Dive Brief:
- Content knowledge and technical expertise were long sufficient for lower-level IT staff members, but with an increasingly service-oriented IT culture, soft skills are becoming more important.
- Campus Technology reports longtime staffers may need mentoring and opportunities for retraining to pick up on the new requirements of the job, including flexibility with the regular changes in user expectations.
- As the business changes, IT departments should consider taking advantage of the classes offered on their own campuses to build out the skill sets of their staff members, and as new positions are created to meet the new needs of the organization, making sure staff members see a path of growth available throughout their career is critical to keeping people happy.
Dive Insight:
Campus IT departments are at a distinct disadvantage in the hiring market as IT professionals can often find significantly more money in the corporate world. But surveys show the low pay can be balanced out with a positive work environment and good benefits.
Educause noted workforce hiring and retention as the No. 4 issue in higher education IT this year, acknowledging the skills gap that is making it hard to find qualified people as well as the retention issues faced by colleges and universities. This year, Educause recommends divesting, reinvesting, and differentiating. Once old technologies are set aside to free up resources for what is new, departments should consider reinvesting in staff, who are dealing with major changes in their industry.