“We are nearing the end of move-in week for our freshmen class and it couldn’t have gone smoother. Typically at this time of year, our Network and Help Desk teams are scurrying in and out of dorms troubleshooting network connectivity for our students. With Apogee now in place, those calls for help have simply stopped, allowing HSU personnel to focus on the multitude of other tasks necessary to begin the academic year. Even better than that, our students absolutely love the new wireless connectivity and the ability to choose the service plan that best meets their needs.
While Apogee’s customer support has been outstanding, I think it is important to note that move-in week has been so successful in large part because of the meticulous project organization that we have experienced from the very start. Throughout the entire process, Apogee made us feel comfortable because it was clear they had walked this road before and were on point. From the initial discovery, to the network engineering, to the installation, this project has run beautifully. Each Apogee representative that has been on our campus (or that we got to meet by conference call) was respectful, competent, and efficient. Move-in week has been wonderful, but the foundation that was laid throughout the preceding five month should not be ignored.
From top to bottom, you have an organization of which you can be proud. We look forward to many years of successful partnership with Apogee.”
“In weighing the costs associated with doing this ourselves versus through our managed ResNet provider, Centenary was able to save approximately $1.4 million over the life of the contract. As Apogee assumed the initial investment for both equipment and installation, Centenary was able to defer up-front capital expenditures and still set up a wireless network that scales as technologies and student needs evolve.”
Campus Technology Magazine, April 2011
A Clear ROI for ResNet Outsourcing
“ResNet is a serious cost that is getting higher year by year. At Southwestern, we found ourselves understaffed. We were spending a steadily increasing amount of time managing ResNet and therefore less time dedicated to other projects and things that needed attention. Additionally, we were late in the lifecycle of our ResNet infrastructure with no budget to replace the equipment.
Apogee provided a way to offload the management in addition to giving a forklift network upgrade AND provide an infusion of bandwidth to our academic and administrative network. It was a win-win for the students and the university. Each time we renew our contract, we evaluate the cost of taking back ownership and management of Resnet. It always shows a clear ROI for sticking with Apogee.”
Network Access and Mobile Connectivity
“Apogee provides access per student in any residence hall on-campus. They sell multiple service levels depending on bandwidth and device count needs to the students. Each student’s device(s) can connect to any Apogee network connection (wired and wireless) in any residence hall. Mobile students utilize the university’s wireless network when in academic and administrative buildings and spaces. We are working on backhauling them through Apogee for those connections, though. Bandwidth service levels (QoS) depend on the package they choose. No applications are blocked or shaped – only the overall connections per student.”
RIAA Management
“As for RIAA dealings, Apogee handles this, too. Since the students are on an Apogee-owned IP block, the WHOIS info resolves to them and take-down notices are sent that way (instead of to me!). Our university wanted to play a progressive role in the DMCA violation cases, so we have arranged for Apogee to forward notices along with student identity to our Dean of Students and our CIO. Those two in turn meet with the student, who is placed on academic probation for their first offense. Pretty strict, but we’ve taken a zero-tolerance stance and it’s paid off based on the low occurrence of repeat offenders.”
“Over time it had become apparent at BSC that our IT team was literally being held hostage by the student network. We were spending 75%-80% of our time and resources on managing, troubleshooting and resolving ResNet issues. We simply didn’t have the time, resources, or money to advance new technologies, explore ways to support the College’s academic goals through IT, or invest time and energy in the administrative side of the campus network. By providing around-the-clock Internet and entertainment technology to our student residences, we realized that we had essentially become a residential ISP and it was overwhelming our ability to act on the mission-critical goals of the College.
We were forced to sit back and ask ourselves how we could best meet each one of these situations – the business of the college, the educational research, the ResNet, and access to different forms of communication, growth and technology expansion. After a months-long review of alternative models that might take the residential burden off our plate, BSC chose Apogee to take over the day-to day operation of ResNet management and support. It’s really turned my job from a tedious, labor-intensive cycle of micromanagement into a higher managerial level where I’m able to manage a set of resources. In our world, it was a landmark decision. After a short span of time and without any large outlay of money, we were at a point where case studies had been written about our success in IT and other schools were noticing and calling us to ask how we do things. It’s been great to finally leave the ‘net nanny’ role and move to the forefront of technology in higher education.”
View video case study on Birmingham-Southern College
“At Brockport we are getting ready to begin our 6th year of ResNet services through Apogee. We have found that Apogee has been able to exceed expectations and at a reasonable cost. They keep up with the constant changes in technology and students are much happier with the services that they offer.”
Shannon Sauro
Director of Telecommunications
The College at Brockport – Brockport, NY
“Students were asking for a more robust system with better support. There were some things we couldn’t even begin to consider until we had a better solution.”
Chuck Fuller, Asst VP of Business Services
University of North Texas
“We were not equipped nor chartered to be an ISP. Turning that business over to Apogee was a good business decision for Ithaca College. It’s been a win-win situation for everybody.”
Ed Fuller, Director of Information Technology
Ithaca College
“We have many more important things that we need to be worried about during move-in, so not having to worry at all about Internet and cable connections really takes the strain off of us.”
Jonathan Lucia, Director of Residence Life
Birmingham-Southern College
“Students are happy that the registration process is ‘painless’ and that they have direct phone support. The college is happy because we no longer have to spend many hours on dealing with issues in the residence hall, and there are almost no complaints from students or parents.”
Henk Sonder, Director of Network and Telecommunications
Rhode Island College
“With the help of Apogee, our ResNet help-line went from filling up the voicemail box every hour to one or two messages a day during the week after move-in.”
Pat Hayes, Director of User Support Services
Rhode Island College
“Now we have the bandwidth we need. Students are able to run whatever they like and our network management is greatly reduced.”
Todd K. Watson, Associate Director, Systems and Networks
Southwestern University
“Our housing department was very impressed with the support we received, both online and through move-in. The support Apogee provided through the transition was exemplary.”
Joe Adamo, Director of Communication Services
University of North Texas
“Partnering with Apogee has renewed my faith in managed services. Our partnership has been innovative from the beginning and we’ve been able to collaborate, make improvements and maintain consistently high levels of service.”
Jonathan Lucia, Director of Residence Life
Birmingham-Southern College
“I would guess that my network team has gained 30-50% of its time back and the freedom has allowed us to think in strategic terms. It’s been a great experience start to finish.”
Dr. James Parlett, Chief Information Officer
University of the Incarnate Word