Fifty years of service to the IT profession
The Foundation’s mission is to promote information technology research and education and to encourage and support individuals entering and considering entering the information technology profession.
Who we are
The Foundation for IT Education is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation established in 1975 to meet the changing educational requirements of information technology and to address the long-term educational efforts essential to support the profession. As an independent body representing practitioners, educators, and researchers, the Foundation provides leadership in identifying educational opportunities that advance the information systems profession.
Our objectives
The Foundation’s objectives are:
- To provide educational programs and services on information technology issues for professionals, educators, the computer industry, businesses, government, students, individuals considering entering the profession, and the general public.
- To study and determine the areas of need for education and development in information technology for professionals, students, those considering entering the profession and the general public.
- To develop and implement educational courses, materials, and information on information technology issues facing the industry and the general public.
- To encourage the development and adoption of technical and managerial information technology standards and preferred practices.
- To develop and implement self-evaluation programs for information technology personnel.
- To develop and implement educational programs concerning the evaluation of hardware, software and managerial systems.
- To assist educational institutions and educators in the development of effective business information technology curricula.
- To develop and release publications, programs, and materials that promote information technology as a professional career choice.
- To encourage individuals involved in and considering entering the information technology profession to advance their education by providing or administering grants, scholarships, and awards for that purpose.
How we are governed
The Foundation is governed by a volunteer Board of Regents and makes extensive use of volunteer committees chosen to support particular projects, programs, and initiatives.
Our history in brief
- 1975: Foundation established as a 501(c)(3) during the DPMA era of the profession
- 1982: Foundation creates ISECON, the first conference of its kind for IS educators
- 1996: Inaugural sponsor of the AITP National Collegiate Conference, supporting it every year it was held
- 2007: DPMA Legacy Society announced to recognize planned-gift donors
- 2018: Foundation launches the United States Information Technology Collegiate Conference (USITCC), sole successor to the AITP NCC, first held in San Antonio
- 2022: Foundation launches ITSA, the Information Technology Students of America, an umbrella organization for collegiate IT student chapters
- 2025: Final USITCC Nationals held in Springfield, Missouri, closing a collegiate conference era that began in the 1990s
- Today: Five national scholarship programs, plus regional awards and ITSA, supporting IT students at accredited institutions across the United States