IT Modernization Efforts Empower the College of Charleston

At the College of Charleston, the Division of Information Technology (IT) is dedicated to empowering the success of our faculty, staff and students through continuous modernization efforts. As part of their commitment to providing advanced technology and support, IT has undertaken several significant initiatives to enhance the campus experience.

Below is a look at IT’s recent achievements and ongoing projects. These initiatives are just a glimpse of the ongoing efforts being made to ensure that our campus community has the tools it needs to thrive in an ever-evolving landscape.

Updating Office Computers and Enhancing Classroom Technology

One of IT’s primary focuses has been updating office computers to ensure that our faculty and staff have access to the latest technology. A FY24 budget increase earmarked for computer replacement allowed IT to improve the quality of computers across campus and drastically shorten the replacement cycle. 
The team installed approximately 300 new computers, meeting the five-year replacement cycle target. All computers older than five years have been replaced, ensuring that everyone has reliable and up-to-date equipment to support their work. This is a significant improvement from the 10-12 year replacement cycle that existed just a couple of years ago. 

IT also understands the importance of having updated technology in our classrooms. In the fiscal year 2023-24, IT replaced computers in approximately 150 classrooms and conference rooms. Additionally, IT-AV upgraded eight classrooms with student stations, totaling 115 computers. Notably, three of these classrooms were GIS (Geographic Information Systems) classrooms, with 39 computers upgraded to support specialized software and learning.

Boosting Network Capabilities

To accommodate the growing demand for high-speed internet, IT doubled the internet speed of one of the internet service providers (ISP) that is used for most of our internet traffic (Segra). This year, IT has increased our Internet2 bandwidth (used for the research and education community) from 1Gbps to 10Gbps. This tenfold increase significantly enhances the speed and reliability of our network, providing faculty, staff and students with faster and more dependable internet access.

Decommissioning and Replacing Outdated Technology

In its efforts to improve the College’s overall security and reduce operational load, IT decommissioned and replaced end-of-life servers, outdated software and supporting hardware. This initiative not only strengthens our security measures, but also streamlines IT operations, ensuring a smoother, faster and more efficient experience for all users.

IT Initiatives Geared Toward Modernization

While IT is working on over 30 initiatives, several of them are geared toward modernizing processes. To streamline operations, they are working on an initiative to modernize outdated processes and automate tasks across the institution. Workflow automation covers a wide array of tasks, including automating data entry, approval processes and communication by sending automated emails and notifications. This will optimize business processes and improve efficiency, accuracy and productivity.

Another measure that IT is focusing on is the campus map initiative, which will take the College from a static PDF map to an interactive map that includes the following:

• Interactivity and Navigation – Online 3D maps allow users to zoom in and out, rotate views and click on buildings for more information, making navigation intuitive and user friendly.
• Real-Time Updates – The map can be updated in real time to reflect any changes on campus, such as new buildings, construction areas or event locations, thereby ensuring accurate and current information.
• Enhanced User Experience – Features like search functionality, virtual tours and integration with other campus resources (like event schedules or shuttle routes) provide a richer and more engaging user experience.

IT and the Office of Institutional Research are working on a reporting transformation project focused on enhancing the College’s reporting capabilities. This project aims to provide better data insights and support informed decision-making across the university.

The implementation of Ellucian Elevate is designed to digitize and modernize our continuing education (CE) courses and processes. Elevate will manage the entire CE student lifecycle, from application and registration to grading, and provide a portal for students to track their completed courses. Additionally, centralizing all CE courses on a single platform will make it easier for the community to find and enroll in desired classes, thereby increasing our enrollment.

Exploring Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence (AI) holds great potential for enhancing educational experiences and operational efficiency. IT is actively investigating AI applications and collaborating with the president, the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) and other departments to explore how AI can best fit into the College of Charleston’s ecosystem.