Unified Communication: Consideration for Adoption in Administration &

Pedagogy

Patricia Kahn, AVP Technology Systems

Brian Collins, Director of Telecommunications

Thomas Lauria, Director of Office Automation

George Concepcion, Director of Networking

William Bernhardt, Associate Professor; Director of Faculty Center for Professional Development

Agenda

• About CSI

• Technology Status

• Technology Options for Consideration

• Pedagogical application

• Worth the Investment?

• Plan for Adoption

• Implementation Plan

About CSI

• Four-year, senior college of The City University of New York (CUNY)

• Programs in the liberal arts and sciences and professional studies lead to bachelor's and associate's degrees.

• The master's degree is awarded in 16 professional and liberal arts and sciences fields of study.

• The College participates in doctoral programs of The City University Graduate School and University Center in Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Nursing, Physical Therapy, and Physics.

• 14,199 students enrolled; ~2500 faculty and staff

• High Performance Computing Center: Support the University’s research and educational activities by making state-of-the-art HPC resources and expert technical assistance available to faculty and students

• Magnificent 204-acre campus; 24 buildings; student housing

What is UC and LYNC All About??

Technology Status

• The 10G network backbone and high speed wireless connection

• Exchange Environment

• Life cycled phone infrastructure

• A sampling of teaching and learning applications include:

• Blackboard

• Camtasia Studio

• Panopto (lecture capture)

• SKYPE

• Digication (ePortfolio)

• Software used by academic programs

Technology Options for Consideration

• Unified Communications

• Features

• Hardware, Software, and System Requirements

• Challenges

• Opportunities

• Alternative Technologies with UC Functionality

• Blackboard Collaborate; Adobe Connect

• Echo360

• Camtasia/Captivate

• Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn

• SKYPE, FaceTime

AVAYACISCO

Microsoft

Pedagogical Application

• Responding to individual learning styles

• Real-time learning

• Online tutoring

• Desktop sharing

• Lecture recordings for later viewing

• Hybrid learning environment

Taking the Plunge

• Has your current phone system reached the end of its lifecycle?

• Can your network handle the increased demand?

• Does your institution already have systems in place that provide web conferencing functionality and foster collaboration?

• Are any of the functionalities inherent in a unified communications system currently being used in the teaching and learning environment?

• Do you have confidence in your communication systems?

• What is the culture of your institution pertaining to technology?

• Is it important for a faculty, staff, or student to be reachable from any device from one contact number?

Plan for Adoption

• Evaluate current environment

• Set objectives for replacement strategy, administrative and educational outcomes, and resources

• Research available solutions

• Form a vendor relationship

• Implementation & Training

UC PLAN

Implementation Plan

Phase I

• Upgrade Exchange

• Migrate from an existing Avaya Intuity Audix voicemail system to an Exchange 2013 Unified Messaging infrastructure

• Phone messages in email

• Instant Messaging

• Distribution of VoiP phones to pilot group

• Establish a Steering Committee

Phase II

• Proposed implementation of Unified Communications to a cohort of users

• LYNC for administrative use: Facilitate video and conference calls, IM, contact lists

• LYNC for pedagogy

UC PLAN

Contact Information

• Patricia Kahnpatricia.kahn@csi.cuny.edu718–982–2209

• Brian Collinsbrian.collins@csi.cuny.edu718-982-2570

• Thomas Lauriathomas.lauria@csi.cuny.edu718-982-2076

• George Concepciongeorge.concepcion@csi.cuny.edu718-982-2029

• Bill Bernhardtwilliam.bernhardt@csi.cuny.edu718-982-3671