Redesigning Enterprise Architecture: Transforming EA into a Strategic Capability

Higher education institutions face increasingly complex technology decisions within highly decentralized environments shaped by multiple IT organizations, competing priorities, and limited coordination. Yet Enterprise Architecture (EA) is often under-leveraged, viewed as bureaucratic oversight, disconnected from delivery, or engaged too late to influence outcomes. At the University of Notre Dame, we are reimagining EA as a high-impact, institution-wide capability aligned with IT stewardship. By shifting from a compliance-oriented governance model to a collaborative advisory approach, we are positioning architects as visible partners who engage early, explore tradeoffs, and guide more intentional, sustainable technology decisions. This transformation goes beyond frameworks, requiring changes in operating models, stakeholder engagement, and organizational culture. In a federated environment, EA must balance institutional alignment with local autonomy while strengthening collaboration across distributed IT organizations and introducing lightweight, enabling governance.

This session shares our strategy, multi-year roadmap, and lessons learned in repositioning EA as a practical, stewardship-focused capability. Attendees will gain actionable approaches to engage architects earlier, align decisions, and evolve EA into a trusted partner that connects institutional strategy with technology execution.