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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 Charge for 2022-2023 Academic Year

The CIS meets monthly from October through May.

This year’s committee will 1) identify academic integrity issues experienced by faculty and students in the online space and 2) identify and assess the available technological tools for mitigating these issues. The assessment will encompass both efficacy and ethical concerns about these tools.

The Committee is also interested in:

  1. Reviewing preparations and change management issues related to implementing the new learning management system (LMS) when it is funded
  2. Continuing our ongoing work related to teaching with technology, role of recordings and IT in the classroom, etc.
  3. Exploring ways the university can better support the research efforts of the faculty through technology

Chair

Patrick Crispen

Patrick Crispen (Co-Chair) – pcrispen@usc.edu

Profile picture

Clifford Neuman (Co-Chair) – bcn@isi.edu

Committee members

  • Jen Bankard, Associate Professor (Teaching) of Writing, USC Dornsife College
  • Els Collins, Associate Professor of Theatre Practice in Production, Head of Production, School of Dramatic Arts
  • Patrick Crispen (Co-Chair), Adjunct Assistant Professor, Rossier School of Education
  • Christina Dunbar-Hester, Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism
  • Shubba Kumar, Keck School
  • Margaret Moser, School of Cinematic Arts,
  • Cliff Neuman (Co-Chair), Associate Professor of Engineering Practice, Viterbi
  • Lars Perner, Assistant Professor of Clinical Marketing, Marshall School of Business
  • Andrzej Rutkowski, Visualization Specialist, USC Libraries Library of International & Political Affairs, University Libraries
  • David Zarazua, Dornsife College/Spanish

Ex Officio Members

  • Monique Allard, Senior Assoc. Vice Provost for Student Affairs
  • Sam Gustman, Associate Dean, USC Libraries
  • Doug Shook, CIO, ITS

Reports