IT’s about efficiency.
Technology solutions that streamline processes can help save money, time and resources — so that they can be invested back into the University community to help improve academic and research success.
Delivery in a day
With UAB IT’s TechTools program, you can get a bundled computer package — either a replacement or for a new employee — in less than a day. UAB IT maintains a stock of Dell computers and accessories that help streamline the ordering process, so that instead of three weeks, you wait 24 hours for your new computer. The program will expand in 2020 to all Desktop Services customers.
Cheaha on demand
The word “supercomputer” is intimidating enough — but UAB IT’s Research Computing team has given beginners a way to log in to the Cheaha high performance computer right from their browser — no experience required. The Research Computing OnDemand portal helps streamline the experience so researchers interested in harnessing the power of Cheaha can get right to work. “We’ve removed a lot of potential apprehension and learning overhead in approaching the cluster,” said John-Paul Robinson, architect for UAB’s high-performance computing cluster.
99%
Percentage of campus computers that undergo standardized patching
5,000
Number of VoIP — voice over internet protocol — phones that are now deployed
202
Number of IT-related contracts reviewed
IT’s about learning.
UAB’s first mission pillar is education, and UAB IT is committed to ensuring that technology enables and enhances learning among students, faculty and employees.
Adobe frees your creativity
Beginning in fall 2019, UAB students had the opportunity to download the powerful Adobe Creative Cloud suite of applications — free of charge. Creative Cloud gives them options for photos, videos, audio, design and more, improving their digital literacy and giving them a competitive advantage not only in the classroom but in their careers.
Employee learning gets technology boost
UAB HR is introducing a series of new technologies to help them in their professional development, including a new campus learning management system, LinkedIn Learning and the Learning Locker. These technologies — which UAB IT helped implement — give employees a way to find new training opportunities and track their training and learning history.
19
Number of classrooms refreshed
$600,000
Investment in refreshing classroom technology
3.8
Average age of classrooms in years, down from 8.7 in 2017
IT’s about the future.
UAB IT is focused on technology infrastructure that empowers our researchers, faculty, staff and students so that they can make life-changing discoveries and drive knowledge creation across disciplines.
Strong network helps empower discoveries
UAB’s network — which provides speeds of 100Gbps — remains the fastest among universities in Alabama and helps power everything from research sharing to test taking. During summer 2019, UAB IT completed a WiFi upgrade to strengthen the network’s redundancy and allow greater scalability to accommodate the growth of internet-connected smart devices.
New Technology Innovation Center construction under way
When UAB broke ground on the new Technology Innovation Center in August, one of the unique aspects of the ceremony was that UAB IT employees took part in holding the shovels. Vice President and CIO Curtis A. Carver Jr., Ph.D., said that was by design, because employees are so central to UAB’s and UAB IT’s success. Also by design is the infrastructure that will power UAB’s servers and its supercomputer, which will be housed in the state-of-the-art TIC along with the data highway that connects researchers throughout the University of Alabama System.
14.2
Millions of compute hours logged on the Cheaha supercomputer in 2019 — double that of 2018
1,134
Number of Cheaha-supported researchers, up from 839 in 2018
123.7
Millions of dollars in grants earned by Cheaha-supported researchers in 2019
IT’s about community.
Through a number of organizations and activities, UAB IT engages with and helps grow the technology ecosystem in Birmingham and beyond, but our employees also contribute to a variety of causes that contribute to the public good on our campus and in our community.
Toy Drive collects thousands of gifts for area children
The UAB Toy Drive — which is organized by UAB IT — has collected thousands of toys over its 26-year history. Students, faculty and staff donate toys in buildings across campus, which UAB IT employees collect for donation to the U.S. Marines’ Toys for Tots campaign. The UAB Toy Drive, named one of the University’s 50 Acts of Service for the institution’s 50th anniversary, helped Toys for Tots serve more than 15,000 children in 2019.
Pi Day/Benevolent Fund
UAB IT’s leadership was willing to do just about anything to support the UAB Benevolent Fund in 2019 — including taking a series of pies in the face from employees to raise money for the umbrella fund-raising organization. The Benevolent Fund assists not only organizations across Alabama — including TechBridge, for which CIO Curt Carver serves on the board — but also helps UAB employees with emergency assistance in times of need.
26
Number of years UAB has supported the Toy Drive
$32,000
Amount raised for the Benevolent Fund
41%
Percentage of UAB IT employees who contribute to the Benevolent Fund
IT’s about accountability.
UAB IT’s work is guided by seven IT imperatives designed to help us empower the UAB campus and the community to success in academics, research and advancement. Our customers hold us accountable because they are our partners in designing our strategic plan.
Security
Creating a secure computing environment is UAB IT’s chief imperative, and it is a team effort among employees, faculty and staff.
What we've done: Implemented Duo 2-factor authentication to protect everyone on campus | Implemented a new Internet of Things rule | Celebrated National Cyber Security Awareness Month
Governance
Governance helps ensure that UAB’s technology resources are used in the best interests of the University, and that a variety of academic and business units are involved in technology decision-making.
What we've done: Implemented a new IT-related contracts web site | Hosted virtual meetings to help walk customers through the contract approval process | Managed 22 projects and completed 11 projects
Partnerships
UAB IT works with partners across campus to help meet UAB objectives in academics, research and advancement.
What we've done: Established a Data Science Club to help introduce researchers to new tools | Assisted UAB Enrollment Management in deploying a tool to develop personalized predictions for student success
World-Class IT
Establishing a world-class IT team means we respond to customer requests and problems quickly so that you can go back to work when something goes wrong, but it also means that we help our employees set goals that align with UAB priorities so that we are keeping the focus on our customers and their needs.
What we've done: Reached a zero-defect classroom technology goal | Resolved 99.1 percent of AskIT incidents in one day | Resolved 78 percent of Desktop Services incidents in one day | Installed 55 TechTools systems
Business Value
Improving or automating processes with technology tools are among the ways that UAB IT can help departments reduce costs and generate revenue to help achieve UAB’s mission.
What we've done: Upgraded the Banner experience for Admissions and Financial Aid | Migrated department file servers to UABFile to save departments money | Saved UAB departments $500,000 over three years by managing cell phone usage
Data-Driven Decisions
Making data-driven decisions can help UAB make the best use of its resources to achieve objectives in education, innovation, research and patient care.
What we've done: Automated diversity reporting for UAB IT in Tableau | Established a user group for Tableau
Community
UAB IT employees take to heart UAB’s commitment to engage with the community for the public good, whether that is on campus or off, and also take part in organizations that help further the community of excellence in information technology across the state.
What we've done: Helped the Office of the President deploy the BlazerPulse system to track UAB’s volunteer impact on the community | CIO Curt Carver spoke to a national audience at about UAB’s success | Hosted Take Your Child to Work Day | Allante Jowers featured in Alabama Public Television series on career options in IT | Alabama CIO hosted first CIO Awards
IT’s about progress.
With our imperatives and our employee goals focused on our customers, UAB IT strives to reach at least 100 technology wins for campus every year — improving your processes, giving you new technology tools, or just spreading the word about UAB’s success. And we’ve exceeded our goal, reaching more than 500 wins for campus in just four years.
UAB IT helps implement BlazerPulse
Toy Drive chosen for 50 Acts of Service
Duo requirement safeguards UAB students, faculty, staff
What's your moment strategic plan campaign launches
WiFi upgrade happening over summer
Carver speaks to national audience at UBTech conference
RC onDemand is no-tears shortcut
Eduroam now available at the hospital
UAB breaks ground on TIC
Adobe available free for all students
UAB IT holds trial of AskBlaze chatbot
