2026 Technology Strategic Plan
Last Reviewed and Updated: 4/21/26
Support
Establish West Campus Support Model
Figure out a rotation schedule to have a presence at our Research Park location to provide support to those spaces which would also service PEAP and bolster our support of those spaces.
Justification: We will offer Remote Support only per direction from Viz faculty at Research Park
Enable Remote Support
We have remote support tools available, but we are not effectively using them for remote support. The purpose of this would be to integrate remote support into our processes so we can provide quicker response times when issues are surfaced.
Justification: We have rolled out Bomgar persistent agent to our Classroom Labs, Loaners and Off-Campus computers. Remaining task is to build OnDemand process to send out agent through our ticketing system for ad hoc requests.
Complete User Managed Technology Plans
Complete these plans and have on file for any technology that is managed by the end-user and not part of the unified Technology Services model.
- Examples are the VPI infrastructure, services run by the HIVE, NAS’s purchased by individual faculty, etc.
Justification: We have expanded this task to encompass more and have rebranded it as RITCP (Research & Institute Technology Control Plan), we are currently working with Hwaryoung to establish framework and document the process. I am also meeting with peers to fine the process and how to effectively implement a system like this.
Services
Pipeline 3.0
Deploy the Deadline Cloud Service to replace the current Deadline Server which we built in conjunction with ARCH Platform. The “on prem” version of deadline has entered Maintenance mode and will not be getting additional feature updates.
Justification: Nick is having good success working with ARCH platform to iron out the bugs with Deadline Cloud, once those are finished we will work on automating the agent on our Classroom computers and build a documentation page.
Virtual Workstations
Decide on the Cloud Virtual Workstations and where they fit into the overall Lab fleet.
Justification: We are currently looking for other use cases for these workstations. What we need to figure out how to set it up so multiple students can share a pool of virtual workstations to make the financial side work.
Complete Unified Device Management Plans
Complete migrations for all systems managed by PVFA/Technology Services.
- Windows – AUTH MECM/Intune
- macOS/iOS – JAMF
- Linux – AO Linux Ansible
- Android – Intune
- AR/VR/XR – Intune
Justification: There has been a reorganization within Academic Operations where the Unified Endpoint Management team is moving under the AO umbrella. Once complete our solution may change slightly.
Datacenter Space
Complete the installation of a PVFA Rack in the Teague datacenter to support services and researchers needs. We have an initial server for Xin Li that will be installed but this task is more to have a presence for future needs as datacenter space becomes a more precious commodity.
Justification: The Rack ready to go and have announced availability in our Techbyte newsletter, we are working on a page in our documentation library as well.
Projects
Complete Technology Audit
Successfully complete our PVFA Technology Audit and remediate any issues found.
Justification: We have made great strides in resolving our Windows security patching issue, we are currently working with UEM and TAMU Security to complete a pre-audit review of our computers.
TAMUS SuperPod
Develop internal processes to assist researchers in leveraging the NVIDIA SuperPod, will likely be done in collaboration with HPRC and the governance model being created.
Justification: We have not received information on how to facilitate working with the SuperPod nor have we had many inquiries from our faculty interested in leveraging it.
Inventory Cleanup
Complete the inventory cleanup, removing all “DEPLY-ISSUE” items.
Justification: We have not done much work in this area so far. Our team has been focused on audit remediations but once that is complete, we will shift more focus to this.
Faculty/Staff Onboarding Expansion
Update the PVFA onboarding process to better integrate necessary groups (HR, IT, Facilities, Business Services, and Section Support). The current HROE process is specific to HR and IT but does not integrate the other groups.
Justification: We have met with the various groups and established what we want to do. We just need to build out the Laserfiche process and being utilizing it.
AI Scheduling System
Develop an updated room scheduling system for PVFA leveraging AI resources. We hope to have a system in place for the Fall 26 semester.
Justification: We have not done much with this task. We are waiting for this functionality to be integrated with the existing tamu ai chat application.
Overhaul Documentation Platform
Implement an overhaul our documentation repository (IT intranet) to gain additional functionality
- Be online so links can be given to faculty/staff as needed
- Allowable to cross link articles/posts, many of our documents reference other documents and maintaining links within offline files is problematic
- Preferably built on an open language like markdown
Justification: We have determined the product we will use to establish our online documentation repository and have rolled out the framework, https://docs.pvfa.tamu.edu. The task now will be to move our existing word doc documentation over and review content as it is moving over for accuracy and update as needed with the additional functionality we have with this new markdown enabled system.
Team #1 Sysadmin Enhancement
Work with Nikki Knight to bolster the Academic Operations Sysadmin team to operate common services across ARCH, PVFA & SEHD.
- Create MOU between colleges and AO Sysadmin Team to govern what each group does and how communication should occur in both directions
Justification: The MOU is currently working through Nikki and the team.