Students returned after spring break to Waynesburg University to find a pleasant surprise. During the break, Information Technology Services [ITS] finished replacing computers in several computer labs across campus.

Among Eberly Library, Hanna, Stewart and Buhl halls, computer labs had their technology completely revamped with new HP Windows 10 computers, along with additional applications. The bill ITS received for the computers was approximately $120,000. Since the old computers were becoming harder to perform maintenance on, ITS decided that the time had come for a change. William Dumire, vice president for Information Technology Services and chief information officer, said that the IT Customer Service Satisfaction Survey played a big part in making the decision to replace the computers.

“One [of the issues] was the computer labs,” said Dumire. “That was noted and students, in particular, were talking about the fact that they were having issues getting the computers to come on, or computers were very, very slow, those kinds of things. So, as we went back and looked, it [the replacements] just made sense to us, it had been long enough.”

In the span of four days, ITS striped out all the old computer technology, recycled most of it and hooked up the new PCs. With the wiring and network already set up during the Network Infrastructure Project a few weeks ago, all ITS had to do was plug the new computers into the system. After they placed the PCs, ITS installed their own version of Windows into the computers. Josh Starsick, director of Information Technology Service, explained how ITS inputted the software into the computers.

“If you noticed, all the computers are basically identical in terms of how you got Windows on them and the software you have on them,” said Starsick. “So they all are basically a clone of one another. That’s what we do with our image deployment process. You build a reference computer and then you take that computer, clone its hard drive and push it out to all the new computers.”

ITS also bought part of the Adobe Creative Suite, which included Photoshop and Illustrator, for the new PCs. In the revamped labs in Hanna Hall, the application Quickbooks are available. Starsick said that additional applications can be added in the future.

“If the professor has a need for a specific type of software in a course,” said Starsick, “they can request that we install that. If we have the appropriate licensing and can support it, we are more than happy to install that for them.”

The next project ITS will undertake is updating classroom technology. Starsick will lead a committee to evaluate what new technology is needed. The reason behind the focus on classrooms, Dumire said, is ease of use and unity among classrooms.

“There will be a new baseline of technology that will be placed throughout campus and satellite campuses,” said Dumire, “so that any faculty member, regardless of what program they’re in, can walk into a classroom and easily utilize the technology.”

If there are any questions about the new computers, contact the ITS Help Desk at 724-852-3413.