In the face of rapidly changing technology, increasing security risks, and the need to support the university's strategic goals in teaching, learning, research, and administration, upgrading and modernizing IT infrastructure is essential. By continuously improving and securing our cyberinfrastructure, we ensure it can effectively support the university's mission and adapt to future challenges.

Below list critical projects that we are currently working on.

AI Initiatives

  • LTS AI Initiatives Project Portal: https://lehigh.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/LAI/overview?homepageId=128680228
  • AI Chatbots to be trained on specific website and departmental data
    • LTS Website Chatbot - Launched May 2024
    • Auxiliary Services Chatbot
    • HR Chatbot
  • AI Research Concierge Service Phase I
  • ERAC AI Seminar and LVAIC AI Workshop - May 2024
  • Develop LTS Fall AI Seminar Series   

Network Infrastructure

  • Building Network Switch Life Cycle to provide secure network access and in many cases, increased speeds beyond 1 Gig to the desktop.
    • Buildings scheduled for the summer include, EWFM Computing Center, EWFM Library, Linderman Library, Grace Hall, Ideal Office, and Price Hall
  • Improve wireless capacity and coverage
    • Iacocca Hall 2nd floor B and D wings, and 3rd floor D wing, wireless coverage improvement for offices and labs
    • Provide wireless coverage for St Peter's Church to support Creative Inquiry Summer Program
  • Building renovation and networking wiring
    • Continue to support Clayton University Center renovation for wiring, wireless, and emergency phones
    • Connect St Peters Church to the Lehigh network via fiber to support Creative Inquiry Summer Program.
  • Publish LTS Infrastructure Life Cycle and Fundings Dashboard on LTS Website

Data Center

  • Life cycle 3 15-ton Computer Room Air Conditioning (CRAC) units that were 20+ years old with 2 30-ton modern units.

Security

  • Baker Tilley Secure Research Cloud Audit
  • Discontinue insecure Duo MFA factors such as phone calls, text messages, and token fobs. - Completed May 2024

Operations Excellence (Observability, Operations, and Process Improvement)

  • Migration to Icinga 2 environment for modern monitoring for our infrastructure.
  • We continue to work with departments across the university to implement Atlassian suite as an Enterprise solution for project and ticket management. Meeting with UCPA, HR, etc

Supporting Teaching, Learning, and Research

  • Deploying ODIN research environment in the cloud.
  • Upgrading Kubernetes and JupyterHub versions in support of custom JupyterHub and RStudio environments.
  • Expanding access methods beyond VDI and set up new Secure Research Cloud projects that leverage the environment.