MinerAlert
MinerAlert
¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT
In the fall of 2024, we surveyed students to identify technology support gaps. The survey revealed that students frequently use mobile devices for coursework but face issues with limited power outlets. Larger classrooms tend to have fewer outlets per seat. We identified the most affected classrooms and aim to increase power outlet access in the first-floor auditoriums of the ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ Learning Center by the spring of 2026. This initiative will enable continuous mobile device use during classes.
Outcomes:
Retrofitting traditional fixed power outlets across large classroom spaces presents significant financial challenges. To address this, we are deploying power stations equipped with portable chargers throughout the ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ Learning Center. These stations are carefully placed in high-traffic areas to maximize accessibility for students who need to charge their mobile devices during class.
To ensure all students are informed about the self-service charging option, each power station features an informational poster detailing the procedures for borrowing and returning portable chargers.
In addition, each power station is equipped with analytics capabilities to track usage patterns. The data collected will inform future decisions about expanding the program and optimizing the placement of additional stations based on demonstrated need.
This approach provides an efficient and cost-effective solution that supports continuous mobile device use during class sessions, directly addressing the needs identified in the student technology support survey.
A new educational building, the Texas Western Hall, is expected to open in the spring of 2026. The new building will have state-of-the-art technology in 37 classrooms, several large auditoriums, and 23 collaboration spaces. The Learning Environments team is responsible for the planning, design, and installation of the Audio-Visual (AV) infrastructure. Once this project is completed, the oldest classroom facilities on campus will be demolished and replaced with modern learning spaces in the Texas Western Hall.
Outcomes:
The Texas Western Hall audiovisual infrastructure project was completed on time, with most spaces being finished ahead of schedule. All classroom installations were finalized one month prior to the building's scheduled opening, ensuring ample time for final inspections and adjustments.
A key factor contributing to the project's success was the in-house handling of design, programming, procurement, and installation of the audiovisual systems. This approach resulted in significant cost savings, with an estimated $2 million saved by utilizing internal expertise rather than outsourcing these critical tasks.
The Learning Environments staff have distinguished themselves as one of the largest installers of Direct View LED (DVLED) screens in the United States outside of major audiovisual firms. As a result, Texas Western Hall stands out as one of the few educational facilities in the nation to have fully implemented this advanced display technology throughout its learning spaces.
To support the effective use of these new systems, the team provided comprehensive training to faculty members. Additionally, ongoing onsite classroom support will be available for educators, and cross-training opportunities will be offered to LACIT staff to ensure sustained operational excellence and adaptability.
We are tasked with replacing an outdated and non-scalable system for the Miner Teacher Residency program. In partnership with the College of Education, our objective is to review, assess, identify, and implement an efficient, scalable, and sustainable system to support this program. The new system will streamline and manage student admission, field placement, residency experiences, and observation data effectively.
Outcomes:
After a thorough evaluation of three potential solutions, we chose an educational management platform that was already in use by two academic departments at ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ for their clinical and experiential education programs. This strategic decision enabled us to leverage an established system with proven effectiveness within the university environment.
By extending the use of this platform to the Teacher Residency program and securing a campus-wide agreement, we realized significant cost savings. Over a three-year period, this approach resulted in savings of $81,000 for the institution.
The new platform was successfully implemented in fall 2025, replacing the internally developed system that had previously supported the program. This transition addressed key concerns related to sustainability and scalability, ensuring that the Teacher Residency program is well-supported as it continues to grow and evolve.
In fall 2024, the Tech-Enhanced Learning Advisory Committee was tasked with recommending technology-enhanced learning strategies for the Information Resources division's three-year plan. A survey distributed to ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ faculty revealed a need for lecture recording and video conferencing in classrooms. The initial goal is to develop and test a prototype in select fall 2025 courses. The prototype should be user-friendly and scalable for hundreds of classrooms. The final objective is to equip all tech-enhanced classrooms with these functionalities, contingent on funding.
Outcomes:
All technology-enabled classrooms have been updated to include advanced monitors equipped with integrated cameras and microphones. This upgrade ensures that instructors have high-quality audiovisual capabilities for both in-person and remote teaching scenarios.
To further support flexible and dynamic teaching styles, instructors are provided with portable USB microphones. These devices allow educators to move freely around the classroom while maintaining clear audio quality for lecture recordings and live sessions.
Zoom conferencing software is pre-installed on every instructor computer and directly connected to the upgraded monitors. This setup enables instructors to record lectures seamlessly using the built-in microphone and camera, facilitating efficient content capture for students.
Comprehensive instructional videos are available to guide instructors through the process of recording lectures with Zoom. These resources also explain how to share recorded content with students via Blackboard, ensuring that all faculty can make full use of the new technology enhancements.
Blackboard is ending support for the original course view and transitioning to the Ultra Course View (UCV), available since fall 2021. Starting in fall 2025, all courses will be created in the UCV, with a one-time option to revert if needed. Despite enhanced training resources, adoption has remained low at 31% as of spring 2025. As the deadline approaches, we must collaborate with academic leaders and faculty to ensure a smooth transition by highlighting UCV's benefits, such as streamlined course creation and management.
Our strategy now focuses on working closely with faculty leadership to understand their needs and demonstrate how UCV can save time and increase efficiency. We aim to build a community of faculty champions to share successful case studies and encourage broader adoption.
Outcomes:
To facilitate the transition to the Ultra Course View in Blackboard, we worked collaboratively with academic leaders and faculty members to distribute clear and consistent communications regarding the upcoming changes. Two faculty champions played a pivotal role by sharing their positive experiences with the new course format and actively assisting their colleagues throughout the transition process. Their outreach was instrumental in building trust and encouraging faculty participation.
Throughout this period, we maintained a strong emphasis on faculty support by continuing to offer comprehensive training resources and one-on-one consultations. These efforts ensured that every faculty member received the guidance and assistance needed to adapt to the new system successfully.
As a result of these combined strategies, we achieved a remarkable 99% adoption rate for the Ultra Course View format in Blackboard. A total of 4,037 courses for fall 2025 were transitioned from the original version to Ultra, marking a highly successful migration for our academic community.
Last year, we researched and identified an efficient ITSM platform. We chose an industry-leading platform that offers the best value and plan to transition in the upcoming months. The new platform will integrate Microsoft Teams, Talkdesk, and AI capabilities, saving significant time for our Technology Analysts. To handle the high volume of password reset calls, we will implement an automated self-service password reset solution. This will allow users to securely reset their passwords without needing a live agent, reducing the workload on our support team and improving response times.
Outcomes:
The rollout of the new IT Service Management (ITSM) solution was completed with minimal disruption to day-to-day operations and partner departments. By integrating our cloud-based contact center, we streamlined communication and support processes. Additionally, ServiceNow’s chat functionality was enabled within the ITSM platform, which has significantly reduced the amount of time live agents spend creating new incidents.
Customer Service Management (CSM) capabilities were also incorporated to enhance business operations for several external departments. These include Financial Aid, the Student Success Help Desk, Records, and the Miner Athletic Academic Center. This integration has strengthened service delivery and operational efficiency for these units.
Currently, we are in the process of implementing an automated self-service password reset solution. Once completed, this feature will further simplify support for users by allowing them to securely reset their passwords without the need for assistance from a live agent.
Microsoft will discontinue support for Windows 10 in October 2025. At ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ, approximately two thousand computers currently run Windows 10. The plan is to implement automatic upgrades via our Endpoint Management systems in April 2025. Any computers that are not automatically upgraded will receive individual attention from our Technology Analysts starting in July 2025.
Outcomes:
Maintaining up-to-date security on all ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ computers has been a key focus this year. At the beginning of the year, there were 2,046 ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ computers identified as needing a Windows version upgrade to ensure continued receipt of security updates prior to October 2025.
Nearly 80% of these upgrades were completed seamlessly, without causing any interruption to end users. For the remaining systems, our technicians provided direct support through either in-person intervention or by replacing the computers, ensuring all systems met the required security standards.