IT Service Status
Delivering a Portfolio of Integrated Services
IT Services and Support
IT Services and Support is a customer-focused organization that works across the University to support students, faculty, and staff in their use of technology. The following teams work closely with students, faculty, staff, and researchers, technology leaders in the schools and units, and colleagues in the University Libraries and Searle Center for Advancing Learning and Teaching, to deliver a portfolio of integrated services.
Reporting Units
Emerging Technologies and Digital Solutions
Emerging Technologies and Digital Solutions explores emerging technologies and develops solutions that advance teaching, learning, research, engagement, and University operations. By connecting people, processes, applications, and platforms across Northwestern, the team improves user experiences, supports a sustainable technology ecosystem, and creates opportunities for scholarly and institutional innovation.
IT Communications
IT Communications implements change management initiatives to inform the University community of new and changing technology and raise awareness of Northwestern IT services and resources that support the University's academic, business, and research activities.
Research Computing and Data Services
Research Computing and Data Services supports faculty, student, and staff researchers by providing data science and visualization, computing, and data-management expertise and related services. The team delivers training to develop skills, support researchers via one-on-one consultations, and partner on research projects. Services include research data storage, data-transfer tools, high-performance computing facilities, access to research software, and cloud-based infrastructure.
Teaching and Learning Technologies
The team fosters innovative learning experiences through the exploration of effective teaching techniques and technologies. Services include Canvas, the primary platform used to facilitate teaching, learning, and collaboration; individual consultations and workshops; instructional design for blended and fully online courses; and the development of innovative infrastructure and tools.
Technology Support Services
Technology Support Services provides direct support to the Northwestern community to help our students, faculty, and staff access and use Northwestern’s wide variety of technology offerings. We lead service delivery efforts and continuous service-improvement practices across campus by partnering with technology leaders and practitioners across campus. We also provide services and thought leadership in the management of fundamental IT processes for central IT and distributed IT units across all Northwestern campuses.
Emerging Technologies and Digital Solutions
Emerging Technologies and Digital Solutions explores emerging technologies and develops solutions that advance teaching, learning, research, engagement, and University operations. By connecting people, processes, applications, and platforms across Northwestern, the team improves user experiences, supports a sustainable technology ecosystem, and creates opportunities for scholarly and institutional innovation.
More information
The team continues the innovative work with faculty it is known for, including the Emerging Technologies Lab in the University Library, where faculty and students work hands-on with VR and AR, photogrammetry, and motion capture. It also brings together software developers from across IT Services and Support to develop applications, integrate systems, enhance platforms, and apply emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence and automation. The team works closely with faculty, researchers, libraries, academic units, and IT service and platform owners to develop digital solutions aligned with University priorities. Contact the team with a problem to solve, an idea to prototype, or a technology to try.
Contact Emerging Technologies and Digital Solutions
IT Communications
IT Communications implements change management initiatives to inform the University community of new and changing technology and raise awareness of Northwestern IT services and resources that support the University's academic, business, and research activities.
More information
We develop and execute Northwestern IT communications strategies, including consulting with internal partners and other University business and administrative units to support communications initiatives. We are also responsible developing and distributing the Northwestern IT newsletter and providing guidance on the internal and external use of the Northwestern IT brand. Additionally, our team manages Northwestern IT website content, architecture, and design, and administers site contributor access and training.
Contact IT Communications
Research Computing and Data Services
Research Computing and Data Services supports faculty, student, and staff researchers by providing data science and visualization, computing, and data-management expertise and related services. The team delivers training to develop skills, support researchers via one-on-one consultations, and partner on research projects.
More information
Our services include high-performance computing facilities, access to research software, cloud-based computational infrastructure, research data storage, data-transfer tools, and data science and visualization support.
Contact Research Computing and Data Services
Teaching and Learning Technologies
The team fosters innovative learning experiences through the exploration of effective teaching techniques and technologies. Services include Canvas, the primary platform used to facilitate teaching, learning, and collaboration; individual consultations and workshops; instructional design for blended and fully online courses; and the development of innovative infrastructure and tools.
More information
We support instructors in their use of the Canvas Learning Management System through individual consultations and workshops, as well as expert course-development guidance. We collaborate with other units to support digital accessibility initiatives, inclusive teaching and active learning practices, and promote innovation. We also host the annual TEACHx conference to showcase academic excellence and foster experiments in teaching.
Contact Teaching and Learning Technologies
Technology Support Services
Technology Support Services provides direct support to the Northwestern community to help our students, faculty, and staff access and use Northwestern’s wide variety of technology offerings. We lead service delivery efforts and continuous service-improvement practices across campus by partnering with technology leaders and practitioners across campus. We also provide services and thought leadership in the management of fundamental IT processes for central IT and distributed IT units across all Northwestern campuses.
More information
Technology Support Services consists of three primary support units:
- The IT Service Desk provides first-level technology support to the Northwestern community via phone, email, and a library support center.
- Endpoint Device Management offers desktop support services by contract and offers desktop-as-a-service infrastructure to campus service-delivery units.
- IT Service Management enables organizational capabilities for effective and efficient service delivery, coordination, and communication.