I set up MediaWiki on a secure intranet-only server, and I’ve been extensively documenting all the apps I write, the information architecture of the website, and some brief “how-tos” for some of the more inane / esoteric bits we do around here.

Hopefully, my successor, whomever it is, will find that helpful in their transition *INTO* my position; but in the meantime, it’s a very handy reference for me.

Create a list of resources (blogs to follow, known links to Web sites that have Butler info, any rep monitoring you do via RSS feeds, accounts such as Flickr, YouTube, etc.) as a handy spreadsheet.

Even better, put info like this on an online collab site where a number of folks in Admissions, the college Webmaster, etc. (whoever is appropriate in the Butler culture) have access to it. Similarly, if you store info like this in Netvibes, share/send the page to a coworker.

Save files on a shared network drive, if possible, as opposed to (just) an external hard drive. This ensures more people can access it if needed, and their is usually redundancy/backup built in.

I remember when I started in Admissions, back in the three-ring binder days of organization. One of my boss’ first pieces of advice was to keep my binder organized so that if I got hit by a bus (or beer truck, as Steve said), someone could continue on without much trouble. Business continuity is important.

As you already realized, holding e-mail and password keys for so many sites turned out to not be a great approach. Keep that in mind in the next job.

I second Susan – don’t be disappointed if the new person doesn’t contact you. Leave your contact info and let that be up to them. The new person will likely take this position and make it their own, with their own thoughts and ideas as to what is effective and worthwhile.

Get someone else in the office into the Facebook group as an admin now. I seem to recall you mentioning some tension between you and other staff members (though I may be thinking of a different blog). Getting active social media buy-in via responsibility among staff in small ways like this will help out the next person.

I like the leaving artwork idea. Make sure to tell the cleaning crew not to throw it away though.

@Colin – You weren’t supposed to tell anyone that.

@Todd – I’m partially scared to throw the new person in the ring with folks like you lingering around. (Seriously, great suggestion. Added a paragraph to the document.)

@Tim – Done and DONE.

@Susan – that’s a good thought too. And that’s what @jeremywilburn did. Took things his own way and didn’t rely on what I left (which wasn’t much, honestly.)

@Shelley – I love that. Because I get SLAMMED Sept. – Nov and was not prepared for that the first go around.

@Jamie – Anything in particular that you did when you left Marian College?
@Mike – I think the hard drive will be good for them, I’m trying to keep it organized.

@Stewart and @Hans – made the ‘who to call’ list today. What a great idea.

Keep them coming!

Go all presidential and leave a note on the desk for your successor. Perhaps you can even set up a transition team to help her/him ease into the job

Also, let University know that a small incident occurred during filming of the aforementioned YouTube clip, and Blue II is now actually Blue III.

I did many of things you have on your to-do list and made sure I left contact info, etc. My old boss contacted me once before they were able to hire my replacement. The new guy really only emailed me once to ask what I’d named a file on the live server. (I actually remembered…go figure). Other than that, he wanted to do things his way, not mine. And I understand that.

I was also going to say what Kyle already has: your blog is a wealth of info.

Best wishes on your new adventure!

How about a list of local lunch options, with a recommendation for some people for your successor to share a meal with in the first couple of months?

I like Ron’s debrief idea as well…