Younger generations have always tended to be early adopters of new technology, and with the continued advancement of communications technology, including multi-functional handsets and other devices, that trend continues. Consequently, it is not surprising that educational facilities are widely looking to implement enhanced communications solutions to allow students to benefit from the latest innovations — which can also provide performance and productivity improvements for faculty and staff as well.

 

Last year, Villanova University, in fact, was labeled the most wired college in America by PC Magazine and The Princeton Review. The University, in fact, has made technology a fundamental part of student life. Incoming freshmen are given new laptops, which are then replaced at the end of their sophomore years, ensuring they have the latest technology at their disposal throughout their college careers. Villanova’s commitment to technology is embodies in its underscored by its guarantee that any and all tech support calls are responded to within 24 hours.

 

Now, Villanova has extended its communications infrastructure by installing a converged intelligent communications network from Avaya (News - Alert) and Extreme Networks. The new network connects 60 buildings on Villanova’s Philadelphia, Pennsylvania campus, combining Avaya’s Communication Manager VoIP software and Extreme’s switches. 

 

The integrated solution combine QoS features, common management, and PoE, all of which create a high availability network that supports a combination of IP, digital, and analog devices, allowing the school to deploy the latest endpoints where they are needed, and migrate the entire campus to IP in time. Initially, SIP phones will be used by staff in all new buildings, while analog phones will continue to be installed in dormitories and most public areas.

 

Until its new solution was implemented, Villanova was using separate voice mail and email applications. With the new unified communications solution, including Avaya’s modular messaging application, users will be able to access their messages from anywhere and with a number of different devices. Avaya’s one-X Speech interface with Outlook integration, they will have access various system functions from a single number using voice commands.

 

Instead of calling into the system merely to check voice mails, the virtual personal assistant that is part of the unified communications solution, enables organization, reading, composing of email, verifying and scheduling appointments, basic calling features, and much more, through the use of voice commands. On the other hands, when voice access is inconvenient, voice mails can be managed through the email system. Furthermore, the presence capabilities of the platform will create new efficiencies by eliminating the endless games of phone tag by identifying when a contact is available. Wondering if colleagues or friends are in the office, on the phone, in class, or elsewhere will no longer be a guessing game.

 

In addition to enhancing the communications capabilities across campus, Villanova is able to address another primary concern for any school, campus safety, with the new solution. The IP-based platform includes E-911 capabilities that will help expedite emergency response, including providing the location of the call, as well as automatically notifying campus personnel on any of a variety of devices. While there is no substitute for student vigilance and common sense, accidents to happen, and when they do, having a system in place that saves time can make a world of difference.

 

When the Fall semester arrives, callers into the University’s system will not find themselves talking to live operators or even basic numeric routing systems. Instead, speech driven menus will direct them to the appropriate person or department, all designed to minimize call and wait times.

 

While Villanova now has a solution that brings the many benefits of IP communications to campus, it also has not lost sight of the fact that the communications landscape is in constant flux, and says it remains committed to continued investment in its technology to ensure it remains at the forefront of institutions in the United States — including planned migration of data traffic to the new network, which will create a truly converged voice, video, and data communications system.

 

“This converged platform has enormous, long-term value as well as more immediate benefits for greater collaboration,” said Steve Fugale, CIO, Villanova. “The implementation couldn't have been any smoother, and the working relationship between Villanova, Avaya, Empire and Extreme has been that way since day one.

 

Remarkably, the new platform was delivered and installed in less than two months by Avaya Platinum business partner Empire Technologies.

 

“Villanova has a reputation for understanding how advancements in technology can assist in the development and delivery of high-quality education for our students,” said Robert Mays, director, Networking Communications, Villanova University.  “The Avaya and Extreme Networks (News - Alert) platform is already giving us the flexibility we need for improved access and campus safety, and it opens the door to easy integration with hundreds — if not thousands — of solutions from Avaya DeveloperConnection members like Meru Networks (News - Alert), Nuance and others, helping us get more out of our communications investment.”

 

Following Villanova in the top 10 wired institutions were M.I.T., Indiana University Bloomington, Swarthmore College, Creighton University, University of Illinois, Michigan Tech University, USC, Quinnipiac University, and University of Oklahoma.