Dive Brief:
- Gender and racial diversity in the CIO pipeline is low, according to research by the Center for Higher Education Chief Information Officer Studies.
- Campus Technology reports that mentoring and on-the-job training may help foster interest in the top position and prepare promising tech leaders for the job.
- Giving young and mid-career professionals access to cross-rotation programs may also help, as they’ll need experience outside of the IT department to be successful CIOs, according to the article.
Dive Insight:
Chief information officers are often expected to be the tech innovation voice in an institution. The role has become even more important as technology has filled a larger place on college and university campuses. While some institutions have brought new people on staff to lead the innovative ed tech initiatives, others have expected CIOs to adapt and grow with the position. When it comes to diversity, Campus Technology reported just 9% of CIOs and 2% of lower-level tech leaders as non-white. There are more women in the field, but diversity overall is troubling and should be kept at the forefront of future CIO mentoring.