UCLA is navigating a period of financial pressure that calls for thoughtful and strategic action. The plans set forth in our 2023–28 Strategic Plan recognize the need to transform how we deliver services to better support our mission of education. Goal 5 of that plan — strengthening institutional effectiveness — remains a cornerstone of our future. We have recently taken a major step forward in this effort with the launch of One IT, a timely and ambitious initiative aimed at aligning and modernizing UCLA’s digital services by consolidating IT resources across campus under a single operating model. Other consolidation efforts associated with administrative functions are also being developed as part of Goal 5.
To give you a sense of the need for this restructuring effort, UCLA had been operating 40 separate IT units, more than 70 distinct networks and 39 email systems. This fragmented landscape has improved over the years as individual consolidations have occurred, but significant cyber risk, service inconsistencies and limits on our ability to innovate at scale remain. One IT addresses these challenges through a structured, three-phase approach: Consolidate, Rationalize and Transform.
Not only will it strengthen security and reduce risk, it will promote equity in digital access and experience and enable more strategic investments to support our academic mission.
Through campuswide governance, One IT seeks to find the right balance between providing shared services that will better enable collaboration and economies of scale, while supporting the unique needs essential to academic and research priorities. UCLA Health IT is not part of this initiative, as it has already undergone a similar transformation.
On Sept. 8, IT leads and their teams began reporting to Digital and Technology Solutions while maintaining a dotted-line relationship with their current units. This model ensures continuity of local service and responsiveness to academic and operational needs during the rationalization assessment phase. There will be no immediate changes to day-to-day IT support or staffing.
Now through June 2026, we’ll evaluate and rationalize IT capabilities across campus, working closely with unit leaders. The final phase will implement a modern, scalable shared services model that reflects the needs of our community.
I understand that change of this scale may bring questions and concerns. Regular updates will be provided via the One IT website, town halls, office hours and transition toolkits to support staff and managers.
One IT is more than an operational shift — it’s a commitment to empowering Bruins with the tools and infrastructure they need to do their best work. Thank you for your continued dedication and partnership as we build a more secure, resilient and innovative UCLA.
Sincerely,
Michael J. Beck
Administrative Vice Chancellor
