Captain's Annual Update: Joe Way's First Year Performance at UCLA
UCLA's Digital Campus Roadmap: A Journey Towards Advanced Digital Transformation
The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is embarking on a significant digital transformation journey, as outlined in its Digital Campus Roadmap. This strategic initiative aims to modernize the campus experience and operations over the coming years.
Joe Way, the Digital Spaces executive director at UCLA, is leading this transformation. Way, who serves on the DCIO leadership team at UCLA, has recently set up his senior leadership team and spent his first year at UCLA on vision casting and team building.
The focus of the Digital Campus Roadmap in year two will be on recruitment, onboarding of a program manager or consulting firm, and the proof-of-concept phase of the Roadmap for technology solutions. The initiative will prioritize virtual classrooms, digital twinning, cloud services, API integration, and the creation of a single enterprise platform.
The goal is to create a true integration company that includes sales, design, engineering, and support. UCLA aims to place itself five to seven years ahead of other institutions in higher education and AV technology.
UCLA, the top-ranked public institution in the United States, places a high importance on the AV service, considering it integral to effective teaching and learning. The team structure includes verticals for academics and administration, live events and production needs, design, architecture, project management, operations, finance, signage/communications, an AV Sales Manager, and an AV/IT Training Coordinator.
It's worth noting that public institutions like UCLA operate under policy and process, with decisions made based on established guidelines. In contrast, finances awarded for a project at public institutions are earmarked for that project, while at private institutions, finances can be redistributed to other priorities.
Staff at public institutions are often engaged from the top down and feel proud to work for a state school. The biggest surprise in Joe Way's first year at UCLA was the amount of strategic thinking required for project implementation. Way has already hosted several notable events at UCLA, including the HETMA roadshow, the inaugural Sustainability in AV global conference, and a Times Higher Education global summit.
Before starting the upgrade project, Joe Way aims to create an audiovisual governance model and project charter. His role focuses on strategy and executive-level collaboration rather than "stuff."
For precise details about UCLA’s Digital Campus Roadmap, it's recommended to check directly with UCLA’s official communications, their Information Technology or Office of the Provost websites, or contact UCLA administrative offices involved in digital strategy.
- The Digital Campus Roadmap at UCLA will prioritize technology solutions that include the creation of virtual classrooms, digital twinning, cloud services, API integration, and the establishment of a single enterprise platform, which are essential digital signage features for education-and-self-development in the digital age.
- In line with UCLA's goal of being five to seven years ahead of other institutions in higher education and AV technology, Joe Way is focusing on establishing an audiovisual governance model and project charter, ensuring the events held on the campus, such as the HETMA roadshow and the Times Higher Education global summit, incorporate advanced digital signage, reflecting the university's commitment to cutting-edge technology.
