WINNIPEG, MB – A raft of technology-related service improvements are being felt at The University of Winnipeg, as a direct result of a student technology fee instituted in September 2013. Infrastructure investments are underway to enhance network speed, data storage capacity, wireless service, cellular coverage, student computer labs, and disaster mitigation capabilities. These ongoing initiatives have one simple goal – to elevate the level of technology services delivered to students and faculty.
Students are also benefitting from technology upgrades designed to save time and effort. For example:
- a newly created tool in WebAdvisor makes it faster and easier for students to access their financial account information
- the new “Forgot My Password” service simplifies password resets
- online student address changes
In the coming months, rapid charging stations for mobile devices will be piloted at campus locations identified by students in a recent survey. An online degree audit app is in development to help students analyze course change scenarios and plan their academic future.
“As a result of the introduction of a new Student Technology Fee, the University has made – and will continue to make – major investments in technology to enhance the student experience,” said President and Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Lloyd Axworthy. “We are thankful to our Technology Solutions Centre staff, led by Richard Nakoneczny, our Chief Technology & On-Line Learning Officer, for their hard work undertaking major upgrades to our technology and communications infrastructure over the past several months.”
2014 will be the fourth year in a row that the University has doubled its Internet network capacity. By the end of March, 3,500+ faculty, staff, and student computers will have reconfigured and updated, enabling the university to operate a more stable and supported local computing platform.
Campus technology investments over the past few years have also resulted in:
- Student email upgrade to MS Office 365, which includes cloud storage space
- A/V installations and upgrades to create more than 200 smart classrooms
- Library server updates
- Replacement of an outdated e-mail system without disruption to teaching or research
- Security System upgrades with digital locks and more than 200 cameras campus-wide using the latest IP/server based technology
- Room scheduling and building management system upgrades to help control operating costs and improve environmental sustainability
- Implementation of the new Techsolutions website to better serve the university community
- Set-up of a new specialized geography lab with unique technology requirements
- Implementation of leading edge integrated voice and data networking technology infrastructure in Richardson College
- Introduction of “Webfiles”, enabling faculty to edit their files locally and save them back to the UW secured infrastructure from anywhere in the world
- Implementation of a Grant Management business support system for the Research Office (WebGrants)
- Implementation of a Housing Management System for the University (Starrez)
- Implementation of D2L (Desire2Learn), a new Learning Management System
- Creation of a Filmography database
- Data warehouse upgrade and expansion
- Ongoing investments in network security to protect the University’s integrated data network and systems
- 150 individual servers replaced with four of the most advanced servers available hosting 200 virtual servers
- Upgrades to the Viking fund raising system.
More information on technology initiatives at The University of Winnipeg is available at techsolutions.uwinnipeg.ca.
MEDIA CONTACT
Kevin Rosen, Director, Marketing and Communications, The University of Winnipeg
P: 204.786.9381, E: k.rosen@uwinnipeg.ca
