In today’s rapidly evolving Higher Education environment, IT professionals of all types face a unique set of challenges that require constant adaptation and innovation. Navigating these challenges alone is not only daunting but can limit both personal and institutional growth. This is where communities of practice, like SIGUCCS, become invaluable. These communities offer a supportive network where professionals can share experiences, solve problems collaboratively, and develop new skills. More than just a professional network, SIGUCCS is a space where IT professionals can thrive together by leveraging collective knowledge and shared resources. This session is designed to set the tone for the next three days of the conference by highlighting the critical role that communities of practice play in the professional development of Higher Ed IT professionals. Participants will be introduced to the concept of leveraging communities like SIGUCCS to not only address current challenges but also to foster long-term success and innovation in their institutions. Through real-world examples and personal anecdotes from SIGUCCS members, we will explore how these networks have contributed to problem-solving, professional growth, and the development of lasting relationships that transcend individual roles and campuses. The session will feature interactive activities, including group activities foster immediate connections and shared insights. These discussions will allow participants to reflect on how being part of a community has helped them overcome professional challenges and develop innovative solutions in their roles. By the end of this session, participants will have a clearer understanding of the value of communities like SIGUCCS in shaping their professional journeys. They will also be energized and ready to fully engage with the conference, making the most of the networking, learning, and sharing opportunities available. Whether you are a new member or a seasoned SIGUCCS participant, this session will help you tap into the collaborative spirit of the community and leave you poised to make the most of the next three days.
Higher education IT departments face a critical challenge: efficiently onboarding new student employees with limited time while ensuring accessibility and engagement. This presentation introduces a practical approach to training using Arcade Software, combining microlearning principles and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) guidelines. Arcade is an interactive demo platform that allows users to create engaging, personalized product demonstrations quickly and easily, requiring no coding skills. We'll showcase how this method tackles common issues such as time constraints, information overload, and the need for accessible, engaging content.
What does it take for women to thrive in higher ed IT leadership? Despite their contributions, women in IT remain underrepresented in decision-making roles, with a 2023 global survey reporting 14% of tech leadership positions held by women . In higher education IT, systemic barriers such as workplace biases, lack of sponsorship, and pipeline gaps continue to hinder progress . This panel examines these challenges while offering actionable strategies to foster equity and inclusion. Drawing on research and real-world experiences, the discussion will focus on: ● Mentorship and Sponsorship: Research shows that visibility and support are critical for women to advance. Panelists will explore how to champion women through mentorship and advocacy. ● Breaking Barriers: Success stories of women overcoming systemic challenges provide insights into strategies for creating inclusive environments and leadership opportunities. ● Institutional Change: The conversation will address how higher ed IT organizations can improve hiring practices, reimagine leadership pipelines, and embed inclusion into workplace culture. This session is designed for leaders, aspiring professionals, and allies who want to champion inclusion and work towards leadership development that ensures women have a seat at the table and are empowered to lead. Join us to learn how we can collectively build equitable pathways for women to thrive and shape the future of higher ed IT.
Learn how giving colleagues access to data through familiar tools like Excel can enable better decision-making and bring people together through shared and easily accessed information. If you have data from one or more systems that can be exported to csv and access to Excel, you have everything you need to build dashboards that will give both your techy and non-techy staff access to those systems data! Microsoft’s Power Query makes it simple to work with .csv files by letting you filter, sort, split, and clean your data through an easy-to-use interface. Once you’ve set it up, all you need to do is save a fresh .csv file and click “Refresh All,”. Excel will automatically apply the same steps and show the updated data in the familiar Excel interface. This allows even non-techy folks to navigate and access shared data. This session will showcase examples of existing Excel and Power BI dashboards used to elevate data driven decision-making, and then walk attendees through the steps to make their own in Excel using Power Query. You’ll leave with example dashboards and the steps you need to get started building your own Dashboards using Power Query in Excel or Power BI. Elevate your discussions to be more data driven by giving all your staff access to your data in the familiar Excel interface.
Our mission: Unify a university IT environment by consolidating over 600 IT staff utilizing more than eight work management systems onto a single platform. The goal was to harmonize these systems, standardize our metrics, and establish consistent processes to enhance the support we provide to over 40,000 customers.
IT Manager, Client Services, Oregon State University
Passionte about making a difference in the world. Some ways are through IT Service Management (ITSM), leadership, mentoring and sustainabilty.Hobbies - Craft beer and owner of a microbrewery, photography, SIGUCCS!
Communication, though an integral part of life, can be a weird phenomenon for many. Some find it easy to voice their concerns and opinions in such fluidity that it can only be described as second nature. Alternatively, others will find it difficult, often bottling up the things bothering them until they reach their breaking point. In the workplace, actions like this can lead to deeper issues, such as frustration, disengagement, and ultimately, the deciding factor for an employee to leave the company. In this presentation, I aim to explore communication styles in various aspects of the work environment through the lens of the beloved Australian kids’ show, Bluey. I will be delving into helpful communication tips with peers, managers, and other departmental/end-user interactions while referencing lessons taught throughout the show. The presentation aims to be fun and educational, all in the same beat. Together, we will explore the dynamic between characters of the show, how they communicate with each other to solve problems collaboratively, how active listening is portrayed throughout conversations, navigating specific topics, and bringing it back to how this mimics interactions in the workplace. There are many examples throughout the series in which talking things through has helped clear up situations, providing a better understanding so that both parties can move forward. For example, in the episode “Wagon Ride,” the kids, Bluey and Bingo, along with their dad, Bandit, are all heading to the park. On the way, Bandit runs into another dad, Rocko, and they stop to have a conversation, pausing their trip to the park. As the dads talk, this delay upsets Bluey, causing frustration, interruptions in Bandit’s conversation, and unexpected outbursts. Bandit addresses the frustration that both of their actions have caused one another and together they create an action plan to avoid frustration in the future. Effectively communicating allows open dialogue and aids in resolving interpersonal situations, as well as bringing opportunities for learning and collaboration. With Bluey as our guide, we are reminded of the value of open and honest communication and its application in the workplace - not only will everyone feel as if their voices are being heard, but they will feel as if, no matter what, there will always be a way forward.
Throughout the changing landscape of Higher Education, the models for student and classroom support have drastically changed over the past five years. One of those major changes is how we provide supports in the technical sphere, specifically with changed staffing models. One such model eliminated the specialized support technician as dedicated classroom support in lieu of a generalized support staff which not only covered IT and Media Services, but also testing, tutoring and library support. Due to this change, there was an influx of support staff serving as technicians in non-technical roles.
This presentation covers the process for training these non-technical staff into their technical roles to provide support equal to the specialized staff of years past. Topics covered would be how a training plan was developed utilizing staff knowledge-gap surveys, specific training plans, individualized training plans (from both internal and external sources) and industry certifications. Finally, it would cover the ongoing planning for assimilating new staff, as well as how to continuously check that skills remain up to date.
Methodologies used to deploy and configure Windows PCs have evolved significantly. This paper examines a 20-year timeframe at Lehigh University and chronicles changes in tools and techniques, as well as lessons learned. Microsoft 365, Microsoft Intune, Autopilot, and other elements of modern endpoint management are discussed in detail.
Hi, My name is Devin Jayetileke. I work as a library and computing consultant for Lehigh University. In my job i am involved in many projects including working with deployment of both Apple and Windows devices as well as working at our helpdesk providing IT/Library support to faculty... Read More →
The success of any IT team starts with hiring the right people who meet the team's needs, and who can work together to accomplish the team's goals. There is sometimes a focus on adding more human resources to accomplish more as a team, though the focus really should be on identifying, recruiting, and hiring the right people to build team synergy and improve team productivity. This presentation will talk about how to go through the staffing process to identify the right people in order to build a highly productive and successful team.
