Technology at N.C. A&T has seen its fair share of changes,

but Chancellor Harold Martin and Vice-Chancellor Barber Ellis, have

plans to revamp its systems.

Technology at N.C. A&T has seen its fair share of changes, but Chancellor Harold Martin and Vice-Chancellor Barber Ellis, have plans to revamp its systems. In Martin’s inaugural speech he stated that the technology side of A&T was weak and needed to be changed. Since his arrival obvious technology updates around campus, such as the new email system and the blackboard system update have occurred. The trend in the educational system is using the new student emailing system by Google apps education.

Last year a survey was done to see if students would use the Google email system more than the old system. Administration also wanted to create a more efficient way to communicate with prospective students. Currently students and faculty email accounts run on Lotus 7.0 email system. According to Ellis, the old Lotus 7.0 email system is in the process of being updated to the 8.5 version for the faculty and staff to support the work that they do

in a more productive fashion. The new version is similar to the Gmail for students but has a stronger infrastructure.

The 8.5 version is much richer with web to technologies and the collaboration suite of tools. “We are building a plan to migrate all of our students to Gmail,” said Ellis. Recently the online Blackboard system was updated to the new Blackboard Learn version 9.1 systems. The new system provides the latest online learning environment with more collaborative tools, easy navigation, and a more contemporary look. Blackboard is a web-based course management system used to support online teaching, learning, and research.

In addition to the newest technologies on campus, the technology office is working on upgrading the full technology experience of A&T. Ellis feels technology in corporate America and education are about 10 years behind each other and A&T is working diligently to improve the technology campus wide.

“Technology on campus is ok but it could be a lot better,” said Kalon Marlow, senior business major. Although many students feel A&T may not be the most technology savvy school, Vice-Chancellor Ellis has plans to make the “T” in A&T much stronger. Due to budget cuts in the economy the technology upgrades campus wide have been prioritized and are in the process of being upgraded. “Technology is improving slowly on campus and because we are in a transitioning stage it is hard to see it,” said Ashley Ragland, senior double major in computer engineer & computer science.

Information technology (IT) strategy that will support the university in the next five to 15 years with the universities goals is being written. It includes cloud computing, a mobility strategy and an infrastructure plan.

Cloud computing is the ability to deliver a service of shared resources, software and information from computer to computer on campus. Cloud computing would allow A&T to take advantage of its infrastructure and leverage the infrastructure more effectively.

It would also be more cost effective because A&T would be able to foresee the server capacity as well as programs and applications in the cloud to be used all over campus. Cloud computing also gives virtualization with applications that students or faculty may need and it is not specific to what kind of machine you are on. “Most business and campuses are applying these new technologies and we plan to move our university strategically in that direction” says Ellis.

The mobility strategy will give students the ability to be mobile users, allowing them to access most of the university services through their mobile phones. Registering for classes and checking account balances are among some of the features this strategy will allow.

A foreseeable issue with the mobility plan would be how to support all the different types of mobile devices and operating systems. Ellis believes the concept around mobility is compute, capacity and access to services anytime anywhere. This idea will make the university more virtual.

“The information technology is at a point where it is time to upgrade the infrastructure capacity and data-center,” said Ellis. She also added that the upgrade would include new serves and storage technology.

More changes include the technology department’s upgrade of the student computing services to make sure all students have the access to the new technologies on campus. Ellis believes that A&T is learning from some of the larger schools in the UNC System’s technology trials and errors. However, compared to the majority of schools in the system, she thinks it is not ahead or behind. “Technology is on campus average but probably better than other campuses,” Darrin Wright says information technology major.

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• Kenneth L. Hawkins Jr, Photo Editor