The university has hired a new administrator who may relieve some of the server problems.

After a time-consuming national search, Mihir Chatterji has been hired on an annual contract as the new director of information technology services, filling a gap that has bogged down the technology department since the summer, said Jeff Cooley, vice president for business affairs.

“We want to provide reliable Internet connections for the campus, and that will certainly be a priority,” he said.

The technology department has been understaffed since Bill Witsman, former vice president for information technology services retired on June 17. Two other positions have also been vacant in the technology department, including director of information technology services and systems and director of operations.

Cooley said he hopes that Chatterji will bring a sense of leadership and knowledge to the department, offering a new perspective because he was hired from the outside.

“We can focus more efforts on things that someone with technology background can bring in some new ideas on,” Cooley said.

After Chatterji becomes comfortable in his new campus surroundings, Cooley said he expects he will be able to bring intuitive solutions to the slow response time and unreliability of the Internet.

Though Cooley discussed the server problems with Chatterji, no plans have been formulated yet because Chatterji is still unfamiliar with the campus.

“This someone from outside can come in and take a look see new things,” Cooley said.

Cooley also hopes he will be able to help fill the two vacant positions and improve customer service.

Currently, Chatterji serves as chief information officer stationed at Ivy Tech State College’s central office in Indianapolis. He is responsible for the overall information technology infrastructure across 23 Indiana locations, a press release stated.

He also serves as an adjunct instructor at Indiana State University, teaching three credit hours per semester at graduate and undergraduate levels in computer science and aerospace.

“User services, administrative information systems, technical support, computer operations, network support, microcomputer repair, technology acquisition and telecommunications are all areas I have personally worked in, or with, over the years,” Chatterji said in a press release.

Chatterji will step in on Oct. 17 and plans to commute from his home in Terre Haute, Ind.

“I thought he was the best qualified candidate and could provide the best leadership for the technology department at the university,” Cooley said.