Your  Account:

Unified Communications

Collaboration is an ideal in higher education. The sharing of information between students and instructors, between colleagues and between different departments is a part of everyday life. This process needs to facilitate the Integration of phone/voicemail, email, chat, calendars to enhance the collaboration experiences. End users want the ability to communicate from any device to connect with the university.

  • Use of voice communication systems is changing dramatically
  • Use of desktop phone dropping in favor of text based and mobile communications
  • Changing nature/needs of modern communications platform is questioning the need and expense for a phone on every desk
  • Providing communications platform that support University services is still a requirement and phones throughout campus to protect life/health/safety is a core duty and responsibility

Big Ideas (3-5 years)

  • Upgrade in the user's communication options - provided flexibility
  • Increase productivity
  • Centralized management of the university's communication channels

Campus Connection

Campus Climate - 3.2 Deliver service-oriented and efficient administrative processes

Academic Excellence - 1.6 Integrate appropriate innovative technology throughout the academic experience


What is IITS already doing related to Unified Communications?

  • Office 365 - SharePoint, One Drive, Teams
  • PBX Replacement
  • Hangouts: Google / Persona Zoom conf. - shared costs

Who else might we need to bring into a conversation about Unified Communications?

  • Campus constituents and stakeholders
  • Other CSU campus - best practices
  • Vendor Resources
  • Gartner - technology related insight for higher education
  • Microsoft & VARs

What may need to be expanded in terms of services, systems, etc. if Unified Communications surfaces as a key area of focus from campus stakeholders?

  • Service Catalog
  • Roadmap for Unified Communications

What are our internal assets and challenges to meet Unified Communications needs, if adopted?

  • Formal Training
  • Capital + Operational - infrastructure budget
  • PBX Timeline
  • Culture: working hours & always on
  • Employee Skillset
  • Higher Expectations

What are people asking for? What issues are IITS aware of?

  • Unified Messaging
  • New Phones
  • New Features
  • Mobility
  • Collaboration