10/13/95
Bob Lowry (lowrygr@mail.auburn.edu)
STONE TO LEAD TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT AT AUBURN IN INTERIM
AUBURN -- James Stone, executive director of AUÕs Division of Telecommunications/ETV, has been appointed as the university's interim chief information officer, says Provost Paul Parks.
The position was recommended in a report by the 21-member joint faculty- administration Information Technology Planning Task Force. Parks said a search will be launched later in the academic year for a permanent CIO.
"One of the major recommendations that came out of the task force report was to establish the position of chief information officer," he said.
Parks said the development of information technology at all levels of the university is too important even in difficult financial times to postpone the appointment of a chief information officer.
"It's crucial that we bring some central leadership to the development of these programs and get someone in place," he said. "We've been impressed with Jim Stone's management skills and his creativity as a university administrator."
Stone, who has a B.A. from David Lipscomb College and a M.A. in communications from Michigan State University, has been at AU since 1968. He was appointed director of educational television in 1980 and oversaw the creation of the Division of Telecommunications in 1985.
Stone was assigned the role of project manager and principal administrator overseeing the design and construction of Auburn's $9 million telecommunications system. Stone, who has served on numerous university-wide committees, is chair of the university's new Administrative and Professional Assembly.
As CIO, Stone will report to the provost and work with units across campus to coordinate AU's information technology goals, including its use in instruction. He will continue to be in charge of AU's Division of Telecommunications/ETV.
"My role will be one which seeks to focus Auburn's excellent information technology resources in ways that directly address recently announced institutional goals -- especially those needs for change as recommended by the task force," said Stone.
The Information Technology Planning Task Force, chaired by Wayne Alderman, dean of the College of Business, was established in December 1994 to consider how best AU can incorporate information technology to benefit faculty and students. It was composed of representatives from all administrative and academic units on campus.
oct95:AU-stone