Accomplishments

Information Technology Services (ITS) celebrates its staff and the accomplishments they achieved through their rapid response to the COVID-19 crisis. The dedication and committment of ITS staff facilitated the transition to a highly virtual teaching, learning and working experience during spring 2020. 

How we expanded student support

1. Worked with Library to make 267 laptops available at no additional cost to the University, over 160 have been distributed
2. Worked with Student Affairs and Library to establish a hotspot loaner program.
3. Deployed a virtual lab environment (CI Virtual Labs) to enable access to popular software remotely
4. Enabled Duo multi-factor authentication for all students to improve security of student online experience
5. Worked with Adobe to provide free access to Adobe Creative Cloud for students

How we expanded faculty & staff support

1. Laptops/desktops/tablets for remote use
   1. Distributed ~100 laptops to faculty and staff for remote work.  Laptops were removed from classrooms in acceleration of normal replacement withno additional purchase costs incurred by the University.
   2. Worked with AT&T on iPad leasing program, received and prepared 29 iPads leased or purchased by Academic Affairs for distribution to chemistry faculty.
2. Hot spots: Purchased 40 cellular hot spots.  Currently distributing to faculty and staff as needed.
3. VPN – Virtual Private Network
   1. Extended use of Virtual Private Network by several hundred users to allow faculty and staff full use of University services from home.
   2. Streamlined approval process and increased capacity by accelerating previously scheduled equipment upgrade.
4. Work phone (hardware or software) for remote use
   1. Extended the campus phone system to allow use of business phones from home.
   2. Accellerated the previously scheduled upgrade of University phone system to allow use of University phones from users homes without VPN.  This will reduce demand on users home networks and improve video streaming, and conference calling.
5. Deployment of Microsoft Teams: rapidly deployed Microsoft Teams to enable remote collaboration and instant messaging
6. Process changes to improve Universities ability to work remotely
   1. Adobe Sign – accelerated ongoing project to convert paper documents to online documents for key processes needed to support remote work.
   2. Solution Center – Provided equipment and changed processes to allow remote operation of Solutions Center switchboard and shared services.
   3. IT Help Desk and User Services – Continuously providing in person IT help on campus by appointment.
   4. Supporting rapid project implementation for various departments, including:
      1. Live Chat project for Enrollment
      2. New web sites for Academic Affairs – “Keep Teaching”, “Keep Learning”
      3. New web sites for Student Affairs – Student Engagement