About the Center for Managed Technology Services
CMTS provides coordinated support for research environments across infrastructure, software, web, and data.
CMTS organizes work by domain, with each domain contributing to a broader support model for research environments. This structure helps research teams access the expertise they need in a more coordinated and sustainable way.
This approach helps research teams spend less time managing technical complexity and more time focused on research.
CMTS is designed for research environments that need ongoing technical support, not one-time assistance. It helps institutions and research teams access specialized expertise in a way that is more consistent, measurable, and sustainable over time.
Instead of requiring every research unit to build separate technical capacity on its own, CMTS brings together shared expertise across multiple domains. That support can help improve continuity, reduce duplication, and strengthen research operations.
CMTS complements central technology functions by helping implement, coordinate, and sustain technical work within research environments. The goal is to reduce operational burden on researchers while improving long-term support for research activity.
Why It Matters
Research teams often need support across infrastructure, applications, data, web, and related operational needs. CMTS helps make that support easier to access by organizing work through defined domains and coordinated execution.
For researchers, that means less time spent navigating technical complexity and more time focused on research, collaboration, and outcomes.
For institutions, it means a more sustainable way to support research environments with coordinated expertise and clearer planning.
CMTS provides a more structured and sustainable way to support research at scale.
How CMTS Works
CMTS operates as a system-of-systems that delivers coordinated human capital through structured service blocks. Service blocks are aligned to specific domains and are not interchangeable. All domains operate together to support complete research environments.
CMTS structures capacity by domain but delivers support as an integrated system across all domains. This helps research teams receive connected support across multiple areas instead of disconnected work from separate functions.
Each domain contributes specialized expertise, but the model is designed so those areas work together to support real research needs over time.
- Work organized by domain
- Support scoped within specific areas of expertise
- Cost-recovery delivery
- Shared expertise across domains
- Coordination across infrastructure, software, web, and data
- Support aligned to research environments
- Long-term lifecycle support
What CMTS Is Not
CMTS is designed specifically for research environments and differs from more general technology functions.
- Not central IT
- Not a help desk
- Not a compliance office
- Not a consulting firm
- Not a collection of disconnected offerings
Service Block Clarification
Service blocks represent 52 hours of work within a defined domain. Each block is scoped within that domain’s area of expertise.
This structure helps research environments receive work from the domain best suited to the need, while still benefiting from coordination across the broader CMTS support model.
Guiding Principles
These principles shape how CMTS supports research environments.
People before tools
Strong research support depends on the people needed to plan, implement, maintain, and improve technology environments over time.
Shared capacity over duplication
CMTS helps institutions reduce duplication by sharing technical expertise across research environments instead of rebuilding the same capacity in multiple places.
Compliance built into the work
Accessibility, security, and related requirements are addressed as part of the work rather than treated as separate steps later.
Clear delivery and accountability
The model supports transparency, clearer planning, and responsible cost recovery through defined work structures.
Sustainability over short-term fixes
Research environments need support that can adapt as staffing, funding, technology, and institutional priorities change.
Collaboration across domains
Research work often crosses technical boundaries. CMTS is designed to connect those areas instead of treating them as separate tracks.
Mission
Support research environments through coordinated expertise delivered across defined domains.
Vision
Advance a research ecosystem where technical support is shared, coordinated, and sustainable.
Core Values
- Collaboration across domains
- Stewardship of shared expertise
- Innovation with accountability
- Access to specialized support
- Measurable impact
- Sustainability by design
