Social networks of the electronic variety have become thoroughly embedded in contemporary culture. People have woven these networks into their daily routines, using Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, online gaming environments, and other tools to build and maintain complex webs of professional and personal relationships. Chief Information Officers (CIOs) likewise have recognized the importance of building social networks, using not only these electronic tools but also the old-fashioned methods of face-to-face communication and relationship- building. Today, establishing these networks is more important than ever in order to manage changes in technology and expectations in the current economy. Sharing information and developing a common understanding with campus partners have become keys for success in IT organizations. Although electronic tools for social networking have introduced a new dimension to communication, certain fundamentals remain. The central tenets of social networking are sharing information and building and sustaining relationships. The tools or mechanisms for facilitating communication may change, but the underlying need for social interaction remains a powerful aspect of human nature. These elements of social networking lend themselves nicely to the IT higher education context. Good communication is the key ingredient in building relationships with constituencies across the campus. Those relationships, in turn, are essential to creating new roles for IT organizations as they transform themselves from managers of well-defined commodity services to facilitators of complex solutions that require a deep understanding of clients' needs and, frequently, integration of campus and third-party resources and tools. Regardless of the technical challenges faced by IT professionals, the ongoing requirement to partner with the campus community will continue to require good communication. In this article, the authors provide examples that represent some of the creative ways that IT organizations are facilitating discussions with various campus partners. The authors also offer some communication principles and strategies that IT organizations can follow in order to lay the groundwork for effective solutions. (Contains 2 notes.)