to guide the use and development of technology across all campuses for the benefit of the WSU community. By doing so, technology governance helps maintain consistency, security, and efficacy in how technology is utilized at WSU.
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What is a Technology Governance Request?

A technology governance request is a formal process through which all members of the university community can propose new technology initiatives, request changes to existing technology services, seek creation of guiding standards for a new or emerging technology, or seek approval for technology-related projects.

The technology governance committee process ensures a thorough review of these requests to ensure they align with the university’s strategic priorities and available resources.

This process is designed to serve faculty, staff, and students by providing a clear and accessible way to bring forward ideas and needs. It also helps prioritize projects that will have the most significant positive impact on the university.

You can initiate a technology governance request through one of two forms: the Governance Request Form or the General Inquiry Form.

Download instructions for submitting a technology governance request (PDF).

Before submitting, please review the details below to determine which form best fits your needs and what information to prepare.

Governance Request Form

For formal technology proposals requiring governance review and strategic alignment. Please prepare the following information:

  • Requestor and primary contact details
  • Sponsoring organization or department
  • Desired start date
  • Clear title and description for request
  • Primary objective or justification for initiating request
  • Rationale for timeline and urgency
  • Alternative approaches that were evaluated
  • Risks, potential challenges, and known dependencies
  • Anticipated integration with existing enterprise systems
  • Estimated budget, funding sources, and required expertise
  • Groups or stakeholders who may be affected or involved
  • How the request aligns with WSU’s system strategic plan

General Inquiry Form

For exploratory submissions, clarifications, or preliminary discussions. Please prepare the following information:

  • Clear description of your inquiry
  • Supporting files or background materials
Submit a Technology Governance Request
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Why WSU is Focusing on Technology Governance

WSU is implementing technology governance to better serve our community by streamlining technology management across the university system. The primary goals are to reduce duplication of services, maximize financial and staff resources, and enhance overall efficiency.

By having a formal governance structure, WSU can ensure that technology investments are made wisely and that all technology initiatives support the university’s mission of academic excellence and operational efficiency.

Technology governance also fosters innovation by encouraging collaboration and providing a clear pathway for proposing and implementing new ideas.
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Purpose of Technology Governance

Technology governance at WSU is designed to support and strengthen the long-standing, decentralized IT support model that has been a cornerstone of our institution for more than fifty years. Rather than centralizing services, the goal of technology governance is to promote collaboration, coordination, and alignment across distributed IT units, ensuring that we continue to meet the diverse needs of academic and administrative communities.

By identifying opportunities to consolidate overlapping services, streamline software procurement, and more, technology governance enables more efficient use of resources. This approach prioritizes quality and effectiveness within a fiscally responsible framework.
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Why Technology Governance Matters to You

Technology governance is here to serve you. It provides a voice to all university areas, ensuring that technology decisions reflect the needs and priorities of the entire community.

For faculty, this means having access to reliable and cutting-edge tools for teaching and research. For staff, it ensures efficient and secure systems for managing university operations. For students, it means a better learning experience with access to the latest educational technologies.

Technology governance helps create a more efficient, secure, and innovative environment for learning and working, benefiting everyone at WSU.
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Values and Goals

WSU values technology governance as the foundation for aligning technology with the university’s strategic goals. This ensures the effective and efficient use of resources and fosters a culture of innovation and collaboration to support WSU’s mission.

Our goal is to continue the history of technology leadership and representation at WSU by promoting transparency and accountability in resource management and driving technological advancements for academic excellence and operational efficiency through collaboration.