Strategic Tech Purchasing

By Linda L. Briggs

Finding ways to better manage your purchasing strategy can help save considerable sums, not just on purchases, but on back-end support costs. For suggestions on how to cut tech procurement costs and control spending, we spoke with CIOs at two universities and a senior manager of higher ed purchasing at one of the biggest tech product suppliers in the world. Here are their suggestions on ways to control, standardize, and save on tech purchasing.

eProcurement is one of the most talked-about technology solutions in purchasing. If you’re as yet unfamiliar with the process, it refers to replacing paper-based transactions with electronic ones. Purchases are made over the Internet. A school with an eProcurement system in place also has an electronic method of producing a purchase order and tying the transaction into the back-end accounting system. For some schools, it can be an immediate money-saver...

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Longhorns Claim Fastest Computer Bragging Rights

The University of Texas last week christened “Lonestar,” the name of its new $3 million, 52,000-node academic computer cluster...

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Washington State Tests Site for Managing Transfer Students

Washington State is testing a prototype Web-based system for advising transfer students and managing their transfer requirements...

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Jacksonville University Chooses Academus for Web Management

Florida’s Jacksonville University has selected Unicon’s Academus Web Content Management (WCM) solution, powered by RedDot Solutions, to manage its new Web site and Intranet...

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'Ole Miss' Turns to New Document Management Solution

By Linda L. Briggs

Even with its many sophisticated computer systems, the University of Mississippi, like most campuses, still deals with lots of paper. The graduate school admissions process, for example, requires that applying students submit large amounts of supporting materials. Previously, those paper documents had to be copied and distributed through the campus mail system. That required lots of copying and tracking. Occasionally, materials were misplaced.

To address the issue, the university, affectionately known as “Ole Miss,” recently selected a content management solution from Mobius Management Systems, Inc. that allows them to scan in the paper documents submitted by prospective graduate students and distribute them electronically...

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Technology & Campus Services: The Changing Face of Auxiliary Services

By Matt Villano

Can auxiliary services be mission-critical? You bet they can. With tuition on the rise, Auxiliary Services departments at a variety of colleges and universities are proving that they can innovate and still save their parent institutions cash. First in auxiliary services innovation: With advancements in technology, a handful of institutions are moving campus purchasing programs into the wireless space. Second: With the proliferation of junk mail, learning centers are finding new ways to eliminate paper waste and improve efficiency across the board. Finally: As environmental conservation becomes a bigger concern, schools are embracing buildings that don’t harm the Earth, and many of the services involved in those efforts make use of “green” approaches and innovative technologies. Put simply, auxiliary services aren’t so auxiliary anymore... (Campus Technology)

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What d'es "smart" classroom technology mean to your campus? Share your viewpoint, experiences, and questions with your peers by writing to us at [email protected].

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