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Memorandum
To: President Di Mare
From: Jennifer DeLuna
Date: 8/4/2014
Re: CIO Search Recommendations

President Di Mare:

The Chief Information Officer (CIO) at CSU-Pueblo is a position that spans across the institution. With this in mind our
next CIO should be forward thinking and have the ability to meet our constituents were they are at in the technological
savviness while instilling in them the tools to be successful with the new technological platforms, systems, and softwares
that will be identified to ensure the success on campus. The Chief Information Officer (CIO) should have the bellow
knowledge, Skills, and abilities to help propel CSU-Pueblo into a more technologically advanced institution.

Knowledge:
Strategic Planning: The CIO needs to have knowledge in strategic planning as they are helping the university look ahead
to trends and technological advances that will propel the university to the next wave advancement.
Generalists: The next CIO must possess knowledge of many different softwares, systems, platforms, networks, and open
source. Such systems include but are not limited to Cloud computing which the NMC 2009 Horizon report defines as
(Johnson, Levine, & Smith, 2009) The cloud is the term for networked computers that Distribute processing power,
applications, and large systems among many machines.(Pg.11) The CIO needs to be aware of the privacy risks and how to
combat those as well. Another familiarity that must be present is the restructuring of wireless networks and the
implementation of new wireless networks on campus. The CIO also needs to be aware of our current systems such as Kuali
and how to integrate updates and other systems can collaborate with Kuali. It is also necessary for the CIO be informed
about open source platforms that are also mobile such as uMobile. Aside from technological knowledge they need to
possess some knowledge in budgets, communication skills according to Brian Hawkins(Hawkins, 2004), The executive
teamand ultimately the CIO candidatemust understand that the role of CIO is not about technology itself; rather, it is
about the ability of a campus to achieve its goals and objectives through technology.(Executive Team Involvement, Para 2)

Skills:
Balance: They need to be balanced and understand how to prioritize not only work tasks but life tasks. If they are balanced
they will not only encourage their employees and team to find balance but create a more productive work environment.
Communication: The next CIO needs to have interpersonal and effective communication skills. They need to be able to
communicate and listen effectively in order to lead their teams, collaborators, and administrators. They need to be able to
communicate when they are consulting the administration on IT needs for the campus.

Abilities:
Mentorship: The CIO should have the ability to mentor his or her staff to be forward thinking and seek ways to enhance
their skills. They should have the ability to not only motivate but provide constructive feedback as to ensure they are
reaching their potential. According to Mark Askren ( Askren, 2013), mentors and other peers can provide a positive
influence by encouraging us all to try to reach higher. (P. 1)

Team Building: It is inherit that the next CIO provide a level of leadership that promotes team building, collaboration
which will create a more efficient department. The IT department reaches all parts of the university. To have a team and
collaborative department will ensure all institutional needs are met but that the IT department will have the ability to
implement much needed change on campus with less pushback.

August 4, 2014
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Collaboration: It is essential that the CIO has the ability to engage in collaborative relationships with other units,
departments, and administration. It would be to the benefit of the CIO to be on the presidential cabinet as well as have the
ability to compile reports that not only will be presented to the president but also to the board of governors. As Martin
Baker States (Askren, 2013), The ability to interact with key decision-makers on campus: information technology lends
itself to creating change, but listening to the needs of those on campus is important when making changes or decisions that
will impact them.( What are the most important characteristics of a successful candidate, Bullet 8) In order to create the
change we need on campus this point is key.

The above are suggestions for criteria needed to be a successful CIO on our campus.

Sincerely,
Jennifer DeLuna
Director, Diversity & Inclusion


References:

Askren, M. (2013, June 3). The CIO: Defining a Career for the Future (EDUCAUSE Review). Retrieved August 4, 2014, from
Educause.edu: http://www.educause.edu/ero/article/cio-defining-career-future

Hawkins, B. (2004, Nov/Dec). A Framework for the CIO Position. EDUCAUSE Review, 39(6), 94-103.

Johnson, L., Levine, A., & Smith, R. (2009). The 2009 Horizon Report. Austin, Texas: The New Media Consortium.

CONFIDENTIAL DRAFT