Tech Pros

In many organizations, audio-visual (AV) spaces evolve room-by-room—resulting in inconsistent user experiences, higher support burden, and slower deployments. This session shares a practical approach to AV space standardization based on our in-progress standardization initiative: defining room “archetypes,” establishing baseline technical and user-experience standards, aligning cross-functional stakeholders (IT, AV, facilities, procurement, and web/UC partners), and creating documentation that enables repeatable builds and smoother operations.

Presentation and discussion around how to reduce being a CAVE leader (Conventionally Against Virtually Everything) when getting feedback, and criticism, understanding emotional intelligence, leading with compassion, and dealing with team dynamics.

In the midst of the dynamic sessions and networking opportunities at the Tech Pros + Web Pros Conference, attendees can sometimes find themselves overwhelmed by the constant activity. To provide a refreshing change of pace, I propose designating a conference room as a dedicated board game retreat station. This space will serve as a sanctuary for participants to step away from the busy environment, offering them a chance to unwind, reconnect with colleagues, or enjoy some quiet time alone.

The transition from peer to leader is one of the most destabilizing and under-supported moments in a professional career. Organizations often promote high performers because of technical expertise, institutional knowledge, or relationship strength—but rarely provide guidance on how to fundamentally redefine those same relationships.

Across the Commonwealth Campuses, classroom technology must do more than function — it must be predictable, supportable, and aligned with instruction. In this interactive session, the Classroom Technology Solutions (CTS) team will begin with a concise overview of our service offering: how we consult, design, and coordinate projects for campus classrooms across the state.

We will outline how our service and standards reduce fragmentation and long-term support costs; and how collaboration with campus IT teams ensures classrooms are built to last.

Penn State is launching a leadership-funded portfolio of AI services in 2026 to equitably serve its students, faculty, and staff. Anchored by a university-wide AI literacy campaign, the initiative pairs AI access with the knowledge to use it effectively. Supporting tools include nebulaONE, a multi-model AI platform, and centrally managed premium licenses for ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini — all delivered within Penn State's security and governance framework.

Penn State IT’s OST strategy is transforming how services are delivered, but the hardest part of modernization is rarely technical. It’s navigating competing priorities, local ownership, and uncertainty about change. This session explores how principles from the best selling business book Getting to Yes can help IT professionals negotiate adoption of shared services without creating friction or resistance.

Session Type: Breakout Session / Leadership & Culture Track
Audience: IT leaders, managers, team leads, organizational change practitioners
Abstract
As IT organizations scale, merge, and restructure, the human element often becomes the first casualty. Processes are optimized, org charts are redrawn, and teams are asked to collaborate across new boundaries—yet the relationships that make collaboration possible rarely receive the same level of attention.

This session explores how to intentionally align initiatives/projects/services to institutional strategic plans, creatively communicate measurable impact in ways that resonate with leadership, and leverage advisory committees as collaborative partners for proactive feedback on a variety of efforts.

The era of the "annual certificate" is over. Following the adoption of Ballot SC-081v3, we have entered a phased reduction of SSL/TLS validity periods: dropping to 200 days in March 2026, 100 days in 2027, and finally 47 days by 2029. Crucially, the Domain Control Validation (DCV) reuse period is shrinking even further—slashing down to just 10 days by the end of this transition. For Penn State's distributed IT environment, this means proving domain ownership is no longer a "once a year" task, but a continuous requirement.