Criteria for Submitting an IT Governance Proposal
Although the next year will bring many budget challenges and uncertainties, it is not in the University’s interest either to discourage the identification of significant needs or to stifle innovation. Instead, our aim is to surface technology initiatives with the potential to transcend business-as-usual efforts and enable campus transformation.
For the FY2027 proposal cycle, we encourage ideas that introduce new methods or practices to:
- advance the University’s teaching and research missions,
- enhance the resilience of its security posture, and/or
- increase the efficiency and capacity of University services.
We invite proposals that are particularly responsive to the moment that higher education and research institutions are in, charting a course for significant improvement in how the University delivers on its mission and/or modernizing workflow, resulting in financial return on investment.
Proposals may leverage multiple technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Of special interest will be
- Initiatives that result in higher quality services and/or higher output with the same workforce;
- Proposals that limit commitment to the short-term with an eye toward expansion over the longer term; specifically, one-time investments that would yield learning and growth to inform future continuing investment; or
- Initiatives that provide a measurable net value to the campus that exceeds the required investment of resources.
Although more challenging in the FY2027 budgetary environment, we will also consider forward-looking proposals that address longer lead-time infrastructure required to maintain our leadership position relative to our peers.
Proposals of all sizes are welcome in this process but may not require review at all levels. Proposals that exceed these defined thresholds require review by both the primary program committee and the IT Strategy Committee.
An IT project that aligns to the criteria above is required to be reviewed if it exceeds the thresholds listed below.
We are continuously reviewing and refining our IT governance process to make it simpler and more efficient. Please note that the information provided here may be updated as we make improvements.
How a proposal becomes an approved project:
Stages in the IT Governance Proposal Process
- The first step in the cycle starts with an idea, and a project request is made.
- If the idea is worth doing, it moves to the pre-proposal stage.
- With guidance from the ITSC, the program committee decides to advance a pre-proposal to the full proposal phase.
- IT Strategy Committee co-chairs, with the CIO, review and recommend finalist proposals.
- The CIO and IT Strategy Committee then craft investment portfolio options based on proposals that yield the best overall value for UC Berkeley.
- A set of recommended proposals is then submitted to the Chancellor, Provost, and VC for Finance for final review and determination of which projects will be approved to move forward.
