The Role of the CIO

The Chief Information Officer

• Provides the leadership and serves as the focal point for achieving a shared vision throughout Southern Miss concerning how we will leverage information technology to achieve our mission and goals.
• In collaboration with students, faculty and staff, develops a strategic plan for the use of information technology based on the University's Strategic Plan.
• In collaboration with the IT Advisory Councils and the IT Board of Directors, develops information, technology policies and standards necessary to achieve an integrated technology and information environment.
• Develops entrepreneurial strategic relationships with internal and external partners to achieve information technology goals.
• In collaboration with the IT Board of Directors and IT Advisory Council, creates a resource acquisition and management strategy to provide needed capital and operational investments in information technology infrastructure and services.
• Manages centralized/institutional information technology services and operations in an efficient and customer focused manner.
• In collaboration with the IT Advisory Council and the IT Board of Directors, ensures that both centralized and decentralized services support an integrated information environment.

Operational Responsibilities/Authority

• Reviews and approves the scope of services and resource allocation for all centrally funded IT budgets.
• Reviews and approves IT procurements in excess of $15,000.
• Develops strategic relationships/contracts with the private sector which will be used to leverage the overall technology procurement authority of Southern Miss.