IT open house: what it can do for your organization

Information Technology and the work of technical staff are often mysterious and intimidating to those on the outside looking in. Developing a positive appreciation for IT policies, functions, and responsibilities is important for good customer relations and to obtain broad organizational support, which is so essential in these times of scarce resources and tight budgets.In this paper, we will share how the IT Services unit (IT staff) of the Office of Admissions and Records (OAR) at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, used the fun and relaxed atmosphere of an open house to educate and inform non-technical staff (staff) about our services. Using posters, brochures, presentations, contests, and games, we helped staff understand who we are, what we do, and how our services provide the underpinning for day-to-day departmental operations.Following the event, we surveyed staff in order to assess the success of our efforts. Staff members also volunteered ample informal feedback. We will fill you in on what we learned and why we are convinced that this is an event worth repeating - and worth sharing with our counterparts at other institutions.