Frequently Asked Questions: One IT at UCLA

• One IT is a campuswide initiative to modernize, secure, and align UCLA’s digital operations in support of the university’s mission and overall excellence. This effort is central to Goal 5 of UCLA’s Strategic Plan, which focuses on strengthening institutional effectiveness and operational efficiency.
• Led by Digital and Technology Solutions (DTS), One IT brings together decentralized IT functions into a coordinated model that promotes consistency, reduces risk, and improves service delivery across the campus.
• This effort is not just about reorganizing IT; it is about positioning UCLA for the future, with the right infrastructure, tools, and workforce to support digital equity, accelerate innovation, and operate more efficiently at scale.
• Through phased implementation, One IT will help the university unlock new opportunities to invest in its academic mission, protect its digital assets, and deliver a seamless technology experience for faculty, students, researchers, and staff.

• One IT supports UCLA’s efforts to become more secure, efficient, and responsive in how IT services are delivered.
• It reduces fragmentation, improves governance, and ensures more equitable access to digital tools and support.
• The initiative also positions UCLA to better support teaching, research, and public service with a coordinated IT foundation.

UCLA’s current IT environment has evolved over time into a highly decentralized structure, with more than 40 separate IT units, 10 campus data centers, and over 70 independently managed networks. While this distributed model provided flexibility, it has also introduced challenges that affect service quality, operational efficiency, and institutional risk.

The decentralized state has led to:

• Increased Cybersecurity Risk – The lack of unified infrastructure, standards, and oversight creates vulnerabilities across the university. As cyber threats grow more sophisticated, a fragmented security posture places institutional data and operations at greater risk.
• Inconsistent Service Delivery – The user experience varies widely across departments, with uneven levels of IT support, responsiveness, and capability depending on location and resourcing.
• Duplicative Systems and Spending – Multiple units are operating parallel systems for functions such as ticketing, storage, endpoint management, and collaboration tools. This fragmentation creates redundancy and limits the university’s ability to invest in scalable, modern solutions.
• Barriers to Collaboration and Innovation – A siloed environment slows down cross-campus collaboration and makes it more difficult to roll out university-wide tools, analytics, or digital services to support faculty, staff, and students.
• Limited Transparency and Governance – Without a campuswide view of IT operations, it is difficult to make data-informed decisions about investments, staffing, or service strategy.

One IT addresses these issues head-on by creating a coordinated model that improves service consistency, reduces risk, and makes better use of UCLA’s talent and resources. It is a foundational step toward delivering secure, equitable, and modern digital services that meet the evolving needs of the university.

The One IT initiative is grounded in several core goals:

• Strengthen security and reduce risk by modernizing and unifying infrastructure and cybersecurity practices.
• Improve service quality through scalable platforms, consistent service levels and streamlined support.
• Enable innovation and research through advanced technologies, cloud capabilities and improved data services.
• Promote equity by providing more consistent and accessible digital experiences across all units.
• Optimize financial resources by aligning IT investments with campus priorities.
• Provide a strong platform for faculty working at the frontiers of emergent computational technologies.

The initiative will occur in three phases:

Phase 1: Consolidation (September 2025)

• IT Unit Leads, and by extension their teams, will formally report to DTS while maintaining a dotted-line connection to their original units.
• This structure provides both central coordination and continuity of local support.
• No immediate changes will be experienced by faculty, staff, or students.
• To support a stable transition, IT-related hiring and spending will be reviewed by a cross-functional committee prior to approval.
• Governance structures and communication channels will be launched to keep stakeholders informed.

Phase 2: Rationalization (Projected timeline: September 2025 – June 2026)

• DTS will work closely with IT leaders from across the campus to assess UCLA’s current systems, tools, personnel, and contracts. This collaborative effort will create a clear picture of where we are today.
• Using these insights, DTS will engage campus stakeholders to develop recommendations for a future-state IT organization and operating model. The design process will be inclusive and aligned with the diverse needs of our academic, research, and administrative communities.
• Recommendations will be reviewed and approved through governance bodies.

Phase 3: Transformation (Projected timeline: July 2026 – October 2029)

• In the final phase, UCLA will begin implementing the appropriate changes to build a modern, scalable shared services model for IT.
• This will include rolling out standard tools, such as ticketing systems and endpoint management platforms, to improve consistency, quality, and responsiveness.
• The transformation will also help expand campuswide access to modern, reliable technology, strengthening both equity and innovation.
• Ultimately, this work will allow UCLA to fully realize the Digital Campus vision, creating a more secure, connected, and forward-looking university.

• Digital and Technology Solutions will provide regular updates through the One IT website and town halls.
• Monthly briefings will be held with deans and vice chancellors.
• Targeted updates will be shared directly with units as milestones are reached.
• A project timeline and dashboard will also be made available online.

• Employees will be contacted directly by their current unit leadership, with support from Digital and Technology Solutions and Campus Human Resources (CHR).
• Each communication will explain the change in reporting, what to expect next, and available resources.
• Support will include transition toolkits, office hours, and key points of contact.
• This does not include UCLA Health IT, which supports the School of Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing and the Semel Institute.

• An update to employees is planned for early September, just prior to the transition.
• This update will confirm Day One activities, available support, and the fall engagement schedule.
• In the meantime, unit leaders will continue to receive targeted updates based on readiness and planning progress.

• Visit the One IT website for news, resources, and the project timeline
• Email oneIT@ucla.edu with questions or feedback
• Attend upcoming office hours or town halls (dates to be announced)