A CTS Certified AV Team Keeps Universities Connected
Adapted from a conversation with AVIXA’s Technology Managers Council
When University administrators realized the stark realities of COVID-19 in early spring 2020, they were challenged with taking their entire class schedules virtual. The key to that endeavor was AV technology and skilled professionals on their staff to make it happen. Based on that experience, it’s become apparent that having reliable and advanced AV technology to instruct students both in-person and outside the classroom is more important than ever. Paramount to their future success is certified audiovisual teams.
Defining an audiovisual teams’ roles in an organization is an important first step in building an effective department.
These teams support the AV technology already in place, including both preventive maintenance like proactive classroom functionality checks, and “break-fix” duties where malfunctioning AV software and equipment is diagnosed then resolved. Quick-response scenarios should also be in this team’s skillset, for example, addressing an active class session AV fail. In fact, establishing a service-level expectation that includes time to respond is prudent. Mike Pedersen, the Audiovisual Experience Manager for Iowa State University, recommends 10 minutes or less from the time a help desk is paged to the AV technician arriving in a classroom.
An audiovisual technology team should also be skilled in new AV equipment installation. Audiovisual equipment’s expected lifespan is based on both reliability and an organization’s changing technology needs. A five to seven-year refresh cycle is the industry standard and an appropriate budget is required for these ongoing AV upgrades. New construction and building renovation are always in play at universities and this often needs some amount of AV technology implemented. Beyond classrooms, this may extend to AV tech for athletic facilities, conference rooms, residence halls, dining and retails spaces, and digital signage in areas students, staff, and faculty members gather.
While outsourcing is always an option, the benefits of an in-house audiovisual team cannot be understated.
Chief among those is expediency in handling issues and consistency in AV systems like the look and operation of any given interfaces used to operate the AV system. Walking into a room on campus and having confidence you can operate the AV equipment can certainly lower stress among users. Employing an in-house AV team for unexpected problems that need swift attention and at least smaller installations is often financially advantageous as well.
These obvious benefits aside, it’s often unrealistic to expect a university staff to handle larger projects or be the sole source of AV support during times when classroom upgrades are most often accomplished like summer breaks. It then makes sense to utilize outsourced contractors to assist during those times. But at the end of the day, and appropriately sized in-house team of AV professionals is a significant asset for most institutions.
Certifications are an important consideration when assembling an in-house audiovisual team.
There are many avenues for an AV professional to become certified but an excellent starting point is the ANSI-accredited Certified Technology Specialist (CTS). certifications from AVIXA. Designed to demonstrate competency in the full range of audiovisual skills and concepts, this certification ensures all team members have a common terminology and knowledge core that betters communication within the team.
I would encourage every higher education institution to evaluate their internal audiovisual capabilities and consider if there are opportunities to build up a team that can provide the AV support that can maximize the success of your faculty and students.
Already a CTS?
AVIXA is working with subject matter experts to help technology managers stay ahead of trends and deliver the solutions your school needs with our unique Power Hour Series. And we’ve picked out a few upcoming ones we think you’ll like:
April 19, 2021: Learning Tech Manager’s Power Hour: Improving the Online Learning Experience
May 24, 2021: Learning Tech Manager’s Power Hour: Classroom of the Future
About AVIXA
AVIXA™ is the Audiovisual and Integrated Experience Association, producer of InfoComm trade shows around the world, co-owner of Integrated Systems Europe, and the international trade association representing the audiovisual industry. Established in 1939, AVIXA has more than 11,400 enterprise and individual members, including manufacturers, systems integrators, dealers and distributors, consultants, programmers, live events companies, technology managers, content producers, and multimedia professionals from more than 80 countries. AVIXA members create integrated AV experiences that deliver outcomes for end users. AVIXA is a hub for professional collaboration, information, and community, and is the leading resource for AV standards, certification, training, market intelligence, and thought leadership.