As we start to prepare for the coming holiday break I am once again thinking about my wish list. This year’s list is based on what I have seen throughout my career in higher education. Just like any list, some items are silly, some items are small, some items are large, and some items are hard. Before I dive into my list let me provide some quick background. I have been working in higher education since 2008. In my 14 years career, I have been part of countless renovation projects and new builds. In fact the other day I sat down and counted all the new builds I have been part of and I have a total of 11 new builds, 4 that happened simultaneously. What does this information have to do with my wish list? Even though these 11 builds all were different and my role in each one was different, there are takes away I feel would have made these projects, or any projects really, run smoother.
Integrators
Most of us are #InHouseIntegrator but there are times we rely on integrators. Here is my holiday wish list for integrators.
Don’t Lie!
Now this should seem like common sense or even a no brainer but it still happens. I have lost track of how many times an integrator has lied to me or a co-worker. Many of us #InHouseIntegrators know what we are doing so lying to us does no one any good. We are in need of a partner, not someone to talk down to us or even try to ‘protect’ us by not telling us the truth. We need to know the truth, even if it is not good, so we can make proper plans.
Stick to target dates!
In higher education classes start when classes start. We can not change the start of the semester or even move classes around just because the project is delayed. Space is always tight in higher education so new builds or even renovations need to be done but they need to be done on time. If the project does run late then getting into space becomes a challenge which can delay the project even further.
Consistently!
As we say in higher education, we don’t buy 1 of something, we buy 200. This is because most of our spaces are cookie-cutters. Yes, we do have special rooms or projects but the bulk of our spaces are the same. This should make it easier for integrators as this allows them to focus on one room, get the installation done, code done, configuration done, etc.. and then have it reviewed. Once it’s reviewed and signed off it is as simple as repeating the same steps for the remaining spaces. Integrators don’t need to be hopping from room to room trying to play whack-a-mole with issues when the spaces have the same equipment and standards. Also making our spaces consistent allows for streamlined support and our end users feel comfortable no matter which room they go into.
Work with us!
We all have the same goal and that is to get the job done and put out the best project we can. Us #InHouseIntegrators are not here to prevent integrators from doing their job. Our job is to make sure classes happen and that the technology is a proper tool to help enhance the students’ education. We might be picky or ask for something that might not make sense to the integrator. This is because we work closely with the true end users of the system. We know how our end users use the equipment and what does and doesn’t work for them. This is different across all of higher education. What works for one school might not work for another. Again this should be a partnership between the integrator and the in-house folks.
Manufacturers
Labeling!
This might sound silly but have a place where we can put labels on products. Also, make sure the product’s case/design allows for a label to stick to them without peeling off. As more activity learning spaces are being built or more equipment going into racks, the need to label equipment becomes important. We do not want to cover up LEDs, serial numbers, power buttons, screens, etc…. We want to be able to put a label on it so it is easy to identify the equipment. For example, a room might have multiple group stations and be able to put a label on the display that says ‘station #’ is important. Or even if we have a 42U rack that might have 5 amps in it. We need to be able to put labels on the amps to indicate which one is which.
Website!
Manufacturers’ websites should be easy to navigate. We come to the website to solve a problem. This might mean finding a product, finding drivers/firmware, or even finding contact information for support. We do not have the time to spend searching websites pages for information. Also if the information is behind a log-in page it makes it even more frustrating.
Demo Gear!
As mentioned in the Integrator section above, we don’t just buy 1 of something but we buy 200. Being able to get our hands on demo gear helps us make sure we are getting the right gear for our environment. There are programs, like the HETMA approved, which aid us in making the right choice but there are still times we need hands on the gear. We need to be able to fully test the gear out in our environment. Also, a 30-day window is not always long enough for us to fully vet a product. We are not asking this to try and get ‘free’ gear. We are asking as we need to make sound financial decisions for our schools and we can not always do that by just reading tech documents or risking a project on a piece of gear.
Industry
Don’t talk at us!
What I mean by this is don’t tell us what is the latest or the hottest, or even how to do something. We are on the ground, we work with our end users daily. Include us in these discussions. We know what works and what doesn’t work. There are close to 4,000 degree-granting academic institutions in the US alone. Each of these institutions are different, each of their faculty is different, each of their students is different, etc… There is no one size fits all in higher education. So when there are education sessions, webinars, training, whitepapers, etc.. reach out to at least one of these 4,000 institutions and get their take. Don’t come at us saying ‘this is how to ….’ but make us part of the process. I am pretty confident that at least one of those 4,000 institutions has an SME in the subject being covered.
Higher Ed Tech Managers
Have confidence!
I end this article with my last holiday wish item and that is for us tech managers to have confidence in what we are doing. We might work for different schools, but we all aim to provide education to our student bodies. Our teams play a vital role in this process and that is because of you and your team. Take pride in your work and even if you think no one notices they do. Keep doing what you need to do so that your student body gets the education they are there to get.