Lee’s I.T. Operations Crew keeps campus virtually connected
Photo by Rhianna Barrow.
With every classroom on campus now fitted to accommodate virtual learning, the work behind this new technology is all due to Lee’s I.T. Operations crew, who keep campus running smoothly from behind the scenes.
“Working in I.T. is one of the most challenging yet rewarding experiences I have ever had,” said network analyst Caleb Carroll. “We are always improving our services and systems, adapting to changes in the industry and overcoming challenges presented by real-world problems [such as COVID-19].”
COVID-19 has inevitably presented its own set of challenges to work through in every aspect of our lives, including technology.
“[This summer], we created hybrid classrooms by installing two microphones [one towards the professor, one towards the class], two cameras [one towards the professor, one towards the class) and sound mixing systems in almost every classroom,” said Network Analyst II Aaron Looney. “This was all installed to help aid the professors’ abilities to continue somewhat of a normal classroom environment but also gives the students the ability to attend their classes both physically or virtually via Zoom.”
While in the process of preparing campus, shipping delays for new supplies hindered the team, causing them to rethink their plan for replacing equipment to have campus ready in time.
“For instance, during the summer, we replaced about a quarter of the computers on campus, and this summer was more challenging as international shipping delays were inevitable,” said Support Analyst I Chad Coffman. “This created a time crunch for getting the computers in and the old computers sent back to our vendor. Luckily, our team pulled together, and we met our timeline with two days to spare.”
With an increase of users constantly on Lee’s network, the I.T. team has had to find new ways to quickly adjust to these challenges.
“The biggest challenge affecting my job is ensuring everybody has a reliable connection to the network,” said Looney. “I have been replacing and installing new access points to further improve wireless across campus. COVID-19 has absolutely impacted this as there are more people using the wireless connection to stream classes, chapel and entertainment this semester than we have likely ever had; the joy of working in I.T. is knowing that you are helping others with your service.”
In addition to classroom adaptations, computer labs on campus have also been adjusted to fit social distancing requirements while still giving students access to the technology they need.
“We came to the conclusion that in order to facilitate a safe environment, we would have to shut down several machines in the labs to maintain social distancing,” said Carroll.
Despite unexpected problems and many, daily calls asking for technical help, the staff in this department are satisfied with their job.
“One of the great things about working in I.T. is having the opportunity to assist users with issues that may arise, whether that be hardware or software related,” said Coffman. “For me, I have always enjoyed working with the hardware side of technology and understanding of how things work. Sometimes these things come with challenges, but that’s the fun part, being able to diagnose and correct those issues as they arise.”
With a focus on teamwork, the I.T. crew contributes their efficiency to the unified team they have created.
“One of the greatest parts of working in I.T. Operations is the camaraderie we have with one another,” Coffman said. “We function like a well-oiled machine.”
