1. Successfully Recruiting and Retaining IT Personnel in Rural Areas

2. Overview Introductions Transformational Change Needed
Dr. Marsha Drennon - President, State Fair Community College
Robert Paulson – VP of Technology Services, State Fair Community College
Donna Liss – CIO, Truman State University
Elliott Kimbrough – Executive IT Director, Lincoln University
Transformational Change Needed
Successful Retention

3. Truman State University
State Fair Community College
Lincoln University

4. Missouri Education State funding at 2001-2002 levels
MO ranks 37th out of 50 on support indicators

5. Transformational Change
IT is not a core competency
Depth and breath of services
Corporate resources
Eliminating institutional silos
Integration of services
Opportunities to blend business principles and academic mission

6. Transformational Change Cont.
Quality of customer service
Accountability
Institutional ownership and value added
ROI – beyond dollars

7. Recruitment Challenges
Rural vs metropolitan
Competition
Advertising costs
Recruiting costs
Salaries
Relocation costs
Retention

9. SFCC Fast Facts Main campus located in Sedalia, Missouri
Sedalia population 20,000
14 county service area
8,896 sq. miles (size of Vermont)
Average household income - $34,596
Agricultural base

10. SFCC Fast Facts Cont. Opened in 1968 Institutional data $27 M budget
3500 head count, 2312 FTE
75% on financial assistance
60% need remediation
3 campus locations
6 extended campus sites, 18 high school locations

11. ** National Average in IT: 85-90% retention
SFCC IT Statistics
Over 800 PCs
Rural faculty, staff and students on dial-up
13.5 IT personnel
96% retention rate over five years **
171 cumulative years IT experience
Remote Banner DBA, System Administrator
** National Average in IT: 85-90% retention

12. Successful Retention at SFCC
National recruiting with relocation
Team building
Stress customer service
Be part of College activities
Corporate resources when needed
Promotional path
Assist other institutions

13. Successful Retention at SFCC Cont.
Part of the community college family
Cool stuff to work on
Good Team – like and respect each other
Can see IT improvements
Helping students and College
Institution looks to us for help

15. Truman Fast Facts Located in Kirksville, Missouri Population 17,200
Only COPLAC institution in Missouri
Population 17,200
All counties in Missouri
Median household income - $26,000

16. Truman Fast Facts Cont. Institution data 32 campus buildings
$75 M budget
5,800 Students
Approximately 830 faculty and staff
32 campus buildings

17. ** National Average in IT: 85-90% retention
Truman IT Statistics
Over 11,000 data ports
100% wireless (250 access points)
Support over 2,000 campus PCs (15% Mac)
28 IT personnel
90% retention rate over past 5 years **
Over 130 students working in IT
All IT personnel on campus are part of ITS
** National Average in IT: 85-90% retention

18. Successful Retention at Truman
Organizational structure advantages and opportunities
“Can-Do” attitude
Support and promote flexible schedules and teleworking
Natural “broadbanding” environment, which allows skill set development in many areas
Organization structure that supports flexible staff, and still addresses separation of duties

19. Successful Retention at Truman Cont.
Institutional advantages and opportunities
Highly selective institution means select students – use them!
Supportive faculty and staff
Strive for 90% customer satisfaction rating

21. Lincoln University Located in Jefferson City, Missouri
Population 35,000
Central Missouri
HBCU Land Grant Institution
Median household income - $30,300
Institutional Size
$45 M budget
2,700 student FTE
450 Faculty & staff

22. ** National Average in IT: 85-90% retention
Lincoln IT Statistics
Support over 800 PCs including 15 labs
Blend of small city and rural population
Virtualized server environment
VOiP technology
Capitol City provides access to Government Officials
10 IT personnel
98% retention rate over five years **
** National Average in IT: 85-90% retention

23. Successful Retention at Lincoln
Recruiting Local Talent
Ties to the community
Entry level positions from University student body
School pride and ownership
Promote Local Economic Advantages
Lower taxes
Lower housing/living cost

24. Successful Retention at Lincoln Cont.
Promote Ecological Advantages
Air quality vs. large city markets
Traffic
Park and recreation
Relocation Package Incentives
Pay for moving
Assign a sponsor
Send relocation package
Remote and commuting options

25. Questions ?

26. Contact Information
Dr. Marsha Drennon –
Robert Paulson –
Donna Liss –
Elliot Kimbrough –