The quarterly news update, theEnterprise, launched its first publication in January 2006. Eighteen issues later, I am writing the last issue. The move to a system-wide IT model now calls for a communication model on a larger scale. EIS news going forward will come out as news articles along with all other IT Shared Services (ITSS) related communications. A new website for ITSS is in the early stages of being developed and news items are regularly being posted there. The web site's address is http://it.untsystem.edu. In the near future you will be able to subscribe via RSS to news feeds from the site.

Another significant change that will occur within the next several months will be the incorporation of the EIS web site (http://eis.unt.edu) as a sub site under the ITSS parent site. The EIS site will continue to have the same features but will conform more closely to the style of the parent site.

It's a new year and we have much to look forward to in 2012, but also much to be thankful for in 2011. Over the past year, we have experienced quite a bit of change, with more to come relating to IT Shared Services and the implementation of IT Governance but we've also had many accomplishments and seen many successes. As you read through this quarterly report, you will see some of the more recent accomplishments, which really highlight the effective work coming out of the Enterprise Application (EA) division, such as the significant effort to implement the State mandated regulations affecting requirements for student vaccinations for meningitis and the successful pilot of the distributed learning software called Blackboard Learn.

When a student graduates from the University of North Texas, their journey through the academic halls of higher education may end, but their relationship to the university continues, some might argue, forever. The stewardship of the relationship between alumni and their university is a primary focus of the Division of Advancement at each UNT System (UNTS) institution and crucial to the universities' success.

"The Division of Advancement is dedicated to inspiring the public to become involved with the growth and progress of UNT. The division accomplishes this by establishing and continuing mutually beneficial relationships that result in donations of time, talent and treasures." (Mission statement on the UNT Office of the President website)

As of January 1, 2012, incoming Texas college students under 30 years old must be immunized against bacterial meningitis before they enroll in an institution of higher education. The new law mandates that first-time college students, students transferring from another institution and students who are re-enrolling following a break of at least one fall or spring semester be inoculated against the illness. Senate Bill 1107, passed during the 82nd Legislative Sessions, expands a previous requirement that applied only to college students new to campus housing. Under the law, new college students must have received the vaccine within the past five years. Proof of inoculation is required 10 days before the start of the spring semester as the vaccine is considered effective several days after it is administered. Limited exemptions are specified in the state law.

The end of January 2012 reveals the UNT System's IT Shared Services (ITSS) and UNT Denton's University Information Technology (UIT) as more settled in terms of organizational changes that have been occurring.

An InHouse article was published on January 24th that gives a concise summary of recent changes, particularly in relationship to the separation of the UNT Computing and Information Technology Center having resources allocated between UNT System and UNT Denton. The article can be found at http://inhouse.unt.edu/computer-information-and-technology-center-reorganized.