Moving beyond version 0.6

As Kathy settles in as interim CIO, she will finalize the IT reorganization plan.

There will be a meeting for IT staff next Friday, the 11th, to outline the next steps. In the meantime, Kathy would like some feedback:

• "One thing I would like feedback on is the 0.6 model with the two areas reporting to a CIO. Also, I would like to add project management to the list of items under Service Management Admin. Is that a good fit?"

Please post your thoughts.

The 4 candidates

The four candidates are scheduled for interviews this week, which is a little faster than I said in my last post.

They are, in alphabetical order:

• Matthew Clay
• Kathy Kral
• Mike Russell
• Doug Turner

The VPs have drawn up a list of questions to ask each candidate. After the interviews, they'll make their recommendation to Dr. Sethna, who will make the appointment.

Interim CIO search update

I just got an update from Dr. Hynes on the interim CIO search.

• Four candidates.
• Interviews this week and early next week.
• Recommendation to Dr. Sethna from the VPs by Christmas break.
  

Interim CIO timeline

A bit more info on the hiring timeline:

• VPs are currently reviewing the applications.
  
  
• Dr. Hynes expects to see:
• interviews with candidates this week,
• a recommendation to Dr. Sethna sometime next week.
  

Interim CIO process

Comment: The way this reads it sounds like the applications will be reviewed but no interviews will be conducted. Is this an accurate interpretation?

Response: I don't know.

Comment: Interviews are not required for an "appointment".

Response: Right, at least for an interim appointment. Even submission of applications wouldn't be required for that, as we see in several current interim positions on campus. PAC just decided to do it that way in this case.

Interim CIO status

The interim CIO position:

• The application period closed yesterday.
  
• I don't know how many people applied.
  
  
• HR is going to send the applications to Dr. Hynes.
  
  
• The VPs will review the applications and make the selection.
  
  
• I hope the VPs will move quickly, but I haven't heard a deadline.

Two items

1. CIO job description

• At Wednesday's open meeting we wondered about some of the preferred qualifications for the position. I speculated that the list was a standard one from the web.
  
• That seems right. Look at what Millersville U in Pennsylvania is asking for:
  chronicle.com/jobs/id.php?id=0000531152-01
  It's much the same, though they do specify a master's degree.

2. A techie asked me by email how would people' responsibilities be determined in the revised structure. I asked how the techie thought it should be done. I have permission to post the response:

• "What I would like to see is a structure that clearly identifies the services to be performed and the number of employees required to support that service.
  
  For example, server administration, it has to be taken into consideration that there are Unix servers and Windows servers. Often times each type of server OS requires a different server administrator. How many servers of both types do we have, how many can be combined (if any), and how many server administrators will be required to keep these servers operational.
  
  Then I would either review job descriptions obtained from HR of all IT personnel to determine who already provide this service or obtain this information from the individual IT Managers of the distributed units.
  
  If there are more IT personnel currently providing server administration than is required under the new IT structure, then a process must be in place to decide who maintains this job and who is moved to a new position.
  
  I believe the following should be taken into consideration when making this decision: the services that the servers provide (whether specialty application servers i.e. banner, Public Safety software, etc or printing and data storage), the skill set required to administer the servers and if you have several individuals closely matched in qualifications, then use years of service to make the final decision."

What do you think about this suggestion? What process do you think we should follow?