Auburn University's Office of Information Technology endeavors to provide impeccable service to all parts of the university and campus community. We recognize that as a unit, we are only as strong as our members, so we aspire to strengthen our existing staff as well as invite new staff members who have a desire to help us achieve that goal. Please click through this website to see if Auburn OIT is the right fit for you. And if you're ready to apply, you can view a list of Auburn OIT's open positions here. You can also view a list of all open IT Professional positions across campus by clicking here.
George Petrie (1866-1947) was a professor, historian, football coach, and administrator at Auburn University. Petrie retired from Auburn in April 1942 after 53 years of service. In November 1943, he wrote "The Auburn Creed," in which he encapsulated the college's spirit. The Office of Information Technology aims to espouse this creed, and some of our efforts to do so are indicated below.
I believe that this is a practical world and that I can count only on what I earn. Therefore, I believe in work, hard work.
The OIT staff members are no strangers to hard work. Technology changes and issues don't always happen on our schedule. We have staff members who run patches on weekends, stay up late troubleshooting with vendors, and operators who monitor our datacenter around the clock. We often have to work around class and exam schedules as well as administrative schedules for things like scholarships, payroll, registrations, and more. There is an expectation in OIT that we will work hard to accomplish our jobs within the time prescribed. It's not always easy, but we strive for each employee to feel a sense of accomplishment for what they do.
I believe in education, which gives me the knowledge to work wisely and trains my mind and my hands to work skillfully.
OIT employs this belief in several ways. The IT Service Desk provides hands-on education to student employees and facilitates education for students with technical questions. Campus Web Solutions also provides hands-on education to co-op students who design and build websites and web applications. And our Multimedia and Classroom team provides the in-class technology that allows students to learn in an environment that promotes engagement and growth. We also believe in the importance of providing education and opportunities for growth to all of our staff so they can best accomplish their jobs and serve the campus.
I believe in honesty and truthfulness, without which I cannot win the respect and confidence of my fellow men.
With such a wide variety of efforts taking place under the OIT umbrella, it's crucial that our employees be self-starters who are able to work independently, but please know that assistance is always available. We expect employees to be honest and truthful about their work on projects. Our employees should be able to openly ask questions and get assistance as needed. We also encourage employees to discuss any mistakes so they may be rectified quickly. The university also offers retribution-free reporting. We hope this doesn't happen, but if you see an issue in the workplace, you are expected to report it.
I believe in a sound mind, in a sound body and a spirit that is not afraid, and in clean sports that develop these qualities.
Sitting at a desk all day can cause physical and mental strain, and OIT understands the importance of combatting that. We do our best to accommodate the needs of the staff, both at their desks and away from them. You are also welcome to provide your own items such as lumbar cushions, footrests, etc. The OIT building does have several personal communication rooms should you need to deal with a time-sensitive personal matter, and there are vending machines, refrigerators, microwaves, and coffee machines on each floor. We are also proud to be part of a university that offers exceptional benefits that aid in the pursuit of physical and mental health.
I believe in obedience to law because it protects the rights of all.
Many members of OIT have access to sensitive information, either in the form of student data or of financial data and access. In addition to adherence to IT policies, we also expect all IT employees to heed the local and federal laws. If you are new to higher education, we urge you to become at least somewhat familiar with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) as it may play an important part in your position within the university. In some positions, additional training may be required. Auburn is a state-funded, land-grant university so it is our responsibility to ensure that we are being wise stewards of the state and university resources.
I believe in the human touch, which cultivates sympathy with my fellow men and mutual helpfulness and brings happiness for all.
For all the ways that technology can invite distance and aloofness, it's important that OIT staff find ways to establish human connections. One way we do that is by providing face-to-face support via the IT Service Desk as well as appearances at Faculty Orientations, Student Safety Week, and other campus events. We also try to emphasize camaraderie within the unit wherever possible. As mentioned above, being a part of OIT requires work - hard work. But we also want employees to be happy, so we strive to create a meaningful environment.
I believe in my Country, because it is a land of freedom and because it is my own home, and that I can best serve that country by "doing justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with my God."
Auburn University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer, and OIT takes that very seriously. We encourage applicants of any race, sex, religion, color, national origin, age, and ability to apply. Technical skills will be evaluated first and foremost, and we strive for diverse hiring committees to bring a multitude of experiences and ideas to the table whenever applicants are reviewed. For more information on this effort, and others, scroll down this page to see details on OIT's Diversity Action Plan.
And because Auburn men and women believe in these things, I believe in Auburn and love it.
As a service organization for Auburn University, the Office of Information Technology has a significant impact throughout the entire campus community. While each academic unit has dedicated technical support staff, OIT provides services on a broader scale. As you try to decide which position is the best fit for you, please review the different units that comprise OIT.
In the IT business, change is constant, and Auburn OIT is making strides to stay abreast of those changes and serve the campus community the best we can. Those efforts are encapsulated within our IT Strategic Plan which guides the IT efforts and goals for the next 3-5 years. This plan, specifically designed to align with the University-wide strategic plan that was announced in early 2019, will serve all of campus. It is divided into 5 main goals which focus on strengthening our staff and skills, modernizing disaster recovery efforts, better allocating time and funds with cloud migration, and much more. The main goals are to:
We invite you to review this plan to understand our goals and strategies for the years to come. We are constantly trying to grow and improve, and we welcome those who are willing to help us in that effort!
Every year, Auburn University hosts a faculty/staff giving campaign which is a way for us to give a little extra back to our community and our institution. With over 5,000 full-time staff, it's not about how much we can give - it's about how many people are willing to give. And with that in mind, each unit on campus sets a goal for participation in this campaign - not based on money raised, but on individuals who give. The Office of Information Technology has set a unit goal of 85% participation each year, and our employees continue to meet and exceed the goal. Whether it's a specific project, the Employee Hardship fund, or right back into the OIT gift fund, we pride ourselves on giving back to the University. We hope those who join our department will also join in the willingness to serve and give back to the community!
In March 2018, as part of an initiative led by the Office of Inclusion and Diversity (OID), OIT leadership established a team to oversee the creation of a Diversity Action Plan. Through a series of town halls, surveys, meetings, and discussions, that team drafted a plan focusing on these three goals:
Since the creation of this plan, OIT has taken great strides to improve both diversity and inclusion, and we look forward to working with those who can help us in that initiative!
For more information about our efforts and accomplishments, please visit our most recent Year In Review website. It provides data and statistics about our technical efforts throughout the year, our collaborations with other units across campus, as well as some insight into the events pictured above.