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Committee on Information Services

Information technology and services are central to the mission and success of leading research universities as they seek to create and disseminate new knowledge in the information age. With multiple campuses and offices around the world, USC faculty, staff, students, and alumni represent a global community that depends on information technology and services for high-speed networks, research computing, educational software, and communications, along with administrative functions as diverse as student registration, grant administration, security, and the university’s global digital presence on the Internet. The role of the Committee on Information Services (CIS) is to facilitate faculty input on the services provided by Information Technology Services (ITS) and unit-based IT groups that are responsible for providing reliable, secure, cost-effective, and up-to-date services to meet current needs while building capacity for an increasingly information-based future. The CIS plays a vital role in providing faculty advice and feedback on USC’s current performance and future direction in this rapidly changing field and in helping to ensure that the university is well positioned to advance its expansive goals and strategic plans for 21st-century leadership.

Charge

The Committee on Information Services is a standing committee whose members are jointly appointed by the Office of the Provost and the Academic Senate to represent the information technology needs and perspectives of USC’s faculty. It is charged with advising the Academic Senate and the Provost on a variety of issues related to the academic technology infrastructure of the university community. The committee is meant to be forward looking by identifying and proposing priorities in the examination and evaluation of IT services in light of changing and emerging needs. The committee advises the Chief Information Officer (CIO) and the Academic Senate on issues related to the university’s enterprise information technology infrastructure, information resources, services, and technologies and technology-related policies with an impact on academic matters, including research and teaching. The CIO apprises the committee of current issues and opportunities associated with these resources and endeavors, and committee members share this information with the university’s faculty through the Academic Senate on a regular basis. CIS also coordinates with the USC Libraries on matters of joint concern.

Members are appointed for a term of one year.

Meetings: Contact committee chair for the date/locations of the committee meetings.

Specific Charges for the 2024-2025 Academic Year

The Committee on Information Services (CIS) is tasked with the following two charges:

  1. Post-AI Teaching and Learning. CIS will conduct a campus-wide faculty survey to assess the impact of Generative AI tools such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT on academic integrity and on faculty teaching and assessment practices. The results of the survey will be used to inform future policies and support systems for faculty.
  2. Emerging Academic Technologies. With the CIO’s Office and ITS evaluating emerging academic technologies including Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies for adoption at the university, CIS will offer the faculty perspective and provide feedback to assist in the selection of new tools that can help faculty with teaching and research. The committee will also play an advisory role in representing faculty interests and concerns in upgrades of university-wide systems such as USC’s Grading and Roster System (GRS).

Co-Chairs

Jen Bankard, bankard@usc.edu, Dornsife College         

Clarisa Martinez, clarisa@pt.usc.edu, Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy

Committee members

Ex Officio Members

  • Daren Mooko, mooko@usc.edu, Assistant Vice Provost for Student Life, Community Expectations
  • Midhat Asghar, masghar@usc.edu, Interim Chief Information Officer
  • Samuel Gustman, sgustman@usc.edu, Associate Dean, CTO, and Sr. Director of Collections, USC Shoah Foundation and USC Libraries

Reports