While working with several public and private colleges and universities to help them make the shift from IT-centric to user-centric computing, I have found very similar outcomes.
Removing the day-to-day firefighting off their hands had these effects:
- Allowed the IT team to focus on the user experience
- Allowed the IT team to focus on direct campus services
- Took pressure off the understaffed and underfunded IT support team
- Helped the institution attract and maintain top talent in terms of both students and faculty
- Helped the institution be more competitive and increase brand recognition
These results were not limited to the higher-ed institutions that we work with at ServerCentral, either:
“Chief business officers in particular see the cloud as an effective tool to manage costs and limit capital outlays across the institution, but the cloud is more than a low-cost solution for scaling IT capacity. Savvy business leaders are using it as an engine for growth and maintaining a competitive edge. By removing typical IT constraints such as long lead times for infrastructure improvements, limited resources for maintenance, and incompatibilities between systems and tools, cloud computing frees businesses to focus on business strategy and innovation.”
Saulo Bomfim, Vice President, Ellucian Cloud Services
The cloud: a smart move for higher education
“Today’s average student is no longer the 18-year-old whose parents drive her up to ‘State U’ in a minivan stuffed with boxes. Instead, the ‘new normal’ student may be a 24-year-old returning veteran, a 36-year-old single mother, a part-time student juggling work and college, or the first-generation college student. The faces we picture as our college hopefuls can’t be limited by race, age, income, zip code, disability, or any other factor.”
Ted Mitchell, Former Under Secretary, U.S. Department of Education
Digital Transformation in Higher Education by VMware
“The pressures from external and internal forces on higher education are unprecedented, ranging from federal and state government policy, rule, and regulatory changes to the ongoing challenges and demands from constituents such as parents, alumni, and students. As a result, it is more critical than ever that leadership employ strategies for approaching change and modernization proactively.”
Jeff Bradfield, Deloitte Consulting LLP principal, and other Deloitte Higher Education practice leaders
2018 Higher Education Industry Outlook: Trends in change and modernization in higher education
In our experience, the two most common catalysts that drive universities to the cloud include:
- Upgrading to Banner 9
- Updating systems used for attracting and retaining students, teachers, and management
Clearly, there are far more things to consider when evaluating your university’s technology modernization strategy. If you need guidance, we can help you navigate these challenges. Tell us about your project and we’ll reach out right away.
