October 2008 Archives
Over the past six years our Marketing and Communications group has become a vital part of ITS. A common theme I hear from colleagues around the country is the difficulty of communications. Our constituency is large and multi-faceted. It's easy to separate into groups of faculty, students, researchers and staff. The reality though is that each of these groups is very diverse and often overlapping.
Trying to craft messages and promotional material that reach everyone is difficult, as is conveying often complex issues to members of the media, yet as the services we provide become more pervasive it's critical that we find effective ways to communicate. Our MaC group has met this challenge and continues to look for innovative methods to be even more effective in communicating to our community.
I think most of you know that Robin Anderson has announced plans to leave Penn State next Spring. She will explore new territory and devote time to her growing photography interest.
This is wonderful for Robin but both a challenge and opportunity for ITS.
The opening for the position of Director, Marketing and Communications, has been posted for internal applicants and also advertised in national higher educ. job announcement sites. A search committee has been formed and is awaiting applications.
As was done with recent job openings at this level, the search committee will narrow the candidate pool to a very few who will then be asked to participate in multiple interview sessions with various ITS staff and an open public forum.
We expect the process to be concluded and a new Director announced by the end of the first quarter, 2009.
Trying to craft messages and promotional material that reach everyone is difficult, as is conveying often complex issues to members of the media, yet as the services we provide become more pervasive it's critical that we find effective ways to communicate. Our MaC group has met this challenge and continues to look for innovative methods to be even more effective in communicating to our community.
I think most of you know that Robin Anderson has announced plans to leave Penn State next Spring. She will explore new territory and devote time to her growing photography interest.
This is wonderful for Robin but both a challenge and opportunity for ITS.
The opening for the position of Director, Marketing and Communications, has been posted for internal applicants and also advertised in national higher educ. job announcement sites. A search committee has been formed and is awaiting applications.
As was done with recent job openings at this level, the search committee will narrow the candidate pool to a very few who will then be asked to participate in multiple interview sessions with various ITS staff and an open public forum.
We expect the process to be concluded and a new Director announced by the end of the first quarter, 2009.
With all the attention on the current economic conditions I've been asked about the ITS budget, specifically if we are vulnerable to serious losses. The most honest answer I can give is probably not.
There is no certainty as we're tied to the macro economic events just as the rest of the University is. Our enrollment is strong, our applications pool is large, and the University's stewardship of funds is very good. Those all reassure me that the bulk of our budget funding will remain intact.
Some have also asked if we might be vulnerable to the same problems that led UW to eliminate scores of central IT positions? If you'd like to read the UW report on what happened there, it can be found at <http://www.washington.edu/uwtech/workgroup.html >.
Like most central IT units we do provide services for which we charge a fee, and we provide products for which we charge. As a percent of our expenses these recovered amounts are about 23%. Our charge-back systems to collect these amounts are stable and well managed.
Much of this income is derived by immediate payments for purchases made at the Computer Store, or through internal direct billing to University budgets. The amount dependent upon manual billing efforts is very small.
Although it looks like uncertainty will continue in the markets, I think we're well positioned to ride out this period as we have past periods of market unrest, and am convinced the best way for us to proceed is to continue to put our energy into doing the best job we can to provide effective and efficient services that support the University's mission.
There is no certainty as we're tied to the macro economic events just as the rest of the University is. Our enrollment is strong, our applications pool is large, and the University's stewardship of funds is very good. Those all reassure me that the bulk of our budget funding will remain intact.
Some have also asked if we might be vulnerable to the same problems that led UW to eliminate scores of central IT positions? If you'd like to read the UW report on what happened there, it can be found at <http://www.washington.edu/uwtech/workgroup.html >.
Like most central IT units we do provide services for which we charge a fee, and we provide products for which we charge. As a percent of our expenses these recovered amounts are about 23%. Our charge-back systems to collect these amounts are stable and well managed.
Much of this income is derived by immediate payments for purchases made at the Computer Store, or through internal direct billing to University budgets. The amount dependent upon manual billing efforts is very small.
Although it looks like uncertainty will continue in the markets, I think we're well positioned to ride out this period as we have past periods of market unrest, and am convinced the best way for us to proceed is to continue to put our energy into doing the best job we can to provide effective and efficient services that support the University's mission.
