Abstract
As more IT leaders assume a cabinet-level role as chief information officer, colleges and universities with truly effective IT leaders have a strategic advantage. This bulletin analyzes the findings from 229 responses to a national survey of the highest level IT or information management staff at 867 higher education institutions. It describes critical success factors for effective CIO leadership: what CIOs must know, what they must be competent to do and facilitate, and which leadership styles yield positive outcomes.