Investing in the Core, Leveraging at the EdgeInvesting in the Core, Leveraging at the Edge

Randy Stiles, Colorado College

NWACCJune 9, 2006

The Conference Issue - and The Conference Issue - and QuestionQuestion

CONSUMER TECHNOLOGIES-Phones-Music-Video

ACADEMIC TECHNOLOGIES-Instruction-Research

a. IT should allow natural evolution of converging products to drive strategiesb. IT should re-design technology resources to establish a convergent environment

YES!

OverviewOverview Frameworks

Colorado College context

Key arguments and strategy for change

Some network upgrade details

Evolution and intelligent design in IT

FrameworksFrameworks

Colorado College – System ViewColorado College – System View

SCHOLARSHIP*- Teaching, discovery, integration, application PEOPLE

- Students, faculty, staff

FUNDING - Tuition, gifts, grants INFORMATION

-The collection, electronic, texts, institutionalINFRASTRUCTURE - Facilities, IT

EFFECTIVE WORLD CITIZENS-Graduates, faculty, staff (knowledge, skills, abilities, attitudes)

SERVICE and ENGAGEMENT- Communities of shared interest

RESOURCESRESOURCES PROGRAMS and PROCESSESPROGRAMS and PROCESSES OUTCOMESOUTCOMES

INSTITUTIONAL MISSION, VALUES, AND IDENTITYGOVERNANCE

INSTITUTIONAL SIZEINSTITUTIONAL INTEGRITY AND VISIBILITY

* Boyer: Scholarship ReconsideredASSESSMENT AND EVALUATIONASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION

ACADEMIC PROGRAM

-General education reqts -Disciplinary majors/minors

-Interdisciplinary pgms

STUDENT LIFE

ADMINISTRATIVESUPPORT

-Athletics-Co-curricular programs-Residential life

-Admission-Advancement-Financial mgt

Leadership – Interactional Leadership – Interactional FrameworkFramework

LEADERS

FOLLOWERS

SITUATION

PersonalityPositionExpertise…

ValuesNormsCohesiveness…

TaskStressEnvironment…

ALIGNMENT

IT Infrastructure – “core” and “edge”IT Infrastructure – “core” and “edge”

Faculty and staff computers

General purpose/public labs

Departmental labs

Networked printers & other peripherals

The Network

Library electronic resources

AuxiliarySystems-Gold card-Door access-Heating and A/C controllers

Student computers

Phones

Other wireless devices

Performance venues

CORE:Things largely unseen and unknown to system users

EDGE: Things users see, know, and experienceE-mail, list serves, public folders

Web sites

Special academic softwareShared hard drives

“Smart” classrooms

Servers

Databases

Data Storage

Internet Connection

Electronic Security Systems

AdministrativeSystems-C3po-Banner-Recruitment Plus-PFaids

Colorado College ContextColorado College Context

The Situation at CCThe Situation at CC Colorado College

Founded in 1874 in Colorado Springs Private, liberal arts, largely residential 1990 students, 170 full-time faculty

The Block Plan One course at a time since 1970 Very low student faculty ratios Off campus study, field work, experiential

learning, team teaching, interdisciplinary programs, from volunteerism to civic engagement

A “unique intellectual adventure”

Some Block Plan DataSome Block Plan Data

“CC believes that small classes, the focus on one course at a time, and thedepth of inquiry fostered by long class sessions and by field study create themost effective contexts for learning.”

Susan Ashley, Dean of the Faculty

Class size – 1 and 2 block classes

Average student/faculty ratio = 13:1

About 3/4 of class of 2004 had independent study experience

Adjunct and extended format classes

Total undergraduate students = 9:1 Total FT and PT Faculty

32-391%

26-318%

16-2542%

9-1524%

1-825%

Implications for IT SupportImplications for IT Support One class day in the Block Plan is roughly like one week

in a semester system System up time is especially important

Our students are quite nomadic – field study and adventurous character They want to be untethered in their use of computers

Prospective Studentsand their Parents

Students, FacultyStaff and Visitors

Alums, BoT and OtherFriends of the College

User Services&

Telecom

AV Services

AcademicServices

Network&

Systems

InstitutionalResearch

& Planning

AdministrativeServices

Core mission/Core infrastructure

Decision Support

Point of Service Support

Information Management – Information Management – Organizational ChartOrganizational Chart

40.5 FTE

BenchmarkingBenchmarkingNormalized IT Budget and Staffing

COSTS Survey for CLAC Institutions - April, 2004

$0

$500

$1,000

$1,500

$2,000

$2,500

$3,000

$3,500

0 0.005 0.01 0.015 0.02 0.025 0.03 0.035 0.04

Central IT Staff (incl students) per Student

IT B

ud

get

/L p

er S

tud

ent

min max25th 50th 75th

min

max

25th

50th

75th

Aggressive Funding

Aggressive StaffingWeak Funding &Staffing

CC

Key Arguments and Key Arguments and Strategies for ChangeStrategies for Change

Vision 2010: A 21Vision 2010: A 21stst Century Century CampusCampus

Baca Campus

Field Locations

Abroad

Main Campus

INTELLECTUAL and DIGITAL SPACE

BoT COMMITTEE (S)

BuildingsGrounds/

Land AcquisitionLearningSpaces

DigitalSpace

DisasterPreparedness

PHYSICAL SPACE

Academic Program

President Richard F. Celeste

Policy Positions on ITPolicy Positions on IT

CONSERVATIVE MODERATE AGGRESSIVE

VALUE OF IT

LEVEL OF SPENDING

INFRASTRUCTURE SIZE

QUALITY

LIFE-CYCLE

STANDARDS

PERFORMANCE & IT

ITS Action Agenda – Planning ITS Action Agenda – Planning GuidelinesGuidelines

IT support for experiential, interactive and authentic learning

Necessary and sufficient service – balancing staff capacity with community needs

Ubiquitous, reliable and fast access to information

Sustainable computing

SustainabilitySustainability

Campus committee on sustainability CLAC 2004 – “sustainable computing” Regardless of our decision on the

level of investment in IT, we must provide sustaining funds for both infrastructure and services. This is analogous and equally important to funding R&R for our buildings.

Strong Communication – Successes and Strong Communication – Successes and Response to ProblemsResponse to Problems

Group leaders with strong communication skills

Renewed investment in Division newsletter

Faculty technology showcase

Bi-annual publication by our Academic Technology Services team

Timely, high quality reporting of network and Web downtime andour response to President, Dean, CFO, and the whole campus

IT dashboard indicators developed in coordination with trustees

Outside SupportOutside Support

External review in 2002 Presidential Advisory Council in 2005

New Trustee committee on IT

“We recommend that you hire a consultant to help you developa comprehensive strategy for the various networks at CC (data,voice, and auxiliary systems) and that you pursue the use of wirelesstechnologies aggressively as your systems evolve.”

Investing in the CoreInvesting in the Core Mission

Connecting our work to the mission and the academic program

Integrated Learning Support Services – with Library and Learning Commons

Staff Working manager positions; professional

development plans Infrastructure

Data, voice, video networks; Web site; server fleet; Internet connection; data storage - funded as utilities

Building a Learning Commons

Welcome to The Learning CommonsSynergy through ProximitySynergy through Proximity

Leveraging at the EdgeLeveraging at the Edge

Mission Outsourcing, partnering, eliminating

services/processes Staff

Tech Directors, “Friends of ITS,” student workers, decentralized reporting, …

Infrastructure Student-owned devices, departmental

labs, use of restricted funds

Some Network Upgrade Some Network Upgrade DetailsDetails

CC’s Network History and FutureCC’s Network History and Future

1995 2000 2005 2010

Cabletron network1 router at Internet connectionHubs100 Mb speedsFlat architectureVery limited management capability

Cisco networkIn major academic buildingsNew fiber optic and copper cable1 Gb speeds in the coreSeveral routers in the coreSwitches100 Mb speeds at the edgeNot segmentedNot redundantSome management capability

Wireless network~110 access pointsWireless campus10 Mbps speeds (shared)802.11bInterference and security issues

Next generation wired networkFor the whole campusLayered design – core, distribution, edgeSegmented design – 100 VLANsLimited to full redundancy10 Gb speeds in the coreGood manageabilityAccountability and access control

Next generation wireless networkWireless campusEasier accessFaster speedsSeamless roamingFewer deadspotsLess interferenceThin APs, dynamic management802.11 a/b/g then 802.11n

dorms

ConsultingConsulting

•Some no-cost consulting with Cisco

•Collaboration with Western Telecommunications Consulting, Inc.:

Master Plan for Telecommunications and Networking Wireless Network Alternatives Outside Cable Plant Assessment Data Network Request for Proposal

Existing CC Network TopologyExisting CC Network Topology

Residential Network BridgeBridge

SiSi

Academic/Administrative NetworkAcademic/Administrative Network

EdgeEdge

EdgeEdgeEdgeEdge

EdgeEdge

Proposed CC Network TopologyProposed CC Network Topology

SiSi

DistributionDistribution

SiSi

DistributionDistribution

SiSi

DistributionDistribution

SiSi

DistributionDistribution

SiSi

DistributionDistribution

EdgeEdge

SiSi SiSi

CoreCore

Wireless Technical ReviewsWireless Technical Reviews

Vendor Review Focus

Aruba Wireless Networks Wireless data network architecture

Cingular Cellular deployment strategy and evolution

Cisco Systems (Airespace) Wireless data network architecture

Innerwireless In-building signal distribution

Nextel Cellular deployment strategy and evolution

Nortel Wireless data network architecture

Siemens Wireless data network architecture

Sprint Cellular deployment strategy and evolution

Symbol Technologies Wireless data network architecture

Verizon Cellular deployment strategy and evolution

Wired and Wireless Evolution Wired and Wireless Evolution

Don’t change phone switch for ~ 5 yearsDon’t replace category 3 wiring in dorms until major renovationDo upgrade telecommunication roomsDo reduce wired ports in dorms over time – migrateelectronics to new constructionDo work on building penetration issues

Now 5 to 10 years

WIRED (cable and electronics)

WIRELESS802.11b “wi-fi”Multiple cellular vendors

802.11 a/b/g “wi-fi” withthin access points and controllersLimited cellular vendors

802.11n “wi-fi” with thin accesspoints and controllers

802.16 “wi-max”services in Colorado Springs

VOIP phonesTraditional phones

Request for Proposal for Wired Request for Proposal for Wired Network UpgradeNetwork Upgrade Goal

Solicit ideas from a wide range of vendors through fair and open competition

Compare “apples to apples” with a highly structured RFP

Primary features 10 Gb/sec backbone Layered design (core, distribution, edge) with

redundancy Many VLANs possible (segmentation) “Easily” manageable (small staff)

Request for Proposal for Wired Request for Proposal for Wired Network UpgradeNetwork Upgrade

Key variables Separate (but linked) estimates for

academic/administrative and residential space

Number of nodes in the distribution layer Degree of redundancy Plan for wired or wireless only in

residence halls

Preliminary Cost EstimatesPreliminary Cost EstimatesConfigs I thru VI - Admin & Academic

- total system price -

$0

$500,000

$1,000,000

$1,500,000

$2,000,000

$2,500,000

$3,000,000

$3,500,000

$4,000,000

3 node w 4 node w 5 node w 5 node wl 5 node w fr 5 node wl fr

fully redundantmore nodes in distribution layer

Preliminary Cost EstimatesPreliminary Cost EstimatesConfigs VII thru XII - Residential

- total system price -

$0

$50,000

$100,000

$150,000

$200,000

$250,000

$300,000

$350,000

$400,000

3 node w 4 node w 5 node w 5 node wl 5 node w fr 5 node wl fr

fully redundantwireless only

Final Design and Final Design and ImplementationImplementation

Two finalists for further proposal development with consultant support Cisco/Flair Data and Foundry Revisit specifications Continue competition for most favorable

contract terms, conditions, and pricing

Project completion spring/summer 2007

Evolutionary Edge – Designed CoreEvolutionary Edge – Designed Core

Faculty and staff computers

General purpose/public labs

Departmental labs

Networked printers & other peripherals

The Network

Library electronic resources

AuxiliarySystems-Gold card-Door access-Heating and A/C controllers

Student computers

Phones

Other wireless devices

Performance venues

CORE:Things largely unseen and unknown to system users

EDGE: Things users see, know, and experienceE-mail, list serves, public folders

Web sites

Special academic softwareShared hard drives

“Smart” classrooms

Servers

Databases

Data Storage

Internet Connection

Electronic Security Systems

AdministrativeSystems-C3po-Banner-Recruitment Plus-PFaids

The Conference Issue - and The Conference Issue - and Question – and an AnswerQuestion – and an Answer

CONSUMER TECHNOLOGIES-Phones-Music-Video

ACADEMIC TECHNOLOGIES-Instruction-Research

a. IT should allow natural evolution of converging products to drive strategiesb. IT should re-design technology resources to establish a convergent environmentc. IT should note that the core/edge distinction may not be clear for all servicesd. All of the abovee. Some of the abovef. Some of the above, some of the timeg. It depends

Questions?Questions?

rstiles@coloradocollege.edu