On this page: Overview | Guiding Principles | IT Governance Structure | Resources and Documents

Overview

IT Governance is a framework for providing strategic oversight and guidance for all information and information technology policies, strategies, investments, and major projects at NYU.* IT Governance operates through a set of committees representing the needs and interests of stakeholders across the University. It ensures that IT resources are used efficiently and responsibly and are prioritized to maximize value, minimize risk, and advance NYU’s mission and objectives. 

*Note: IT Governance excludes NYU Langone, the medical schools, and NYU Shanghai.

Guiding Principles

These are the principles that guide IT decision-making at NYU:

  • Advance the mission of the University and align stakeholder strategies and requirements with IT capabilities
  • Improve the user experience and make it easier to navigate the IT environment at NYU 
  • Integrate and balance the needs of schools and units with the University at large through efficient and effective use of IT resources
  • Minimize institutional risk by maintaining regulatory compliance and ensuring new systems/tools are appropriately evaluated
  • Adopt a long-range view, considering future impact, sustainability, and value of current decisions 
  • Promote data-driven decision-making by improving the quality of data and ensuring appropriate access to data 
  • Drive best practices, standardization, and interoperability across NYU’s federated IT model to deliver high-quality IT services to the NYU community

IT Governance Structure

A new IT Governance structure is being launched in fall 2023. It is composed of a Digital Infrastructure and Systems Governance Committee (DISGC), made up of senior University leaders, five domain-specific IT Governance categories, and IT Governance subcommittees.

IT Governance Structure at NYU

Graphic showing IT Governance committees listed in the right column organized by category, with arrows indicating they all report up to the DISGC.

Select the graphic above to view a larger PDF version

Digital Infrastructure and Systems Governance Committee (DISGC)

The DISGC sets the policies and priorities for IT leaders across NYU, is the ultimate arbiter of IT decisions, and presides over all other IT Governance subcommittees. The DISGC reviews and approves policy, strategy, and investment recommendations (including projects over $500k or those designated by the CIO) that involve many stakeholders across NYU, are essential to NYU’s mission, involve significant resources, and/or present significant risk to NYU. The DISGC meets quarterly to review/approve proposals and recommendations. 

IT Governance Categories

Functionally oriented technology domains that organize, aggregate, and prioritize ideas, proposals, and requests from the IT Governance subcommittees. Each IT Governance category is supported by category leads that serve as liaisons between the DISGC and their subcommittees, represent their subcommittees during deliberations, and determine which topics and issues are elevated to DISGC for consideration. 

IT Governance Subcommittees 

Formal IT subcommittees that are part of the IT Governance Structure represent the interests and needs of their technical areas, constituents, and stakeholders. Led by co-chairs, subcommittees elevate policy, strategy, and investment recommendations through the IT Governance category leads to the DISGC. Subcommittees can make independent decisions as appropriate and in accordance with the guidelines and parameters established by the DISGC.

Resources & Documents

Definition of University IT Project - University IT Projects are complex, resource intensive and carry risk and should be appropriately governed and managed.

IT Operating Model - This operating model provides an aspirational framework for future decisions and actions involving Information Technology. This operating model along with governance formally establishes the federated structure of IT at NYU.  

IT Service Provider Responsibilities - NYU IT plays a key role in enabling distributed IT and federated decision making by ensuring that all IT Service Providers at NYU work together with the community to stay educated and aware of the many regulations and policies that apply to our roles.