What is IT Governance?

IT governance is defined as the system of processes that ensure the effective and efficient use of information technology (IT) to enable an organization to achieve its goals.

An IT governance model establishes who is empowered to evaluate, prioritize, select and fund competing IT investment options, as well as oversee the implementation of solutions and measure benefits.

Why is the University of Colorado using an IT Governance framework?

The University of Colorado is an exceptionally complex organization with each campus having a distinct mission and vision. The IT Governance model and supporting processes ensure cross-CU collaboration and decision making for large, high-risk initiatives. 

Based on lessons learned from large implementations, the leadership of CU's four campuses and the CU System office have embraced the need for processes that will mitigate risk to CU related to large IT projects with potentially high impact and high risk.

As a research leader in a dynamic and ever-changing world, CU must be able to execute successfully in order to realize the expected benefits of new implementations.

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What is the purpose of CU IT Governance?

CU IT Governance ensures IT supports the outcomes required by the university for the successful fulfillment of its mission to serve Colorado, the nation, and the world through leadership in high-quality education and professional training, public service, advancing research and knowledge, and state-of-the-art health care.

It ensures that appropriate decision-making activities align with the university’s strategic priorities and that we take advantage of the strengths of the four campuses and the System Office in areas of shared benefit and shared risk.

What are the goals of CU IT Governance?

​The CU IT Governance's goals include the following:

  • Facilitating alignment between System and campus IT strategies, in concert with System and campus strategic priorities
  • Overseeing the portfolio of system-wide initiatives, including monitoring progress against business plans
  • Identifying areas of shared benefit and risk
  • Encouraging and facilitating knowledge and resource sharing systemwide and between multiple campuses