The Student Information Systems and Technology Council (SISTC) is reshaping how the University of Utah approaches student-facing technologies and data systems. By fostering collaboration across campus units, SISTC ensures that tools and platforms are thoughtfully integrated, strategically aligned and built to support students more effectively.

This work is a core component of the Student Experience Project (SEP), complementing initiatives in advising, communications, scholarships and engagement. Through a structured model, SISTC enhances decision-making, promotes transparency and drives progress toward the university’s Impact 2030 goals, including improved retention rates, graduation rates and career readiness.

Overview

The SISTC was created to improve how student-facing technologies and data systems are evaluated, coordinated and implemented across the U. Many platforms have been adopted independently by departments, leading to duplication, inconsistent data practices and limited collaboration. This siloed approach has made it harder to deliver a seamless digital experience for students and has introduced risks related to security and compliance.

SISTC provides a structured process for reviewing technology proposals, aligning systems with university priorities and supporting cross-campus collaboration. Its work focuses on enhancing student outcomes, improving data practices and ensuring tools are secure, scalable and strategically aligned.

Key priorities include:

• Coordinating efforts across departments to reduce overlap and improve efficiency.
• Reviewing platforms for long-term sustainability and alignment with student needs.
• Strengthening data practices to support compliance and responsible use.
• Increasing transparency through shared tools that track active and proposed projects.
• Supporting institutional goals for retention, graduation and career readiness as outlined in Impact 2030.

SISTC’s approach is informed by national best practices and builds on insights from the National Institute for Student Success (NISS) report, which emphasized the need for more integrated, student-centered systems to improve outcomes and equity at scale.

Our Approach

SISTC is introducing a structured process to improve how student-facing technologies and data systems are evaluated and implemented across campus. The council is beginning by reviewing existing platforms to identify overlap, gaps and opportunities for better coordination.

A centralized process is being developed to guide future technology decisions. This will help ensure that new tools are consistently evaluated, support student success and align with university priorities.

Measuring Success

SISTC’s progress will be tracked through outcomes that reflect stronger coordination, improved efficiency and clearer decision-making across campus:

• Reduce duplication across platforms and systems used by academic and administrative units
• Improve alignment between technology decisions and university priorities
• Increase transparency through a shared dashboard that tracks active and proposed projects
• Strengthen data practices and support compliance across student-level systems
• Support the university’s Impact 2030 goals, including increased retention, graduation rates and career readiness

If your college, department or unit is considering a new student-facing technology purchase, we encourage you to share your idea using the Student Technology Request Form.

Student Technology Request Form

Who should submit the form?

Anyone who is considering purchasing or implementing a new student-facing technology related to student success, including efforts related to retention, completion, career placement or other student success needs.

Why submit the form?

Submitting the form allows your team to consult with experts in IT, data governance and student systems. In many cases, units discover:

• There are existing solutions or partnerships on campus that can be leveraged.
• Technical guidance can help ensure long-term compatibility and sustainability.
• Established vendor relationships or internal tools may reduce costs or complexity.
• Insights from other departments can accelerate implementation and improve outcomes.

This process helps reduce redundancy, save money and ensure better long-term outcomes for your students.

What happens after you submit the form?

You’ll be invited to a consultation with the SISTC Tier 2 working group to discuss the challenge you’re trying to solve, review potential solutions and identify alignment with campus systems. From there:

• The project may be prioritized for further planning or support.
• You’ll receive guidance on viable options and next steps.
• The feedback loop will inform campus-wide coordination.

Looking ahead

While this process is currently voluntary, the university is working toward making it a standard step in the planning/budgeting and procurement process for technology related to student success. In the future, proposals that have not been reviewed by the SISTC may not be eligible for IT or procurement support. Sharing technology ideas early ensures better alignment and positions projects for long-term success.