CAS IT Spotlight - Chuck Harris
By Jacob Baynham
In a small office tucked away at the end of a third floor corridor of the Social Science Building, sits a diet Coke, three computers, and a man with a mission.
The simple office belies the complexity of the job of Chuck Harris, IT veteran and systems administrator for the Social Science Research Lab.
Harris looks after three research labs in the Social Science building used by departments throughout the College of Arts and Sciences. The labs offer departments cutting edge technology for research use – from statistics analysis in Sociology to Geography’s complex Global Information Systems.
Harris not only keeps all the technology glitch-free, he also makes sure CAS faculty stays aware of the labs’ resources and demonstrates how the technology can benefit classes. Harris trains instructors when necessary, but is impressed with UM faculty’s technological know-how.
“Most faculty here are relatively savvy,” Harris said. “We try to make sure that we’re answering their needs.”
Harris says the labs do not have a budget of their own, but rather receive a part of departmental budgets. As a means of supplementary funding, the labs have offered workshop opportunities for private parties in the past. Harris says he hopes to see more of these workshops, though only during the summer or other times of low student-use.
“The first mission is teaching,” Harris said.
Harris is returning to the University of Montana this semester after working for three years in data analysis at Salish Kootenai College in Pablo, Montana.
Prior to that he had been working as systems administrator of the Social Science research labs since 1996.
Harris’ true passion is research work.
“What I really enjoy is working with social science research,” he said. “Systems administration came along, and I did that too.”
With the labs up and running at full speed, Harris is planning an open house to show CAS faculty what new technologies are available. The date has yet to be set, he said.
Harris received the Outstanding Staff Award in the spring of 2002. He modestly jokes about it now.
“That was the highlight of my career,” he chuckles. “It’s embarrassing.”
Harris received his BS at Montana State University in Bozeman, and completed his master’s in sociology at the University of Montana in 1995. In the mid ‘90s, Harris worked as a research assistant for the social science labs. During that time he was a key player in linking the labs with the campus network – a huge technological step at the time.
Harris is married with four children, three of them University of Montana-educated. Managing the labs demands a great deal of his energy, but when Harris does see some time off he enjoys camping with his family.