Cristian Aldrete
UTS Program Coordinator,
University of Texas at San Antonio
Why Not Publish? Empowering IT Departments through Student and Technology Staff Co-Authored Research
Thursday, October 01, 2026 | 2:15PM–3:00PM MT
Session Type:
Breakout Session
Delivery Format:
Presentation
Many information technology departments play a critical role in supporting academic success, yet they are often underrepresented in scholarly publishing and applied research alongside their own students and staff. This session explores how a structured internship program can be leveraged to create a scalable and sustainable publishing pipeline in which IT professionals mentor student researchers to collaboratively produce applied, institutionally relevant research papers. By embedding research and writing into internship experiences, departments can transform operational work into meaningful scholarly contributions. In addition, the session will explore the broader impact of collaborative publishing, including how it elevates departmental visibility, supports institutional mission goals, and strengthens cross-campus partnerships. By engaging students in applied research, IT units can help develop critical thinking, communication and analytical skills that translate into diverse career pathways, including public health, marketing, communications, technology, policy, and academic research. By the end of the session, attendees will leave with a practical framework for implementing a publishing pipeline within their own departments, along with strategies to scale the model over time. This approach not only enhances student success and career readiness, but also positions IT departments as active contributors to the academic and research enterprise.
