IDG's Computerworld Magazine named OU as one of the top 100 places to work in information technology in 2006, and IT staff say they are working to move up the rankings in 2007.

OU landed at No. 70 in its first appearance on Computerworld's annual list, "100 Best Places to Work in IT." Computerworld measured companies in multiple categories including salary and benefits, diversity, training, promotions and retention.

"In recent years, IT executives have been faced with a number of issues that have made their work environments increasingly challenging," said Don Tennant, editor-in-chief, Computerworld. "Those represented in the 2006 Best Places to Work program have cultivated an environment that recognizes the value of IT workers within the organization."

Computerworld noted that IT employees at OU are eligible for tuition reimbursement and receive family-friendly benefits including flexible schedules, scholarship programs for employees' dependents and on-site day care. IT staff awards bonuses for those who show exceptional performance, community service and leadership.

OU was one of only five universities to make the list published in June, and was one of only seven companies on the list from the south central region (comprised of Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas). The only other Oklahoma company on the list is American Fidelity Assurance, the Oklahoma City insurance company, which ranked fourth.

Anna Biggers, director of business strategy for IT, said the department is committed to continued professional development for its staff.

"In March, we created the IT Business Strategy team, which will lead us in achieving effectively many of our organizational goals including promotions, training and growth opportunities for our staff," Biggers said.

Project Manager Michele McDonald recently joined OU after years spent in corporate environments.

"It's a great atmosphere and the teamwork is wonderful," McDonald said. "I've gotten any kind of training I've needed. For example, I wanted to know how IT works in education, and they sent me to a conference on that."

Graduate student Tyler Lane, who works as the IT representative for the College of Engineering, also said working at OU is superior to corporate IT.

"You have a lot more flexibility in your projects, you have a whole campus full of different departments and you're getting to work with a diverse group of people," Lane said.

Senior project manager Aaron Bighorse, in his 10th year in the department, gave credit to Dennis Aebersold, who joined OU as chief information officer in 2000.

"I think what Dennis provided was a clear vision of what IT needed, but he also gave us a lot of flexibility in how to do things," Bighorse said.

Biggers said getting all 170-plus employees into one centralized location remains IT's only hurdle for the foreseeable future. IT's administrative office is located in Evans Hall, but much of the staff is spread out across campus, in call centers and labs. More than 60 employees work at the mainframe building near Max Westheimer Airport.

"It's challenging for communication," she said.

McDonald said the lack of parking on campus irks her, but that even if she can't find a parking space, she still finds satisfaction with her job at OU.

"It may be a little bit more challenging to run projects because you're not focused on just the dollars, you're focused on the service and what that means to students," she said.
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