Budget Director Natalie Lutes has been appointed Interim Vice President for Administration and Finance, Interim President Ray Kieft announced Tuesday.

Lutes, a Metro State graduate, has been a Metro employee since 1977 and has worked in the budget office since 1979.

"As the chief financial officer for the college, she has full responsibility and authority associated with the position," Kieft said of Lutes.

Despite current budget challenges, Lutes said she remains confident about Metro's future. "Changes are hard now, but in the long run, we'll be better off. I'm confident we'll come out of this budget challenge even stronger than we are now."

In addition to Lute's appointment, Kieft also announced changes within Information Technology. Effective April 1, IT will organizationally become part of the Academic Affairs division. "This will enable IT, the schools and the academic departments to be more integrated and be able to problem solve in a more collaborative environment," Kieft said.

In addition, the daily management and administrative responsibilities of IT will be managed and coordinated by Director of IT Yvonne Flood, who will report to Joan Foster, Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs. "Having an overall manager and coordinator will streamline the reporting and accountability lines within IT," Kieft said.

"Moving IT to the academic side will facilitate ongoing communication and collaboration between IT and the academic departments," Flood said. "Support of the teaching mission of the college has always been and continues to be a primary goal for IT. IT staff are committed to providing not only the latest and greatest technology, but also the highest quality of service to faculty, students and staff."

Foster said the shift will result in better services for faculty, students and staff. "An obvious outcome will be more communication of priorities and needs in both areas. The IT staff and the academic programs will have more opportunity to solve problems and to anticipate development in the programs and in the technology."

"Technology is part and parcel of teaching and learning," Foster added. "The new structure reflects that reality."