Presented at EDUCAUSE Annual Conferences, Leadership, and CIO

As higher education institutions face a growing shortage of IT leaders, some executives question the need for a CIO while others see this role expanding. During this annual Gartner/EDUCAUSE update, we will look at the role of the CIO and how it has evolved, along with current and future institutional needs for IT leadership. We will also look at how institutions can prepare for the next generation of IT leaders and future models for IT governance.

Senior IT leaders in higher education function at the intersection of two worlds. CIOs serve as the interface between the processes and practices of the technological world and the ambiguities and diversity of the academic world. This seminar will review the various roles CIOs are expected to play, as well as how those roles may be changing. We will explore strategies IT leaders can use to align their organizations and themselves with the institutional missions.

While the session is especially designed for new and relatively new IT leaders, experienced CIOs will also find value in it, as it will help them reassess their roles and the their institutions' changing expectations of them. Topics will include what senior institutional leaders want and need from senior IT leaders, relationships with faculty and staff, the importance of customer service, organizational structure, leading as a change agent, and career issues.

This meeting will focus on the challenges facing CIOs, including funding strategies for today's economic reality, keeping pace with expectations, and the CIO’s evolving role. Part of the session will include structured open discussions focusing on current issues for CIOs from a breadth of institutions.