Dynamic Campus Customizes IT to the Highest Level

When Father James Patrick Shea began his Presidency at the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota, the private school, founded in 1955 as a two-year institution, was flourishing. Now it had graduate and doctorate programs, and seven satellite campuses including one launching in Rome, Italy. As with any university, there were inherent challenges such as student recruitment and retention, and rapidly advancing technology.

The Challenges

Father Shea immediately began strategic planning to improve the college, asking himself, “How can I lead this growing university in a way which empowers everybody, and which allows our students to receive the best possible education?” IT was immediately identified as a priority challenge.

Limited Access

Father Shea saw an under staffed IT struggling to deliver access and support services with limited and ineffective wireless capabilities. Students were asking for and expecting modern technology. Father Shea wondered how to install an effective wireless system in the lumbering concrete buildings of 1950’s Brueur architecture; however, wireless wasn’t the only challenge.

Unclear Direction

The web portal and content management system were inefficient. Services and solutions that had worked well when the college was small were now antiquated. The lack of integration and software support had the potential to cause transcript discrepancies and other crisis. Adding to the daily challenges, the email spam filters were inhibiting communications especially with the Rome campus. Even most of the hardware was out of date – often purchased second hand; the dorms had poor printing services. Father Shea needed to provide IT with a clear direction.

Under Staffed and Under Resourced

Where does an under staffed IT department find the resources needed to keep pace with expanding technology? As Father Shea searched for tangible and practical answers, he knew it was imperative that effective and efficient IT processes be in place, and that faculty, staff, students, and IT be in sync.

The Solutions

Outsourcing as a Viable Option

Father Shea attended an annual conference for college presidents at the Council of Independent Colleges. As he met with his peers, they asked each other, “What keeps you up at night?” Father Shea and many other presidents answered, “IT.” At the conference, Father Shea discovered outsourcing as a viable option when he met Dynamic Campus and other IT companies. He had not heard of outsourcing IT and was interested in the potential advantages.

Inviting Dynamic Campus and other vendors to the Bismarck campus to discuss the possibility of a partnership, Father Shea considered one of the founding missions of the Benedictine Sisters.

“The university is in the business of higher education,” he said. “Our expertise is not IT. It is our job to prepare students for their professions, and to prepare them for life.” By outsourcing IT, the university could gain the expertise and resources they would otherwise not be able to feasibly access, which in turn would allow them to focus their attention on what they do best – higher education.

Partnership Concerns

Father Shea discussed partnerships with several vendors but still had concerns. The University of Mary values the community and considers employees as integral members, like a family. Father Shea foresaw that employee level of job satisfaction would be affected by how they were treated. As he met with Dynamic Campus, he felt synergy. He saw not only their professional level of commitment, but also their willingness to get to know the people of the university on an individual basis.

Dynamic Campus took their commitments to the highest level. They evaluated each IT staff person according to their existing professional assets and potential, and then offered them professional development opportunities to supplement their knowledge and talent. Father Shea refers to this as a miracle. “All of our people were treated with respect,” he said. “All of our people were retained. Their professional lives experienced a particular type of transformation. Their individual competencies were maximized, and they were set free to do the type of work meaningful to them.”

THE RESULTS

Customized Services

Dynamic Campus customized its services to the needs of the university. Within 30 days of entering the partnership, a 24x7 help desk was implemented. Glitches were worked out for a smooth transition into the of the school year. Spam filters were replaced and reconfigured to allow personal inbox management. Technology was functioning, and everyone was happier.

“The confidence of the IT staff was at a higher level,” said Father Shea. “It was wonderful to see.”

After the help desk was running, the Dynamic Campus team conducted a full technology assessment, and recommendations were given in regards to security, infrastructure, and personnel. Says Father Shea: “We were able to channel those recommendations in an intelligent way that was clearly prioritized.” A plan was soon approved, and the first phase of wireless services was implemented in the resident halls and apartments, and the second phase began for public spaces and classrooms.

Other priorities were also set into motion following the Annual Technology Project Plan developed by Dynamic Campus.

Software Capacity Maximized

Frustrations had been mounting, but Dynamic Campus tackled the issues. Not tied to any particular software, Dynamic Campus maximized the effectiveness of the existing Jenzabar ERP software. Student enrollments now process efficiently. The web portal and content management systems operate at top capacity allowing students instant access, and enabling the faculty to enhance their online curriculums. 

Standardized multimedia systems are now installed in the classrooms and have reliable support. Long-term service and replacement plans keep hardware functioning and up-to-date. A print management solution is being implemented across the campus.

Bursts of Expertise

Like any college president, Father Shea recognizes student interest and technical savvy. He always contemplates how learning can be improved in regards to technology. “There’s a lot of anxiety about the use of resources, efficiencies, and the new economy,” he says. “But they can be dealt with collaboratively. By partnering with Dynamic Campus, the university is able to address IT challenges in a clarified and intensified fashion that gives us ‘bursts of expertise’. This expertise is a resource that the school doesn’t need full time and is supplied at no additional costs to the university.”

With technology systems functioning efficiently, the University of Mary is focused on what they do best – the business of higher education. Students are applying today’s technology to their professional skills, which in turn is enhancing their leadership abilities and preparing them for their careers - and their lives. “The university hums underneath the hood,” says Father Shea.

Austin, Texas – After a detailed assessment of available options, The University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota selects Dynamic Campus to provide strategic information technology services. The services will include IT leadership, all IT operational staff and 24x7 help desk services.

Under the multi-year agreement, Dynamic Campus will provide University of Mary with a full on-site compliment of IT professionals lead by a chief information officer, along with additional support by the Dynamic Campus corporate resources. "The University of Mary’s growth in recent years necessitated improvements in business practices as well as information technology services to students, faculty and staff. The university’s administration examined several options to address these needs but was most impressed with the Dynamic Campus team’s leadership capabilities, their attention to detail and the breadth of their knowledge and experience. The University is pleased to be partnering with Dynamic Campus in striving toward new levels of excellence,” said Brent Winiger, Vice President for Financial Affairs, University of Mary.

"Partnering with The University of Mary in this capacity demonstrates another example of how Dynamic Campus continues to provide technology leadership and vision enabling our clients to operate efficiently and effectively, allowing them to offer excellent service to their constituents,” said Mike Glubke, president of Dynamic Campus.

About The University Of Mary

Founded in 1955 by The Benedictine Sisters of Annunciation Monastery as a two-year school, the former Mary College became a four-year degree-granting institution in 1959. It achieved university status -- becoming the University of Mary -- in 1986. The University of Mary is the only private, Catholic university in North Dakota. It has been accredited by The Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools since 1969.The University of Mary exists to serve the religious, academic, and cultural needs of people in this region.

About Dynamic Campus

Dynamic Campus, Inc. is the premier outsourcing firm dedicated to serving the higher education marketplace. Serving over sixty institutions from its headquarters in Austin, Texas, Dynamic Campus provides critical technology vision, leadership and execution across a diverse set of complex universities and colleges. Dynamic Campus effectively manages essential administrative solutions, academic solutions, reporting solutions and all underlying infrastructure components for its clients located across the country.

Austin, Texas – Manhattanville College selects Dynamic Campus as its technology services partner for management and operations of all information technology services. During a multi-year commitment, Dynamic Campus will be providing Manhattanville College the full array of information technology support services by locating a comprehensive team of IT professionals on campus in Purchase, New York.

The increase in demand for technology support services prompted Manhattanville College to seek a technology partner to lead and manage the service delivery on campus allowing the college to focus on its core competency of teaching and learning. "Manhattanville College’s leadership considered multiple options, but determined that Dynamic Campus’ focus on higher education and customer service coupled with specific expertise in IT leadership was the best path forward for all constituents of the college," said Dr. Molly Easo Smith, President of Manhattanville College.

Dynamic Campus focuses on IT service efficiencies by streamlining processes while increasing the effectiveness of information technology support services to directly enhance student outcomes. "With the infusion of senior IT leadership, project planning and a focus on delivering results aligned with the college's strategic direction, the IT organization is now poised for proactive and responsive customer service," said Joe Redwine, Executive Vice President, Dynamic Campus.

About Manhattanville College

At Manhattanville College, rigorous academic preparation within a nurturing environment is matched by personalized attention to every student. Our close-knit community of 1,700 undergraduate students and 1,200 graduate students is diverse, representing over 48 states and 76 countries.

About Dynamic Campus

Dynamic Campus, Inc. is the premier outsourcing firm dedicated to serving the higher education marketplace. Serving over sixty institutions from its headquarters in Austin, Texas, Dynamic Campus provides critical technology vision, leadership and execution across a diverse set of complex universities and colleges. Dynamic Campus effectively manages essential administrative solutions, academic solutions, reporting solutions and all underlying infrastructure components for its clients located across the country.

Austin, Texas - The University of Florida (UF) selects Dynamic Campus to design and deploy a new open source website. UF’s College of Education (UFCOE) goals for its new integrated website are recruitment, retention, outreach, and development.

The approach to achieve each of these goals is to create a dynamic website and a work flow strategy that constantly and aggressively presents new content which showcases the work of each UFCOE program and distributes the information via social media channels. After an open and competitive bid process, UFCOE chose Dynamic Campus as it partner to create a seamless rebranding and redesign of the current website with an improved look, layout, and usability.

"The College of Education has taken a very strategic approach to their website redesign by partnering with us to first identify their web strategy as well as mapping out the information architecture for the new design. Dynamic Campus’ flexibility and experience with a variety of Content Management Systems (CMS) provided UFCOE with the ability to leverage our expertise with the CMS of their choice." – Andrea Savas

About University of Florida The University of Florida College of Education

Founded in 1906, The University of Florida College of Education consistently ranks in the top 25 among public education schools in the elite Association of American Universities. The college’s national reputation for innovation–forged through pioneering initiatives such as Head Start, the community college system and the middle school movement–endures today. By partnering with public schools and communities across the state, UF education faculty and students engage in novel scholarship and research activities that enhance school improvement, student achievement, teacher preparation and leadership growth in all education disciplines.

About Dynamic Campus Dynamic Campus, Inc.

Dynamic Campus is the premier outsourcing firm dedicated to serving the Higher Education marketplace. Serving over sixty institutions from its headquarters in Austin, Texas, Dynamic Campus provides critical technology vision, leadership and execution across a diverse set of complex universities and colleges. Dynamic Campus effectively manages essential administrative solutions, academic solutions, reporting solutions and all underlying infrastructure components for its clients located across the country.