NC State CIO Navigates IT ⁢Challenges, Research Funding and AI

⁣ ‌ updated ​May‌ 31, 2025

Marc Hoit, vice chancellor for information ‌technology and chief information officer at North Carolina State University‌ (NCSU), ⁢has witnessed ample changes as joining the university in 2008. Leaving his interim⁤ CIO position at the University of Florida, Hoit took on the challenge ⁢of centralizing NCSU’s ⁤IT operations.

Initially managing a department ‍of ‌210‌ with a⁤ $34 ⁣million budget, Hoit now oversees a larger team with a $72⁢ million budget, ​serving a student‌ body of⁣ nearly 40,000. His responsibilities⁢ include supporting both the university’s general IT needs and its research ​and academic computing initiatives.

Hoit⁤ told InformationWeek that the move ⁤to centralize IT functions was ​intentional. “They wanted a lot of the ⁤IT to be centralized,”⁢ Hoit said. “We had a ⁤lot ​of pieces and had⁣ to decide how ‌much we could centralize⁤ … It balanced out nicely.”

Despite rapid technological advancements, hoit maintains a⁢ grounded perspective. He ⁤believes the core ⁢principles of​ IT remain ⁤constant. “Networking is networking,” he said, emphasizing the enduring ⁢need ‍to register students,‍ provide classes, and issue ‌grades.

Impact of Federal Policies on University Research

Federal funding cuts‌ have significantly impacted research universities. Hoit noted that while some may favor ​reduced goverment spending, universities ⁣already ‌bear a considerable ‍portion of research ‌costs. He cautioned that further cuts could strain university resources,‌ perhaps affecting the acquisition of expensive equipment.

NCSU benefits from⁣ a diverse research ⁢funding portfolio, including industry partnerships, which provides some ⁤insulation from⁤ the ‌most severe impacts. Hoit also noted that ⁤tariffs imposed ⁤by ​the ⁣previous administration prompted vendors to shift manufacturing to the U.S. or countries with lower tariffs.

The COVID-19 pandemic also highlighted vulnerabilities in the global supply chain, teaching valuable lessons about relying⁣ on ​integrated and efficient systems.

Talent Pool and the rise of AI

While NCSU ​has avoided ⁤enrollment declines seen⁢ at many institutions, a shrinking talent ⁤pool⁣ poses a challenge for‍ IT leadership.Hoit suggests that artificial intelligence could address the talent gap but ⁣might​ also diminish interest in certain tech careers.

Hoit questions⁢ the long-term need for conventional roles like civil engineers, given AI’s potential to automate‍ complex‌ tasks. “If you can write ​a code that gives you the formulas and process ‌steps in order to build a bridge, why do I need an engineer? Why don’t I ‍just feed that to AI and let it build it,” he said.

What’s next

Looking ​ahead, Hoit and NCSU ​will ⁢likely ‌continue adapting to evolving technological landscapes, funding challenges, and the increasing influence ⁣of AI across various disciplines.