Professional Development and Articles, Papers, and Reports

This ECAR case study complements the 2008 ECAR study by Philip J. Goldstein, Leading the IT Workforce in Higher Education. Views of the Top: Rising IT Leaders Discuss the CIO Position in Higher Education looks at the role of higher education’s CIOs from the perspective of 13 rising IT leaders. As part of its broad research of IT leadership in higher education, the EDUCAUSE Center for Applied Research organized two focus groups of mid-career IT executives to discuss the role of the CIO in higher education, to gain insights into the factors that drive individuals to aspire to the CIO role, and to evaluate how well higher education prepares its future leaders. This case study reports the results of those important discussions.

Citation for this work: Goldstein, Philip J., and Judith A. Pirani. “Views of the Top: Rising IT Leaders Discuss the CIO Position in Higher Education” (Case Study 5). Boulder, CO: EDUCAUSE Center for Applied Research, 2008, available from http://www.educause.edu/ecar.

Developing a network of professional contacts creates an effective support system for information sharing.

This ECAR case study complements the 2008 ECAR study by Philip J. Goldstein, Leading the IT Workforce in Higher Education. Developing the IT Workforce at the University of South Australia describes both the commitment of the University of South Australia (UniSA) to its workforce and the information technology organization’s successful effort to create and foster a high-performing IT team. Since its formation in 1991, UniSA faced exceptionally stiff challenges in transforming itself from a technical institute and college of advanced education into a comprehensive research-oriented university. This evolution brought with it workforce misalignments in both the academic and professional staff. With its longstanding and explicit commitment to equity and a great deal of foresight, UniSA’s leaders have established the institution’s reputation as an employer committed to the well-being of academic and professional staff even in the face of major competition in the turbulent financial environment and the local employment market.

Increased openness, two-way dialogue, and blurred distinctions between experts and amateurs have combined with numerous technology tools for dialogue, personal expression, networking, and community formation to “remake” conferences, influencing not only how attendees participate in but also how organizers host conferences today.

Simulating an external department review at the imaginary Highhopes College gave IT staff at Skidmore College a very real opportunity for professional development.

The author discusses the importance of EDUCAUSE members volunteering their time and service to the profession, that "efforts put forth by volunteers not only benefit the community but also provide rewards to the individual and to his or her institution."

This series is comprised of articles written by women on the topic of "Women in Technology,"

When it comes to professional development, one size doesn’t fit all—a broad range of professional development activities better serves the institution.

A review of current thinking on mentoring reveals a shift in responsibility to mentees to determine their developmental needs.

Constant change in higher education means that those aspiring to the CIO role must explore new avenues of flexibility and involvement to prepare for the future.