Information Technology Services

Lucille Beuthin

Carlos Ramet

department’s two full-time graphic designers could do no more on average than 35 jobs per month; with digital equipment, that number increased to peak output of 100-120 jobs per month.12 In competition with non-profit and commercial organizations, including The Dow Chemical Company and the region’s hospitals, University Communications produced publications in-house — such as Reflections magazine, This Is SVSU, and the undergraduate recruiting publication Viewbook — that received multiple awards for excellence from the American Advertising Federation.

After Frahm’s retirement in 1997, Cecilia Jerome took over as director of Information Services, which was renamed University Communications in 2000 to avoid confusion with the new Information Technology Services department. For four years, the SVSU Foundation and University Communications both reported to Lucille Beuthin, named in 2003 as vice president for public affairs/executive director of the SVSU Foundation. Beuthin redefined the roles of key staff in University Communications based on specializations: Inman was named director of creative services; J. J. Boehm was hired in 2003 as director of media relations; and Jan Poppe joined SVSU in 2004 to direct SVSU’s branding and marketing.

In 2008, following the elimination of the position of vice president for public affairs and the return to an organizational structure with University Communications and the Foundation Office as separate units, University Communications reported to the Office of the President and was under the direct supervision of Carlos Ramet, executive assistant to the president/executive director of public affairs. University Communications evolved away from a strictly service role to brand management, including the formal development of graphic standards. Under Ramet’s leadership, University Communications staff were instrumental in identifying key institutional qualities that were reflected in all university marketing and communications.

Information Technology Services

Administrative support for information technology increased dramatically and went through frequent realignment after 1999-2000 and the appointment of an executive director.

At this time, the director of computer services moved out of the Administration & Business Affairs division and into the new unit, reporting to an executive director. A modest title change in 2000-2001, when the director of computer services became the director of information technology services, suggests increasing dependence on information technology throughout the campus and consistency with how digital operations were advancing everywhere. This trend became dramatically evident in 2006-2007, when the university funded and filled four more IT positions: manager, instructional technology center; manager, network service; coordinator, online teaching and learning; and webmaster (with a modest title change in 2007-2008 to web programmer).

In 2008-2009, the line up changed again, eliminating the coordinator of online teaching and learning and the web programmer. The new look included positions for an executive director of information technology; a director of information technology services; a manager of Instructional Technology Center; and a manager of network services.