President Stephen Jordan today announced a personnel restructuring that is effective immediately.

The restructure eliminates the Division of Information Technology, reassigning its employees to either the Academic Affairs or Administration and Finance division,  and creates a reporting structure that better aligns the IT functionality with the appropriate College division.  View new organizational charts.

“For Metro State to reach preeminence, information technology must become an integrated part of our goals and objectives, instead of standing alone,” says Jordan. "This move will afford the College the opportunity to re-focus on technology and its importance in the College’s role and mission."

Jordan also announced that this restructure is part of a larger college reorganization that will be rolled out over the next few weeks.

The restructure was based on several of the recommendations in the formal report the Strategic Technology Advisory Committee (STAC) provided to Jordan earlier this summer; dialogue with the vice presidents; and consultation with the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. Jordan said this information was also shared and reviewed with the Faculty Senate President’s Council.

“The College has listened to input from a wide variety of sources and has taken that input to heart,” says Interim Vice President of Information Technology Steve Beaty.

The new structure eliminates the Vice President of Information Technology position, and creates two new positions: a chief information officer/associate vice president for academic computing, who will report to Provost Vicki Golich, and a chief technology officer/associate vice president for administrative computing, who will report to Vice President of Administration, Finance and Facilities Natalie Lutes. Beaty will serve in both roles until the new positions are filled.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to build on our existing customer service and to have a more coordinated and coherent strategy for all kinds of technology uses,” Golich says.

“This new infrastructure will help Metro State address the ongoing and rapid technological advances in a more collaborative manner,” adds Lutes.

In addition, a consultant hired by Human Resources will conduct a reorganization analysis. Working with Golich, Lutes and Beaty, the consultant will assess information technology needs as they relate to the campus, and identify the function areas to meet those needs. This analysis will review the existing workforce, the individual tasks positions perform, whether or not they are aligned in the correct area, and if position classifications are accurate. “There will be a potential for positional shift,” says Executive Director of Human Resources Judy Zewe.

If shifts are made or titles are changed, there will be no loss of salary or benefits.

A fiscal element of this restructure includes the process of moving online course, student technology and telephone fees to the College’s base budget so they become part of the usual appropriation and budgeting process. “This will be presented to the Board of Trustees for their approval,” says Lutes.

Jordan thanks the STAC members for their time and efforts on this initiative, including their visits to California State University, San Marcos and Colorado State University. “I believe this new model will allow the College to become more responsive and nimble in addressing our technology needs for business and infrastructure, as well as the academic programs,” he says.