CANTON – Following a cost-cutting policy from Albany, St. Lawrence County's two State University of New York campuses have hired and will share a new chief information officer.

SUNY Potsdam and SUNY Canton will also seek to hire a shared chief technology officer, a new position for both campuses.

Kyle A. Brown, a 2003 SUNY Potsdam graduate and the former Director of Information Services at SUNY Canton, has been appointed CIO for both campuses. He will also oversee the Computing and Technology Services Department at SUNY Potsdam.

“It is an excellent move for both campuses to have one director who will combine our strengths,” said Shared Vice President for Business Affairs and Administration Natalie L. Higley. “The newly-created position will help us, as we look to expand the technological infrastructure on both campuses.”

The two colleges are investigating the creation of a shared services center, which could benefit other North Country SUNY institutions by sharing expertise, providing efficiency and expanding service offerings.

Brown has been director of information services and director of SUNY Canton OnLine. He will dedicate half of his time to both colleges, and will report to Higley. Brown is also a member of the SUNY Information Technology Transformation Team, as well as the Chancellor's Online Learning Advisory Group.

The shared positions are in line with the policy of SUNY Administration in Albany for SUNY campuses to find ways to share staff and services as a cost-cutting measure. The proximity of the Canton and Potsdam campuses, about 10 miles apart, have made them a focus of the policy, which was taken as far as suggesting the campuses share a single president, a plan both schools roundly rejected.