Leadership Curriculum

The USG IT Leadership Curriculum

The curriculum is intended to be a guide in the development of various aspects of IT leadership.  It is flexible, and participants can fulfill the requirements through any legitimate means supported by their CIO.   The University System of Georgia and the campus CIO’s collaborate to develop and share leadership development workshops and experiences which address elements of the curriculum.  Students may also participate in development opportunities that are more formal in nature, such as certification training, or EduCAUSE workshops that address many aspects of the curriculum.

Area 1: Technical Acumen

IT leaders need a broad base of technical understanding and skills to make decisions and effective lead IT organizations.   IT leaders should possess a strong technical knowledge in the following areas:

1. Disaster Recovery/Business Continuity Planning and Tools
2. Security Plans and Tools
3. Networks: LAN, WAN and Mobile.
4. Computer Center facilities, Servers and Storage Systems
5. Instructional Technology Systems and Tools
6. Emerging and Disruptive Technology

Area 2: Higher Education Business Acumen

IT leadership should have a strong understanding of the business of higher education including how institutions are organized, functional areas, and their interdependencies.  In addition, an understanding of policies, laws and standards impacting each area is also important to providing effective IT services that support these areas.  Curriculum topics include:

1.  Business Affairs & Higher Education Finance
2.  Academic Affairs
3.  Student Affairs
4.  Development & Fundraising
5.  Athletics
6.  Auxiliary Enterprises
7. Government Relations
8. USG Policies & Law

Area 3: CIO Skills Development

In addition to demonstrating technical and business acumen, CIOs must possess key skills which allow them to effectively influence, manage, and operate in a complex environment.  Relevant skills include the following:

1. Interpersonal/Soft Skills
   The development of skills for effective interpersonal communications
2. Organizational Management
   A foundation of understanding relating to  organizational theory.
3. Decision Making
   Decision making theories and frameworks for making complex decisions.
4. Contracts & Negotiations
   A basic understanding of contracting in the USG,  how to write good contracts, the non-negotiable items,  and negotiating on things other than price. 
5. Policy Development
   How to develop, write, evaluate, approve, and implement IT policy.
6. Project/Portfolio Management
   How to develop and manage an IT project portfolio.
7. Business Process Improvement
   Effectively using business process improvement methods and tools.
8. Human Resources Management
   Effectively managing IT’s most valuable asset. 
9. Planning, Execution, and Assessment
   How to effectively plan for IT, execute projects, measure progress, and assess outcomes.
10. Communications Management
    Developing and executing effective communications plans.

Area 4:  Current Issues in Higher Education and Practicum

1. Current issues in higher education.
   Demonstrating awareness of current issues in higher education is important to understanding the external and internal forces that move the academy to action.  The effective leader will also have an understanding of local, state, and federal politics that involve higher education.  There are many ways to develop a working knowledge of current issues.
2. Practicum
   Building your world-view and perspectives on IT issues is important to developing leadership abilities.  This requirement is designed to encourage participation in an activity to observe/learn/reflect on IT Leadership through genuine engagement with a CIO or HE Leader at another institution. The exact form this practicum takes is very flexible and could include: a job shadow, established mentor or coaching relationship outside of the candidate’s current institution.

Area 5 Optional : Research Administration and Facilitation Acumen

This optional curriculum area is appropriate to aspiring IT leaders who seek affiliation with research institutions. CIO’s at the USG’s research institutions are good sources for identifying knowledge and skills development appropriate to leadership roles in these institutions.  These additional competencies include:

1. Grants Administration
2. Legal Topics on Research
3. Technical Support and Organization Topics

Last updated: 2/10/2015