Click here to receive your FREE subscription to Campus Technology
Features
Technology Replacement Planning: How Refreshing!
6/27/2006
New Beginnings
Tech refresh is a relatively new concept at Laureate Education, an international network of accredited campus-based and online universities which includes Walden University and the NTU School of Engineering (MN), to name two. For several years, Laureate had no real tech replacement policy; it was up to department managers to plan for replacements in their budgets. When these folks inevitably hit budget crunches, tech refresh was often one of the first areas cut. And when machines crashed, these departments were hit hard because they didn’t have the budget to replace or upgrade them.
THIS SPRING, 900 sophomores at Seton Hall
got a laptop
upgrade; 125 of them received a
Lenovo ThinkPad tablet.
Grappling with such realities, university system officials knew they needed to make a change in order to support administration and faculty members in an effort to keep technology current. That change came in the form of an enterprise-wide plan to replace more than a third of all machines across campus; that included those used by staffers both in operations and in academic areas, and by deans at the organization’s Baltimore location. According to Barbara Von Lienen, Laureate’s director of technology services, the refresh impacted 500 machines in all, and has helped the organization ensure computing efficiency in the ever-changing world of technological innovation.
“Computers and other technologies are improving all the time,” says Von Lienen. “Without some form of refresh, academic organizations can fall behind.”
Laureate’s refresh was carried out over a single weekend this past June. During the event, the organization migrated users by business vertical from their old desktop machines to new laptops. Roughly 90 percent of new users received HP’s NC6320, while the other 10 percent received the NC4320 model. In addition, because Laureate is in the midst of rolling out wireless capabilities on many of its campuses, the technology team received HP tablet PCs so that they can serve internal constituents more effectively. As wireless matures, says Von Lienen, the organization will include more tablets in future refresh efforts.
AT A GLANCE
At Coppin State University (MD), based upon the financial needs of each student, the school pays up to 50 percent of the costs of a personal laptop and gives students four semesters to pay off the balance. After two years, students can either purchase their laptop permanently for $50, or refresh; those in greater financial need can get the replaced machines as loaners, and all students can purchase special backpacks to help them lug laptops, texts, and other gear.
With this more recent refresh, Laureate partnered with CDW-G, to pre-image all new machines. The image included popular user apps such as Lotus Notes, and a number of standard office apps from Microsoft. The new machines also were imaged with the organization’s proprietary student information system, ensuring that no user will experience trouble logging on to the network. Von Lienen says this move should make the transition to new machines easier, but notes that the biggest challenge surrounding the rollout of new technology remains getting users to learn how to use it.
“Our users come in one day and find a whole new look and feel to their workstations,” she says. “We are changing their entire work environment, and so this project is important. But,” she adds, “if our users don’t understand their own role in making this successful, to some degree we’ve still got lots of work to do.”
Matt Villano is senior contributing editor of this publication.
Cite this Site
copy text (above) for proper citation
Recommended Reading
- Where the Risks Are
Knowing what to spend on data protection and where to focus the effort isn't easy. Security assessments help eliminate the guesswork by identifying where your most critical risks lurk.
- Technology Forever
Who says classroom learning has to culminate with a formal degree? Tech-enabled lifelong learning programs are utilizing videoconferencing, vodcasting, and more to reach out to the 50-plus nontraditional student.
- They Say They Want A Revolution
As sustainability efforts ramp up on campuses, educators share eco-friendly dorm practices-- the ideal way to educate students about environmental issues.
- Getting More out of Mobile
Sure, cellular and handheld devices are quintessential communication tools, but savvy institutions are getting extra bang for their mobile tech bucks.
- It's Bandwagon Time
Colleges and universities worldwide are turning to the hosted SaaS model and saying goodbye to issues like patch management and server optimization.
- Waiting It Out
Have you given up trying to bring faculty into the world of emerging technology for teaching and learning?
