2023 Sessions

Location: Room A, B

Welcome – Matt Riley, CIO

Keynote – Leo Zhadanovsky, Chief Technologist, Education, Worldwide Public Sector at Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Location: Room C

Presenter: Jelene Crehan / Director, Network Engineering and Infrastructure – Technology Solutions

Type: Presentation | Length: 45 min

Level: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

Track: Infrastructure

Location: Room C

Abstract:

This will be a 2-year review of the improvements we have made with our Network infrastructure, Emergency Startel System, and Data Centers as well as sharing our future plans for more upgrades and expansions. Additionally, I will give a high-level update on our Research Network improvements and future plans. This will be a 2-year review of the improvements we have made with our Network infrastructure, Emergency Startel System, and Data Centers as well as sharing our future plans for more upgrades and expansions. Additionally, I will give a high-level update on our Research Network improvements and future plans.

Description:

Jelene will be sharing where we have made wireless improvements on campus. How we improved our Emergency Startel system to provide a more modern solution for the UICPD dispatch center. What network and data center improvements we have made with the Forward Initiative funding we were awarded, including full building infrastructure upgrades with a “wifi first approach”, replacing outdated HVAC systems in one of our primary data centers, upgrading our wireless backbone infrastructure with new robust firewalls and anxiously waiting for delivery of new wireless controllers. Bringing new UIC buildings online with the latest network technologies for the EIB Engineering Innovation building, the TEB Teaching Excellence building, and the future CDRLC Computer Design Research and Learning Center building.  Underground fiber infrastructure improvements across campus and throughout the east side to improve connectivity to our RRB Data Center facility.

Learning Outcome:

It will give attendees the awareness and understanding of improvements made and those improvements that are forthcoming as we focus our productive efforts to further the institutional mission.

Presenters:

Jason Maslanka / CTO – Technology Solutions

JaEun Jemma Ku / Director of IT Accessibility – Office for Access and Equity

Type: Presentation | Length: 30 min

Level: Beginner

Track: Leadership, Governance, Accessibility

Location:  TBD

Abstract:

Approved UIC Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Accessibility Policy in January 2023 includes ICT Exception Review process to assist with units, department, and UIC IT developers when they must buy or develop inaccessible ICTs.

The session will share the information about:

1)  Goal and Purpose of ICT Accessibility Policy

2)  Core components of the Exception Review process

3)  When and how to use the Exception Review process

Description:

ICT Accessibility Policy and Implementation Guidelines are new to IT community. It is an imperative that UIC IT community understands the ICT accessibility policy and Exception review process so that UIC complies to required Federal and State accessibility laws and implements the policy itself successfully. The presentation at UIC IT Community Conference will provide a golden opportunity to reach out wide range of IT experts as well as departmental IT units which should use the process whenever possible.

Learning Outcome:

–  UIC ICT Accessibility Policy and ICT Exception Review Process

–  Understanding of IT Exception Review process : How to and When to Use the Process

–  Concept of Equally Effective Alternative Access Plan

Presenter Bios:

Jason Maslanka

As Chief Technology Officer, Jason Maslanka is responsible for providing strategic and operational leadership to align the IT infrastructure and services in support of UIC’s strategic goals and objectives. He oversees operations of the central IT organization that provides technologies and services to the UIC campus community including Networks and Telecommunications, Enterprise Solutions, Security and Privacy, Client Services and Support.

Jaeun Jemma Ku

As the Director of IT Accessibility, Jemma is responsible for providing strategic direction for UIC Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Accessibility Policy and the leadership for IT accessibility services. Jemma ensures ICTs are accessible to individuals with disabilities as well as advocates for the universal access in ICT by UIC students, faculty, and staff. She also oversees meeting ICT Accessibility legal compliance requirements including Americans With Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, ICT Accessibility 508 Standards, and Illinois Information Technology Accessibility Act.

Presenters:

Vishakha Patangay / Assistant Director, Software Development – Technology Solutions

Samihan Nandedkar / Software Developer – Technology Solutions

Type: Presentation | Length: 30 min

Level: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

Track: Software Development

Location:  TBD

Abstract:

Learn why and how UIC Technology Solution’s software development group is adopting API first approach for building software applications. Join the discussion as we envision an ecosystem of micro services at UIC where it’s easy to share intelligence and drive innovation.

Description:

Part 1

We will spend first 20 minutes of the session presenting the following sub-topics

1. What is API first approach?
2. Why did we adopt API first approach?
3. How did we build our first enterprise level application in 3 months using API first approach?
4. Tools of the trade
5. Technology Stack
6. Authentication
7. Testing
8. Logging
9. Documentation
10. Common Challenges
11. What’s Next?
12. Envisioning an ecosystem of microservices at UIC
13. Providing a centralized API management solution
14. API governance – Common rules and guardrails relating to API standards and security policies

Part 2

We will keep the last 10 minutes for open discussion, put up some questions to get the conversation going.

 Learning Outcome:

–  Learn about API first approach development model

–  Learn about the standards and tools being used by our software development team

–  Get inspired to adopt this approach and help build the ecosystem of microservices at UIC

Presenters:

Mark Goedert / Director of IT Planning and Strategy – Technology Solutions

Mat Willis / IT Portfolio Manager – Technology Solutions

Type: Presentation | Length: 30 min

Level: Beginner, Intermediate

Track: Leadership, Project Management, Portfolio Management

Location:  TBD

Abstract:

During this presentation, we will demonstrate how Technology Solutions used program and portfolio management techniques to better align their efforts and outcomes with the business needs of UIC. We will showcase examples from Technology Solutions’ project portfolio that illustrate how financial, governance, security, and operational optimization goals informed the creation of programs that grouped projects together in order to achieve desired outcomes.

By attending this presentation, you will gain a deeper understanding of how programs can help IT professionals effectively communicate the value of their projects to leadership. You will learn about the essential programs of Technology Solutions and how they have helped the organization to achieve its goals.

Description:

This presentation will showcase the Technology Solutions project portfolio with specific examples on how business drivers influenced our strategy to create programs.  We will provide lessons learned as well as insights to the projects and programs that deliver value to UIC.  Attendees will get a deeper dive into the TS portfolio and walk away with techniques they can apply to convey the value of their IT projects in the colleges and units.

 Learning Outcome:

The benefit of inspiring higher-level thinking at the college and unit level will allow Deans and Department heads to better understand the value of IT for their unit.  Attendees will be able to look at the it.uic.edu strategic initiatives website and form ideas on how they can create groups of projects, known as programs, to advance campus IT strategic initiatives.

Presenter Bios:

Mark Goedert

Mark is the Director of IT Strategy and Planning as part of the CIO Leadership Team at the University of Illinois Chicago. In this role, he ensures that IT investments align with the educational mission and advance the business goals of the University. He leads central IT efforts on strategy and enterprise architecture, oversees the Project and Portfolio Management Office (PMO), and provides process improvement and data visualization services to the campus.

With over 25 years in higher education IT, Mark has provided campus-wide leadership in the areas of IT strategy, policy, processes, program/portfolio management, and information technology.  He has also led the EDUCAUSE Project Management Community Group (PMCG), serving as co-chair for three years. He is an alum of the University of Illinois Chicago College of Business, with a concentration in Management Information Systems (MIS).

Presenters:

Cheryl McKearin / Senior Instructional Technologist – Technology Solutions

Evan Lange / Learning Technology Support Specialist – Technology Solutions

Type: Presentation | Length: 45 min

Level: Beginner

Track: Teaching Technologies

Location: TBD

Abstract:

Blackboard is a powerful tool for delivering online and hybrid courses. However, getting started with Blackboard Ultra can be overwhelming, especially for new users. In this session, we will share tips and best practices for copying Ultra courses, creating and organizing course content, and making courses available to students.

Description:

The session will begin with an overview of the benefits of Blackboard Ultra and the reasons why instructors may consider converting their Blackboard Original courses. The session will introduce Blackboard Ultra and its core features, including the course menu, content areas, and grade center. We will then cover best practices for copying courses, including how to select and transfer content from an existing course to a new one. We will also discuss how to set up the course navigation, notifications, and settings to ensure an optimal learning experience.

Next, we will explore how to create and organize course content, including text, multimedia, and interactive elements such as discussions, assignments, and quizzes. We will cover how to use Blackboard Ultra’s content editor, multimedia tools, and learning modules to structure course content and enhance engagement.

Finally, we will demonstrate how to make courses available to students and manage their access. This includes setting up course availability. We will also discuss how to communicate with students and provide support, including using Blackboard’s built-in communication tools and LTS’s help desk.

Learning Outcome:

• Understand the core features of Blackboard Ultra and how they support online learning
• Learn best practices for copying courses, setting up course navigation, notifications, and accessibility settings
• Learn how to create and organize course content using Blackboard Ultra’s content editor, multimedia tools, and learning modules
• Understand how to make courses available to students, set up course availability and enrollment options, and manage course tools
• Learn how to communicate with students and provide support using Blackboard Ultra’s built-in communication tools and the LTS help desk

Presenter Bios:

Cheryl Hitosis McKearin

Cheryl has been in education for the past 16 years. With more than a decade of teaching experience in higher education, she currently serves as an instructional technologist for the University of Illinois at Chicago, assisting faculty with implementing learning technologies into their courses and advocating for accessible and inclusive tools for the UIC campus.

Evan Lange

Evan is a Learning Technology Support Specialist at the University of Illinois at Chicago. With a background in German literature and experience teaching German language courses at the university, he is passionate about the role that technology can play in improving teaching and learning experiences for both faculty and students. Evan works with the Learning Technology Solutions team to integrate and troubleshoot learning technologies such as Panopto and Echo360, providing a more accessible and seamless experience for users of the LMS Blackboard Learn. Beyond his work and studies, he also regularly works on personal IT projects which help him gain a better understanding of the ways in which technology can further the goals of UIC’s academic community. Evan is eager to share his expertise in using technology to support effective teaching and learning.

Presenters:

Marius Horga / Sr Systems Architect – Technology Solutions (ACER)

Torin White / Data Scientist – Technology Solutions (ACER)

Type: Presentation | Length: 45 min

Level: Beginner, Intermediate

Track: Governance, Infrastructure, Security, Cloud

Location: TBD

Abstract:

Today’s researchers are facing increasing, and seemingly conflicting, requirements when it comes to working with and sharing sensitive data. In this presentation, we go over challenges and suggestions for a successful bridging of the two “worlds” of data security and data management. We review secure infrastructures, policies and compliance, data management planning, research data lifecycle, and data preservation/dissemination and conclude with an overview of UIC resources for data security and management.

Description:

Bridging the availability of data and data protection requires balancing the need to share data with the need to restrict access to sensitive information. To complicate this, a balance must be maintained throughout the whole research lifecycle. From identifying needs during data planning to acquiring, analyzing, and finally, preserving and disseminating data, this can be a daunting task for researchers, especially when it comes to sensitive data.

We will discuss data security, which starts with identifying which data is sensitive to determine which data requires restricted access. Then, establishing data governance involves creating policies and procedures that outline how data is classified, who has access to it, and under what circumstances data can be shared. It also requires implementing security measures such as access controls, encryption and firewalls to protect sensitive data. Finally, it is necessary to regularly review data access and usage to ensure that policies and procedures are being followed and that sensitive data is not being accessed or shared inappropriately.

When it comes to data management, there are seemingly conflicting requirements and pressures to share data as widely as possible. These expectations are becoming more and more common as government agencies and the research community itself react to the “reproducibility crisis” of science. But, what happens when real harm may come from sharing sensitive data? Oftentimes, the decision “to share or not to share” must be made on a case-by-case basis. We will discuss some of the strategies of striking a balance between protection and sharing. For instance, anonymizing data to protect sensitive information while still allowing it to be shared. Alternatively, researchers may choose to share only metadata about their data, or require an approval process for others to gain access.

Providing training to researchers and employees on data handling and data protection policies is instrumental to ensuring they understand their responsibilities when handling sensitive data. We intend this session to be informative for both researchers and IT professionals who work with researchers. The UIC resources shared during the presentation will include information on secure enclaves such as SCE on-premise and SCE in the cloud, data management resources such as archival research storage and the institutional repository INDIGO, and more.

Learning Outcome:

– A high-level overview of secure systems design

– Quick review of security frameworks and compliance

– Challenges with implementing secure enclaves

– Understand the research data lifecycle

– Learn about data management and sharing requirements from NIH, NSF

– Become aware of UIC resources for secure computing, data storage, and sharing

Presenter Bios:

Torin White

ACER Data Scientist with a background in research data management and reproducibility in research. Torin maintains the UIC Data Storage Finder and is working with the ACER team to implement new research storage services for the UIC research community.

Marius Horga

Senior IT professional with a Computer Science background. Marius has been with ACCC/Technology Solutions since 2007. He works in designing, administering and architecting solutions for highly sensitive data, as well as for high-performance computing and storage solutions.

Presenter:  Richard Wolf / Application Developer (Emeritus) – Technology Solutions

Type: Presentation | Length: 45 min

Level: Intermediate

Track: Tech Tools, Cloud

Location: TBD

Abstract:

Your mobile app idea is awesome!…and I’m not just sayin’ that. But how do we get your app into the app stores? Mmm…that’s tougher. Perhaps this session can help. Although I can’t teach you SwiftUI or JetPack Compose in thirty minutes, I can demonstrate the development process with a real, live app…and that can be a start. Your mobile app idea is awesome!…and I’m not just sayin’ that. But how do we get your app into the app stores? Mmm…that’s tougher. Perhaps this session can help. Although I can’t teach you SwiftUI or JetPack Compose in thirty minutes, I can demonstrate the development process with a real, live app…and that can be a start.

Description:

This session will show how I brought a simple app, Finelist, to life. Finelist strives to be the simplest way to publish a sign-up sheet, vote, appointment list, or conference schedule, online. You’ll see how the app was conceived, refined, designed, and implemented. Topics covered include: AWS Lambda, the Lambda runtime, AWS RDS databases, Amazon API Gateway, and Cognito for the app’s server-side implementation. For the native mobile clients, you’ll be introduced to Xcode, Swift and SwiftUI as well as Android Studio, Kotlin, and JetPack. The idea is not to teach you any of these tools in detail, rather it is to give you an overview of what’s involved in bringing a mobile app to life.

Learning Outcome:

The basic aim of this session is to give attendees an introduction to the tools and techniques used to create a mobile app in the hopes that this will help them make better decisions about implementing their own mobile apps.

Presenters:

Dr. TJ Augustine, Vice Chancellor for Innovation

Matt Riley, CIO

Jason Maslanka, CTO

Length: 45 min

Location:  Room C

Abstract / Description:

Jason Maslanka will facilitate a fireside-type chat, including fielding questions from the audience, with VC for Innovation TJ Augustine and CIO Matt Riley around current topics and the future of Innovation and IT at UIC.

• Location: Room A, B

• Location: Room B

Presenters:

Shefali Mookencherry / Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) – Technology Solutions

Esteban Perez / Director, Information Security – Technology Solutions

Type: Presentation | Length: 45 min

Level: Beginner

Track: Security

Location: Room C

Abstract / Description:

Cyber-attackers consistently develop ransomware and improve their attacking strategy by enhancing malware. This makes it harder to develop effective countermeasures. It is expected that ransomware will increasingly spread. During this session, we will provide a brief overview of the cybersecurity threat landscape and immerse attendees into a pseudo ransomware attack where they will experience remediation tactics.

Learning Outcome:

• Understand current cybersecurity threat landscape
• Experience a pseudo ransomware attack
• Learn about cybersecurity remediation and mitigation tactics

Presenter Bios:

Shefali Mookencherry

Shefali is a seasoned professional with expertise in information security, higher education privacy, HIPAA, research, healthcare policy and strategy, promoting Interoperability (PI), and compliance. With 20+ years of cybersecurity and higher education experience – including 30+ years of healthcare experience, and 17 of those years in senior management positions – she is acknowledged as a cybersecurity Subject Matter Expert (SME), who has fulfilled Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) roles and conducted information security risk analyses and assessments in the U.S.A. and internationally. Shefali also has a keen interest in the adoption of innovative technology and provides leadership, consultation, coordination, and integration of information processes with enterprise-wide information technology and information security strategies.

Presenters:

Anthony Marino / Director Client Experience

Jose Hernandez / Assistant Director Client Support – Technology Solutions

Type: Presentation | Length: 45 min

Level: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

Track: Tech Tools

Location: TBD

Abstract:

A summary of the current UIC TDX transition project and info session on creating forms that generate meaningful metrics for IT service delivery using TDX Form Designer.

Description:

In this session, we hope to give the audience an overview of the form-building process using examples of forms based on best practices.  We also want to inspire a movement towards encouraging form use across campus for better, more accurate data regarding our IT service delivery to our clients and users.  We will offer tips and suggestions for improving, or developing your own forms.

Learning Outcome:

After this presentation audience members should:

• Be updated on the status of the TDX conversion project.
• Be more informed as to how forms are beneficial to both IT staff, and end users.
• Understand how to use TDX form designer to build a form with dependencies.

Presenter: Stacey Valuch / Project Manager, Healthcare PMO – UI Health Information Services

Type: Presentation | Length: 30 min

Level: Beginner

Track: Tech Tools

Location: TBD

Abstract:

Microsoft’s OneNote is becoming more and more prevalent as people look for ways to stay on track and keep their work organized, especially in hybrid work environments. This presentation will cover real-world use of the application including proven techniques to incorporate its use into your workday.

Description:

In our fast-paced world, the need to capture ideas, meeting notes, and to-do items is ever present. UIC offers use of Microsoft OneNote to provide a way to effectively collect these notes in an electronic notebook. During this presentation, you will receive details to improve your digital note-taking skills by creating, modifying, and managing OneNote entries.

Topics will include:

• Navigating the OneNote interface
• Organizing and searching notebook content
• Sharing notes
• Tagging notes for follow-up/action
• Creating a summary of to do items

Learning Outcome:

This presentation will introduce you to using OneNote to store your notes in an organized fashion, search across those notes, and share them with others. Additionally, we will discuss how OneNote’s integration with other Microsoft applications can help to increase your productivity.

Presenter Bio:

Stacey Valuch (“Val-uk”)

Stacey holds a Master’s Degree in Project Management (MPM) and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and Disciplined Agile Scrum Master (DASM).  During the past 8 years at UIC, Stacey has managed major campus projects, most notably UIC’s acquisition of The John Marshall Law School (now UIC Law) and organizing operations at UIC’s multiple COVID-19 saliva-based testing sites during the height of the pandemic.  Additionally, she oversaw technical projects including “One ID/Password” (to create efficiencies and reduce logins) and the campus RED Website Standardization. Stacey currently works at UI Health as a Project Manager within Information Services department.

Presenters:

Rick Getty / Associate Director Business Analytics – AITS

Michael Wonderlich / Associate Director Business Intelligence Architecture – AITS

Type: Presentation | Length: 45 min

Level: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

Track: Data

Location: TBD

Abstract:

The evolution of data analytics requires advanced data sharing and collaboration capabilities. Data Analysts at the University of Illinois can look forward to a next generation set of technologies that will meet those needs. Join us as we present the Next Generation of data analytics technologies.

Description:

AITS, in collaboration with key data analytics stakeholders throughout the University of Illinois System, did extensive research into data analysis technologies. That research focused on the needs of data analysts for data integration, data analysis, and data delivery.

Several recommendations were made from the results of that research. AITS is planning to implement new technologies that will enhance data sharing and collaboration capabilities.

The technologies that will be implemented over the next several months include data virtualization, data storage with the implementation of an enterprise data lake solution, and enhanced data integration with a new data integration tool.

During this presentation we will present the new capabilities that will be available to the data community. We will also discuss the updated plans, current status, and next steps for the implementation of these new technologies.

Learning Outcome:

Participants will be able to learn about the technologies that will be implemented. They will know the approximate dates upon which they will be available. And they will be able to know how they can participate in the implementation process.

Presenter Bios:

Rick Getty

Rick leads the Business Analytics team in the AITS – Decision Support Unit. This unit provides outreach, services, support, and functional project input for the solutions and services for Data Analytics, Data Warehousing and Business Intelligence.

Michael Wonderlich

Michael is the Associate Director for BI Architecture at the University of Illinois. He leads the administration of BI technologies and works with the AITS – Decision Support team to deliver Business Intelligence to the university.  During the creation of the EDW, he led the technical design for the EDW and BI environments.  Since the end of the project, Michael has furthered the deployment of additional BI technologies.  He is a lead with the AITS Enterprise Architecture group and an adjunct instructor in the School of Information Sciences.

Presenters:

Cheryl McKearin / Senior Instructional Technologist – Technology Solutions

Evan Lange / Learning Technology Support Specialist – Technology solutions

Type: Presentation | Length: 45 min

Level: Beginner, Intermediate

Track: Teaching Technologies

Location: TBD

Abstract:

As the use of educational technology continues to grow, instructors are faced with a variety of choices for integrating tools and services into their learning management system. When it comes to Blackboard, instructors must decide whether to use the platform’s native features or integrate external tools and services using LTI. In this proposal, we will explore the pros and cons of each approach and provide guidance for instructors in choosing the best option for their needs.

Description:

In this presentation, we will explore the decision-making process for choosing between native Blackboard features and LTI (Learning Tool Interoperability) integration. We will begin by discussing the differences between these two approaches, including the benefits and limitations of each. We will then provide guidance on how to evaluate the needs of an institution and determine which approach is best suited to meet those needs. We will also discuss the factors that can impact this decision, including time constraints, support, and technical considerations. Finally, we will provide examples of instructors that have successfully used both native Blackboard features and LTI integration and the benefits they have experienced.

Learning Outcome:

After attending this session, participants will be able to:

• Identify the differences between using native Blackboard features and LTI integration.
• Identify the benefits and limitations of each approach.
• Learn how to evaluate the needs of an institution and determine which approach is best suited to meet those needs.
• Explain the factors that can impact the decision to use native features or LTI integration, including budget, support, and technical considerations.
• Explore examples of instructors that have successfully used both native Blackboard features and LTI integration and the benefits they have experienced.
• Evaluate the potential impact of using either approach in their own institution and make an informed decision based on their needs.

Presenter Bios:

Cheryl Hitosis McKearin

Cheryl has been in education for the past 16 years. With more than a decade of teaching experience in higher education, she currently serves as an instructional technologist for the University of Illinois at Chicago, assisting faculty with implementing learning technologies into their courses and advocating for accessible and inclusive tools for the UIC campus.

Evan Lange

Evan is a Learning Technology Support Specialist at the University of Illinois at Chicago. With a background in German literature and experience teaching German language courses at the university, he is passionate about the role that technology can play in improving teaching and learning experiences for both faculty and students. Evan works with the Learning Technology Solutions team to integrate and troubleshoot learning technologies such as Panopto and Echo360, providing a more accessible and seamless experience for users of the LMS Blackboard Learn. Beyond his work and studies, he also regularly works on personal IT projects which help him gain a better understanding of the ways in which technology can further the goals of UIC’s academic community. Evan is eager to share his expertise in using technology to support effective teaching and learning.

Facilitator: Radhika Shah Reddy / Director, Software Development and Delivery – Technology Solutions

Panelists:

Vlad Karpenko / Software Developer – Technology Solutions

Michael LaRue / Deputy Director of Software Delivery and Data – Technology Solutions

Ruthwik Lingam / DevOps Engineer – Technology Solutions

Jacob Lopez / Jr. Full Stack Developer – Technology Solutions

Kurt Okimoto / Web Developer – Technology Solutions

Vishakha Patangay / Assistant Director of Software Development

Type: Presentation / Roundtable | Length: 45 min

Level: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

Track: Leadership, Software Engineering

Location: TBD

Abstract:

Part 1:  In 2021, a new unit Software Development and Delivery [Data] (SDD) emerged out of ACCC’s Enterprise Architecture and Development.  This presentation offers insights of SDD’s vision to reshape Software Engineering to drive value in the broader UIC IT Strategy.

Part 2:  This is a roundtable discussion with the SDD team in Technology Solutions.

Description:

This presentation will outline what SDD’s (1) who we are (2) accomplishments in the past two years. This is just the beginning as we write this new chapter together to build sustainable software for our community.

Roundtable Discussion:

(1) Enterprise Level Application Development (2) Accessibility (3) DevOp Pipelines (4) Institutional Data possibilities

This experience can help us create goals that supports your needs as a whole and aligns with UIC IT initiatives.

About Us:

The Software Development and Delivery team consists of 15 Application Developers and DevOp Engineers of various levels from COE Students, Extra Help and FTEs with one goal in mind, building sustainable solutions for our community.

Presenters:

Mark Goedert / Director of IT Planning and Strategy – Technology Solutions

Bala Ramaraju / Director, Computer Services – College of Business Administration

Andrew Nichols / Director of Information Systems, Security and Compliance – Specialized Care for Children

Anirudh Palakurthi / Senior Business Intelligence Analyst – Technology Solutions

Venkata Sesha Phani Vakicherla / Graduate Computer Science Student at the University of Illinois Chicago

Type: Presentation | Length: 45 min

Level: Beginner, Intermediate

Track: Tech Tools, Automation

Location: TBD

Abstract:

Power Automate is a powerful tool that can help streamline and automate routine tasks for university IT staff. It allows for the creation of custom workflows and integrations with other systems, saving time and reducing the chance of manual errors. By highlighting the capabilities of Power Automate and demonstrating how it can help simplify processes, it can increase efficiency and productivity for university staff.

This is a joint presentation where the presenters will introduce and explore the capabilities of Power Automate in integrating data sources from a variety of platforms, and include real-world examples of the use of Power Automate at UIC.

Description:

Power Automate is a powerful tool that can help streamline and automate routine tasks for university IT staff. It allows for the creation of custom workflows and integrations with other systems, saving time and reducing the chance of manual errors. By highlighting the capabilities of Power Automate and demonstrating how it can help simplify processes, it can increase efficiency and productivity for university staff.

This is a joint presentation where the presenters will introduce and explore the capabilities of Power Automate in integrating data sources from a variety of platforms, and include real-world examples of the use of Power Automate at UIC. Attendees can expect to walk away with a better understanding of the nuts and bolts of Power Automate, ideas of where Power Automate can be employed at UIC, and connections to resources and a community that will help you achieve success with this powerful platform.

Learning Outcome:

Attendees can expect to walk away with a better understanding of the nuts and bolts of Power Automate, ideas of where Power Automate can be employed at UIC.

Presenter Bios:

Mark Goedert

Mark is the Director of IT Strategy and Planning as part of the CIO Leadership Team at the University of Illinois Chicago. In this role, he ensures that IT investments align with the educational mission and advance the business goals of the University. He leads central IT efforts on strategy and enterprise architecture, oversees the Project and Portfolio Management Office (PMO), and provides process improvement and data visualization services to the campus.

With over 25 years in higher education IT, Mark has provided campus-wide leadership in the areas of IT strategy, policy, processes, program/portfolio management, and information technology.  He has also led the EDUCAUSE Project Management Community Group (PMCG), serving as co-chair for three years. He is an alum of the University of Illinois Chicago College of Business, with a concentration in Management Information Systems (MIS).

Bala Pannagaraju Ramaraju

Technology focused IS Executive with over 20 years of experience at UIC, with an affinity for Strategic Planning, IT Governance, Security Management and Operations Management. Bala has an MBA in Management Strategies and MS in Computer Science from UIC. Bala is currently working as Director of Computer Services at UIC Business. Prior to that, he worked as Executive Director at UIC College of Nursing, overseeing the IT operations in Chicago and 5 other campuses. He is currently focused on leveraging business intelligence tools to automate, innovate, and improvise their internal IT operations as well as the services that CBA provides to their customers.

Andrew Nichols

In his current role at the Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC), Andrew is responsible for defining DSCC’s strategic technology, reporting and training roadmap. His department includes the Help Desk, Infrastructure, Data Warehouse and Reporting, Application Development, and the DSCC Training groups. ​​Prior to joining DSCC in February 2019, he worked for 10 years at UIUC in various technology roles. At UIUC Technology Services, he managed a team that was responsible for over 50,000 email accounts, over 30,000 Skype for Business accounts, and the campus 911 service. On the Urbana campus, his previous roles included life-safety services such as the Illini-Alert mass notification service and a campus security camera service in partnership with UIUC Police.

DSCC partners with Illinois families and communities to help children and youth with special healthcare needs connect to services and resources. Each state receives federal funds to improve the health of children and youth with special healthcare needs. DSCC has been the designated program for Illinois since 1937. In 1941, DSCC became part of the University of Illinois. It has been a crucial piece of the university’s public outreach mission ever since. Today, DSCC serves thousands of Illinois families annually through care coordination and other support. Its team of roughly 400 professionals works out of 11 regional offices throughout the state.

Anirudh Palakurthi

Accomplished BI Professional with over nine years of extensive experience in the IT industry. He currently serves as a Senior BI Analyst at UIC Technology Solutions. Prior to that, he worked as a Data Engineer in USAA’s Financial Crimes Analytics Lab where he specialized in ETL, data analysis, and visualizations. Anirudh holds a bachelor’s degree in Electronics Engineering and a MS in Information Systems which gives him a unique perspective on how to leverage data to drive business outcomes. He has a proven track record of managing complex projects from end-to-end and has successfully delivered high-quality BI solutions in collaboration with cross-functional teams. Anirudh is an expert in SQL, data warehousing, ETL, and BI tools. Within just six months of joining UIC, Ani has single-handedly developed service management dashboards of over 100 services offered by UIC Technology Solutions. These dashboards represented a significant improvement over the previous Excel-based reports, rendering service managers with a holistic view of their service management data. Over the past six years at UIC Technology Solutions, he has developed multiple ETL pipelines using custom-code as well as low code-no code platforms, and his name has been synonymous with reporting and BI within Technology Solutions.

Venkata Sesha Phani Vakicherla

Graduate Computer Science Student at the University of Illinois Chicago, currently working as a Graduate Assistant at the College of Business Administration. With 5+ years of experience in software development, Venkata Sesha Phani is a problem-solver who is passionate about leveraging technology to drive innovation and positive change, and also actively seeking internship opportunities for the upcoming summer and is eager to apply his expertise to real-world challenges.

Facilitator: Roni Rivera
Type: Presentation | Length: 45 min
Level: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
Track: Leadership

Location:  TBD

Abstract / Description:

During this session, senior women leaders in technology at UIC will share their journeys and lessons learned as they navigated their careers to achieve their current levels in the organization.  This session will be an interactive session between the panel members and attendees.  Panelists:

1.  Sue Martini
2.  Thelma Majalca
3.  Jelene Crehan
4.  Radhi Reddy
5.  Shefali Mookencherry
6.  Vishakha Patangay
7.  Kim Charles
8.  Joanna Tess
9.  Shivya Vidhyarthi
10.  Anitha Paruchuri

Learning Outcome:
The attendees of this session will gain a deeper understanding of the commitment necessary to achieve senior leadership positions in an organization, as well as the resources available to help them achieve their career objectives.

Presenters:

Dean Dang / Director, Enterprise Applications & Services – Technology Solutions

Lalo Camacho / Assistant Director, Enterprise Applications & Services – Technology Solutions

Dave Uher / Principal Architect, Enterprise Applications & Services – Technology Solutions

Type: Presentation | Length: 45 min

Level: Beginner

Track: Infrastructure, Web hosting, Tech Tools, Cloud

Location: TBD

Abstract:

News and updates from the Technology Solutions – Enterprise Applications and Services team for this session.

Description:

There is no question the past few years have been a period of dramatic change for the UIC community, with disruptions to our society, the economy, political landscape, as well as the way we work. Technology Solutions has pivoted and modernized many of our enterprise applications and technologies to help support the mission and IT units at UIC.  We can help you do more with less, which represents our renewed focus to help maximize existing IT investments and optimize costs in uncertain economic times.

As we move forward from the disruption of the past few years and adapt to new challenges, we work to provide trusted solutions that empower their everyone at UIC to make an impact, help them get the most out of their technology investments, save time and improve both processes and efficiencies.

Learning Outcome:

We hope you learn of the multitude of existing, updated and new services provided by Technology Solutions’ Enterprise Applications and Services team!

Presenters:

Andrew Boyd / Chief Research Information Officer and Associate Vice Chancellor for Research

Himanshu Sharma / Associate CIO / Asst. Director, Research Facilitation – Technology Solutions (ACER)

Leonard Apanasevich / Assistant Director of Research Facilitation – Technology Solutions (ACER)

Type: Presentation | Length: 30 min

Level: Beginner, Intermediate

Track: Research

Location: TBD

Abstract:

Have you ever wondered what is the difference between adjunct, associate, and full professor? Grant, award, IRB, and protocol: what does that mean? This session is for IT pros to understand the life and times of a UIC researcher.

Description:

Seek first to understand, then to be understood – This session is for IT pros to better understand the life and times of a UIC researcher to be able to assist them effectively. At any given time, a faculty could be teaching, writing a research proposal, applying for an award or awaiting an IRB approval, or preparing their promotion and tenure package. Knowing where they are coming from can allow us to more effectively help them.

Learning Outcome:

Understanding the different phases in the life of a faculty and the logistics around the conduct of research.

Presenter Bios:

Andrew Boyd

Andrew is the Chief Research Information Officer and Associate Vice Chancellor for Research at UIC. He is also an associate professor at the college of Applied Health Sciences.

Himanshu Sharma

Himanshu is the Associate CIO for Research Technologies and Innovation. His team, ACER, provide technical services and platforms to UIC researchers.

Presenters:

Cheryl McKearin / Senior Instructional Technologist – Learning Technology Solutions, Technology Solutions

Erin Stapleton-Corcoran / Instructional Designer – Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Excellence

Type: Presentation | Length: 45 min

Level: Beginner

Track: Tech Tools, Teaching Technologies

Location: TBD

Abstract:

ChatGPT, a powerful language model developed by OpenAI, has the

potential to revolutionize teaching and learning at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC). In this session, we will explore the potential use cases for ChatGPT at UIC. The AI landscape is rapidly changing, and we can only speculate how it will impact our work and education in the coming months and years. However, CATE and TS have some guidelines and tips to approach ChatGPT/AI tool usage in your current classroom.

Description:

Participants will be able to:

– Identify potential use cases for ChatGPT at UIC

– Develop effective prompts for ChatGPT

– Integrate ChatGPT into existing teaching and learning practices

– Automate administrative tasks using ChatGPT

– Use ChatGPT to enhance course content

– Discuss ethical considerations and best practices for using ChatGPT

Learning Outcome:

Participants will be able to:

–  Identify potential use cases for ChatGPT at UIC

–  Develop effective prompts for ChatGPT

–  Integrate ChatGPT into existing teaching and learning practices

–  Automate administrative tasks using ChatGPT

–  Use ChatGPT to enhance course content

–  Discuss ethical considerations and best practices for using ChatGPT

Presenter Bios:

Cheryl Hitosis McKearin

Cheryl has been in education for the past 16 years. With more than a decade of teaching experience in higher education, she currently serves as an instructional technologist for the University of Illinois at Chicago, assisting faculty with implementing learning technologies into their courses and advocating for accessible and inclusive tools for the UIC campus.

Erin Stapleton-Corcoran

Erin is an Instructional Designer at CATE. Prior to joining CATE she worked as an editor, curriculum designer, instructional designer, and university-level music instructor throughout the Chicago area. She holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in music, a certificate in eLearning Instructional Design from UC-Irvine, and currently she is pursuing a doctorate in Learning Design and Leadership at UIUC.

Presenter:  Ilir Zenku / Assistant Vice Chancellor, Health System IT – Office of Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs

Type: Presentation | Length: 45 min

Level: Intermediate, Advanced

Track: Leadership, Governance, Infrastructure

Location: TBD

Abstract:

The largest IT investment at UIC  involved the integration of several IT systems into one integrated EHR (Electronic Health Record) system resulting in a transformational journey for the UI Health organization and UIC. In this presentation you will learn about the journey, lessons learned for higher-education transformational projects and the innovation opportunities using the Epic platform.

Description:

Will attempt to bring the journey story seen through the lenses of higher education to share lessons learned from how the 3i project was initiated, planned, and executed. I will also give an overview of the new capabilities we now have in the integrated system for our users to innovate, focusing on analytics & automation capabilities and the new research opportunities.

Learning Outcome:

Leadership lessons in overcoming obstacles during a multi-year large project, building collaborative teams to lead, plan and execute projects, as well as research opportunities identified through the use of the Epic system.

Presenter Bio:

Ilir Zenku

Ilir is the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Healthsystem IT and a valuable member of the Leadership Team in the Office of Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs. He is focused on systems integration, collaborative governance, strategic planning and supporting strategic projects for the organization. (Longer bio: https://vcha.uic.edu/profiles/ilir-zenku)

Presenters:

Evan Lange / Learning Technology Support Specialist – Technology Solutions

Sawsan Alqarni / Learning Technology Support Specialist – Technology Solutions

Type: Presentation | Length: 45 min

Level: Beginner

Track: Tech Tools, Teaching Technologies

Location: TBD

Abstract:

As the use of video content in higher education continues to grow, institutions must find new ways to store and manage this content. Blackboard is a popular learning management system, but storage limitations can hinder the use of video content in the platform. In this presentation, we will explore how Panopto, a video platform, can be used to optimize Blackboard storage. By integrating Panopto with Blackboard, instructors can store and manage video content more efficiently, freeing up space in Blackboard and improving the overall student experience.

Description:

In this presentation, we will explore how instructors can use Panopto to optimize Blackboard storage. We will begin by discussing the challenges of storing and managing video content in Blackboard and how this can affect the student experience. We will then introduce Panopto and its capabilities for video storage and management. We will discuss how instructors can integrate Panopto with Blackboard to provide a seamless experience for students and educators. We will also discuss best practices for using Panopto to optimize storage and improve video content management. Finally, we will provide considerations for course copies for future use of videos.

Learning Outcome:

After attending this session, participants will be able to:

• Understand the challenges of storing and managing video content in Blackboard.
• Understand the capabilities of Panopto for video storage and management.
• Identify the benefits of integrating Panopto with Blackboard, including optimizing storage and improving the student experience.
• Learn best practices for using Panopto to optimize storage and improve video content management.
• Evaluate the potential impact of using Panopto to optimize Blackboard storage in their own course.

Presenter Bios:

Evan Lange

Evan is a Learning Technology Support Specialist at the University of Illinois at Chicago. With a background in German literature and experience teaching German language courses at the university, he is passionate about the role that technology can play in improving teaching and learning experiences for both faculty and students. Evan works with the Learning Technology Solutions team to integrate and troubleshoot learning technologies such as Panopto and Echo360, providing a more accessible and seamless experience for users of the LMS Blackboard Learn. Beyond his work and studies, he also regularly works on personal IT projects which help him gain a better understanding of the ways in which technology can further the goals of UIC’s academic community. Evan is eager to share his expertise in using technology to support effective teaching and learning.

Sawsan Alqarni

Sawsan has been employed as a Teaching Assistant with Learning Technology Solutions since September 2019 where she focuses on providing support for learning tools to faculty, staff, and students. She is currently pursuing a PhD in English with a research emphasis on postcolonial studies, globalization, and global speculative fiction. Prior to joining UIC, Sawsan worked as a full-time lecturer at King Khalid University and Bisha University where she taught English as a Second Language courses to native Arabic speakers. As a former lecturer and a current student with a keen interest in the role of technology in our cultural and literary practices in an increasingly globalized world, Sawsan recognizes the importance of technology has come to play not only in the literary and cultural domains, but also in its potential to revolutionize higher education and promote the democratization of knowledge(s) for inclusive futures in the academy.

Presenters:

Tanya Williamson / Senior Project Coordinator – AITS

Christina Molitor / Assistant Director, PMO – AITS

Beth McCarter / Assistant Director, ESC Student Team- AITS

Pat Schlehuber / Assistant Director, Assurance – AITS

Type: Presentation | Length: 45 min

Level: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

Track: Leadership, Tech Tools, Security, Web Hosting

Location: TBD

Abstract:

The ITPC 0620 Security Application Implementation project team is building a new security application that has been long anticipated by Unit Security Contacts as well as administrators and others across the Universities. This presentation will share how the University of Illinois AITS project team is using a project management agile mindset for a large and complex application build.

Description:

An Agile mindset is a flexible way of thinking that enables people to react quickly and adapt to changing situations. Agile teams use this set of beliefs to guide them through Agile projects, enabling them to produce a minimal viable product and quality deliverables on a more frequent  basis throughout the life of the project. This presentation will define what the agile mindset means to AITS and how the team is using agile principles for this robust application build. We will discuss the reasoning behind using this more flexible, iterative approach and the benefits and challenges we have faced during the project.  We will talk about the support from the AITS Leadership Team and how this project presents an organizational change from the way AITS normally plans and executes large projects. Finally, we will provide a high-level update on the project including the status, goals, timeline, processes, and work completed to this point.

Learning Outcome:

The participants will gain valuable information about the agile mindset, ideas, concepts used, and the lessons learned so far by the ITPC 0620 Security Application Implementation project team. Individuals will be introduced to the Four values of Agile:

1. Individuals and interactions over processes and tools
2. Working software over comprehensive documentation
3. Customer collaboration over contract negotiation
4. Responding to change over following a plan.

The presentation will provide insights on the ability to adopt agile values without being a strict agile shop.

Presenter Bio:

Tanya Williamson

Tanya will be the primary presenter and is a Project Management Professional (PMP) certified Senior Project Manager with over ten years of experience in leading IT projects. She began her project management career with the University of Illinois Decision Support team and became a member of the AITS Project Management office when the two departments merged. Tanya has also worked as a project manager on a few non-technical projects for the University including the SHIELD Illinois Project where she led the effort to create the Covid- 19 saliva collection site team, processes, as well as assisted schools, universities and private agencies with setting up their own collection sites for testing of Covid 19 through SHIELD Illinois.

• Location: Room C

• Location: Bar Louie
• Website: Bar Louie | Locations | University Village
• Address:  1325 S Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60607
• Sponsors:  Splunk