ARCHIVED: Completed project: STC Evolution pilot project

Primary UITS contact: STC Evolution team

Project coordinator: Cinda K. Haff

Completed: July 20, 2009

Description: The Student Technology Center (STC) Evolution project is an effort to explore enhancements to the current STC experience. The project will focus on accessibility, ubiquitous access to applications, and awareness of future student expectations. The project will utilize the following parameters:

• Implement virtual delivery of applications in the university's standard enterprise infrastructure, not to exceed 50 concurrent users.
• Deploy initial pilot spaces at IUB and IUPUI, not to exceed 10 devices at each location.
• Ensure uncomplicated user interaction.
• Eliminate dependencies on existing operating procedures that compete with agility.
• Utilize existing resources such as support model, authentication process, Knowledge Base, change management, etc.

Outcome: Pilot project deliverables are:

• Scalable and sustainable architecture that builds on IU's experiences and strengths in virtualization, standardization, and automation to virtually deliver applications to STCs, informal learning spaces, and anywhere students may be working
• Deploy flexible physical environments in each space that accommodate:
  • Modest, green, non-platform-specific devices
  • Flexible desktop space for laptops with access to power and data
  • Robust wireless access that enables the use of student-owned devices
  • Intuitive, uncomplicated access to network resources
• Ensure that virtually delivered applications can be accessed by any current host operating system, application, or service that is remotely available over the network

Milestones and status:

• Project plan rough draft review with directors Completed January 21, 2009
• Implementation plan completed and approved Completed February 2, 2009
• Virtual applications environment deployed using enterprise-licensed software Completed March 26, 2009
• IUB and IUPUI physical environments implemented Completed April 9, 2009
• Tactical implementation plan for broad deployment during lifecycle replacement periods Completed June 15, 2009
• Future direction regarding use of virtual desktop technology available from UITS management; see the STC Evolution Final Executive Summary (in PDF format) Completed July 20, 2009

Comment process: Send email to the STC Evolution team.

Project team (membership from the following UITS areas):

• Enterprise Infrastructure
• Learning Technologies
• User Support

Governance: STC Evolution pilot project team