STARC Meeting Summary July 2026
Key Discussion Topics:
NIST Compliance, IT Governance Framework, Assessment of Campus Computing Space and Policy
Meeting Summary:
The STARC committee met for its second time to discuss research data security requirements and IT governance structure. The group discussed three potential approaches for NIST compliant environments: an external vendor cloud solution to be implemented as a pilot for researchers with NIST 800-171 requirements; a separate HPC enclave on premises for high-performance computing and PHI data; and utilization of other UC campus resources, including SDSC. The committee discussed some of the potential costs, benefits, risks and limitations of each option but determined that a more comprehensive approach to understanding the use cases and range of applicable requirements is needed. Building an in-depth comparison of solutions might include a survey of faculty, and this should be undertaken with care to be transparent and regain trust with faculty. Aisha presented a comprehensive IT governance framework proposal that would fold STARC into a broader federated governance model. The proposed structure includes an IT Governance Council with representatives from across campus including Academic Senate, research units, and student organizations. The committee also addressed the need for campus computing space policy, noting that inappropriate and uncoordinated server room creation remains a problem despite previous efforts, leading to agreement that Aisha should lead development a working group to assess the current state and propose new policy guidelines to prioritize efficient use of limited campus resources of power, space and cooling.
