Since the last service review in 2014 of the Information Technology Department, the Information Media Services Department was integrated into the IT Department.  This was done to streamline the services of the IMS Department with that of the IT Department.  By combining both departments, the technology specialists of both departments are able to respond to any type of technology request involving, desktop PCs, software, printers, projectors, document cameras, compressed video, interactive teaching monitors and digital control boxes.  Our college faculty and staff will be able to contact the IT and IMS support technicians by calling one help desk for any type of technology issue.  A year later, the two part-time IMS media specialist positions were eliminated and one full time media specialist position was created so that the college could better retain the individuals who were previously leaving the college for full time media support positions elsewhere.  In 2017, one of our IT Network and Desktop Technician resigned and the IT Department hired Jason Mabry, an experienced Network and Desktop Technician who previously worked for the New College Institute and Piedmont Governors School IT Department.

An additional position was created in the Information Technology Department in May of 2018.  Kim Dillard was transferred from the Institutional Research Department to the IT Department as the new Enterprise System Support Specialist.  She is responsible for supporting the College Administrators, Faculty, Staff and Students with the PeopleSoft SIS, AIS, HRMS, eVA enterprise systems along with Enterprise System Security and the Learning Management System (LMS).

The references to the IT Department have been reviewed in the college catalog and everything is up to date. 

Technology is utilized throughout the college. Administrators, faculty and staff have desktop computers in their offices and in all of the fifty-one classrooms and eight computer labs.  There are a total of 1,063 desktop computers campus-wide in which 767 are student accessible.  All fifty-one classrooms are equipped with multimedia equipment consisting of document cameras, projectors, screens, speakers, instructor workstations and control boxes.  One classroom in the West Hall building has a compressed video system which is connected to a compressed video system at the Patrick County site.   The two compressed video classrooms are used for streaming distance learning classes between the main campus and Patrick County site.  Digital monitors used for displaying college events and information were installed in all of the on-campus buildings, MET Complex and Patrick County site.  

IT Goals

Since our last IT Service Review in 2014, the IT Department has replaced 714 desktop computers thus keeping in line with the IT Strategic Goal of maintaining a replacement of 20% end of service life PCs on a 5 year cycle. In keeping up with the goal of replacing network printers on a 8 year schedule, the college decided to remove all of the classroom printers to produce savings and allow our students to utilize the WEPA cloud based printers in the Learning Lab of the LRC.

Another goal that was completed in 2017 was the migration of the end of service life Cisco Firewall 5500 appliance to the new Palo Alto 3500 firewall that provides maximum protection of our network assets from outside network intrusion.

The goal of the replacement of the Virtual Servers that was reaching end of service life in FY20 was recently completed by migrating them to the new VCCS Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) platform.  This was an expectation of the Chancellor and PHCC decided to complete this migration in the fall of 2018.  By migrating our Virtual Servers to the VCCS IaaS platform, the college will save $45,000 in server hardware replacement cost every six years.

Another goal that was completed in 2018 was the installation of 21 security surveillance cameras at the MET Complex.

The last goal to establish a wireless network availability at the MET Complex was completed in 2018 by installing three Cisco Wireless Network access points throughout the complex.

The IT Department has continued to be successful in fulfilling the annual goal of replacing 20 percent of its end of service life PCs.  Through the funding of the Equipment Trust Fund, we are able to meet that goal.  The college has 1063 personal computers.  The goal is to replace the end of service life PCs on a 5 year cycle.  Since our last IT Service Review of 2014 we replaced 714 desktop computers.  The goal for four years is 848 PCs, of which 85 percent of that goal was met.

Student Survey Results

The Graduating Student Survey that rates the IT services with an average of 251 responses each year during the 2013-2014, 2014-2015, 2015-2016, 2016-1017, and 2017-2018 academic years; reflect a consistent rating that averages 4.13 out of 5.  This reflects the overall exceptional performance that the IT staff of five provides to our administrators, faculty, staff and students.  Our college has a dedicated and experienced staff of IT specialists.

The Dean of Technology will continue to set the ongoing objectives for the goals defined in the strategic plan.  Technology advancements in the institution will be monitored and the outcomes will be communicated to the Planning and Evaluation committee and the Executive Leadership Team.  With the help from the Institutional Research and Effectiveness Department, the student/employee satisfaction survey will better target the areas of technology support and provide better feedback so that improvements can be made.

Currently, there are no plans of major changes in the IT service area.  The IT Department runs of a limited staff of five that are trained and experienced in the field of technology.  There has been a fair amount of cross training in the IT Department, especially in the areas of network, desktop PC, and multimedia support.  The Senior Network Administrator is educated and certified in Network Security and Cisco Networking.  The other IT staff are educated in Computer Programming, Computer Science and Multimedia Communications.  Further education and certifications in the areas of Microsoft, Cisco, and Network Security will be offered to the IT staff.

The Information Technology Department went through some positive changes since the last service review in 2014.  Merging the Instructional Media Services Department with the existing IT Department along with incorporating the enterprise systems support and security specialist, has produced positive outcomes for supporting our college’s administrators, faculty, staff and students.  With continued funding through the Equipment Trust Fund and technology fee funding through increased enrollment, the IT Department will be able to meet its strategic goals and objectives and continue to provide superior technology support to the institution.