Letter from the Vice President for Information Technology
The 2019-2020 academic year will forever be remembered by how it ended and what it started. The COVID-19 pandemic forced all of us to learn, teach and work remotely. This sudden shift in how we work and provide service to the campus forced us to make quick decisions, pivot priorities, and correct quickly if needed. While we don't yet know all of the long-term effects that COVID-19 has had on our institution, we can be certain that a return to the way things were done before COVID-19 is unlikely.
Our division has always been known for its partnership with campus, and we proved in the spring of 2020 that even a pandemic wouldn’t shake this commitment. Our staff worked to help bring instruction online in weeks, we provided support and security to all staff working remotely, and we began to plan for the upcoming school year to be offered in a HyFlex model. The end of the 2020 academic year had our team developing with campus leadership a proposal for new equipment in classrooms, upgrading our networks in academic and residential buildings, and new workshops and support for instructors. The University was awarded approximately $9 million for IT-related activities at the end of June 2020 to begin implementation for HyFlex instruction in the next year.
Regards,
Marc Wallman
Vice President for Information Technology
North Dakota State University
Financials
FY20 - Sources of IT Salary and Operating Budgets
*Total Tech Fee Revenue less Expenditures - $90,562
Total Tech Fee Award expenditures for FY20 = $44,193
**Telecom Capitol projects:
E911 = $140,891 CM8 Upgrade = 4396,704, Release Mgmt = $147,705, SIP$10,920.00 CMS = $13,720
Classroom and Computer Labs
1,056 supported classroom and lab computers 113 unique software apps 332 total supported spaces:
- 31 computer labs
- 171 interactive classrooms
- 48 interactive study space
- 37 agriculture extension video conferencing sites
- 45 conference rooms/seminar classrooms
56 student printers 2,198,417 sheets of paper compared to 3,094,972 last year
Learning and Applied Innovation Center
The LAIC, formerly the TLMC and LAI team, provides a variety of support, consulting and multimedia services for the campus, including video and audio recording studios, multimedia software and specialized equipment, editing and consultative services, classroom project support, multimedia coursework assistance, Instructional Design consultations and technology workshops. Workshop topics included MS Office and Adobe software, audio, video, photography, Google Apps and others.
- Fall 2019 TLMC had 1,337 check-ins into the lab
- Spring 2020 TLMC joined with Learning and Applied Innovation (LAI) team to create the Learning and Applied Innovation Center (LAIC)
- Spring 2020 LAIC had 373 check in’s into the lab (lower numbers resulting from COVID-19 and social distancing efforts)
- Spring 2020 launch of Instructional Design (ID) consultations – 32 individual consultations and 9 dept consultations, 4 of which were the "Are You Prepared" presentation
Enterprise Networks supports Network, Wireless, CableTV, Card Access, Emergency Blue Phones and Video Surveillance for 112 NDSU building network locations on and off campus, all on campus parking lots and walkways around campus.
2019-2020 Significant Activities and Projects
- Initiated $1.5M core network upgrade to be completed in calendar year 2021 Completed data center fiber optic cabling overhaul to support the core network upgrade
- Initiated data center copper network cabling overhaul to support the core network upgrade
- Implemented wireless upgrade plan for residence halls including installation of over 1,500 wireless access points
- Converted roughly 60% of the campus wireless network from Cisco to Aruba
- Managed large network wiring upgrade as part of QBB fourth floor remodeling
- Managed large network wiring upgrade as part of Sudro Hall remodeling
- Managed network wiring installation as part of Hasting remodeling
- Completed network speed upgrades and significant network cabling expansion within the Music building
- Converted the campus surveillance system from Nice Vision to Avigilon reducing licensing costs substantially Installed 60 digital alert and campus communication signs across various buildings on campus
- Completed very large, network switch change out and upgrades in academic buildings campus wide, over 350 devices were upgraded and/or relocated
- Identified 14 buildings on campus where the age of the underground copper phone cabling plant has become an issue to providing reliable phone circuits. Conversion to fiber optics based phones is in progress
- Managed the installation of fiber optic network connectivity to the Agriculture departments barns located on 19th Ave N in Fargo
- Implemented fiber optic, high speed network connectivity to the Casselton Agronomy Seed Farm to provide connectivity to Internet 2 and data cloud services used for Ag research
- Began the periodic audit of over 33,000 network connections on campus to ensure internal documentation matches with actual cabling installation
- Changed office name to Enterprise Networks to align and reflect more closely with the other Enterprise Computing department names and functions
Customer Support
IT Help Desk
Web Submission (March 7th - June 30th) Earlier data unavailable
Chat (March 7th - June 30th) Earlier data unavailable
Walk-up (closed March 15th - June 30th) Earlier data unavailable
Equipment Checkout (unavailable March 15, 2020 - June 30, 2020)
Partnerships
Research Data Working Group
The Research Data Working Group includes representatives from Research and Creative Activity, the NDSU Libraries and the IT Division who provide assistance with grant proposal development in the areas of data management planning and IT needs.
More information is available at: https://www.ndsu.edu/research_data/about_us/
Cyber Security Group
This special-interest group of technical professionals, communication liaisons and data stewards gather to share strategies and best practices for securing systems and protecting data.
Faculty Senate Technology and Instructional Services Committee
Technology and Instructional Services is a standing committee on NDSU’s Faculty Senate, serving as a liaison between the Faculty Senate and administration in the IT Division.
More information is available at: https://www.ndsu.edu/facultysenate/committees/
Information Technology Communication Liaisons
IT Communication Liaisons members are appointed by their home departments to serve as conduits for information and feedback regarding campus information technology. The group meets monthly to learn about and discuss a variety of technology plans, projects and issues.
Information Technology Council
The IT Council serves in a consultative capacity to the vice president for IT regarding IT strategic planning, policy development and service review for the university.
Information Technology Technical Professionals
The IT Technical Professionals is a special-interest group that provides the opportunity for technical discussions and exchange of information between distributed technical staff and the IT Division.
Instructional Designers
Instructional Designers play a key role in supporting pedagogical use of technology on campus. The group meets periodically with staff in the IT Division to discuss plans, changes and issues related to classroom technology and instructional services.
Learning Spaces Executive Committee
The Learning Spaces Executive Committee provides advice to the Provost concerning the scheduling, use, renovation and creation of learning spaces on campus. Learning spaces include classrooms, laboratories, study areas, computer labs and other rooms where students learn and study. The committee is chaired by the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, and members include representatives from the Office of the Registrar, Facilities Management, the IT Division, the Office of Teaching and Learning, and the Libraries.
Records Management Advisory Committee
The Records Management Advisory Committee serves as the overarching governance of NDSU’s Records Management program, providing oversight, guidance and direction.
Residence Hall Association Campus Services Representatives
Student members of the Residence Hall Association meet monthly with IT Division staff to learn about trends and upcoming changes to campus technologies and to share feedback from their peers in the residence halls regarding student experiences with campus technology services and resources.
Software Contacts
Software Contacts are appointed to serve as liaison between their respective departments and the IT Software Licensing Coordinator regarding software licensing questions, software orders and other software assets and licensing issues.
Staff Senate Information Technology Committee
The Staff Senate Information Technology Committee disseminates information and updates regarding information technology to Staff Senate and carries concerns from Staff Senate to the IT Division.
More information is available at: https://www.ndsu.edu/staff_senate/committees/
Student Government Office of Technology
The Student Government Office of Technology represents the technology needs of NDSU students and works with the IT Division to ensure proper usage of the student technology fee.
More information is available at: https://www.ndsu.edu/sg/tech/
Student Technology Services
Student Technology Services is a long-standing, work-based learning program that provides opportunities for NDSU students to obtain jobs in the IT field. A student manager oversees the student hiring process, maintains records, assists full-time staff with summer orientation and encourages other IT students to be part of this activity. The IT Division relies on student employees to help communicate and provide an overview of IT services to incoming students during campus visits. We value the work students do and appreciate their willingness to share knowledge and expertise as part of our organization’s outreach activities.
Telephone Administrators
Telephone administrators provide direct services to NDSU departments for all telecommunication needs. They are the first point of contact for any new requests, changes and issues related to telecommunication services.
Unit Records Coordinators
Unit Records Coordinators serve as liaisons between their respective units and NDSU’s records management leadership, contributing to NDSU’s records management program.
Technology Fee Advisory Committee
The Technology Fee Advisory Committee formulates recommendations to the Vice President for Information Technology about supporting projects that improve the information technology capabilities on campus by the appropriate use of the student technology fee.
More information is available at: www.ndsu.edu/tfac
The Information Technology Division is committed to “Delivering Core Solutions and Propelling Innovation” by sustaining reliable infrastructure systems designed to maintain a robust and dynamic core network foundation. The organization’s culture and strength is also expressed by its passionate desire to serve the needs of the campus community through relationships and partner collaboration. In tandem with our campus partners and colleagues, we engage in discussions of discovery, evaluation and implementation regarding new technology tools or state-of-the-art innovations envisioned to enrich teaching, learning or research outcomes.
Staff Achievements
The 32nd Annual NDSU Staff Recognition Social was cancelled due to COVID-19 social distancing measures. IT staff to have been recognized for their years of service at NDSU are as follows: 5 years (Oluwasijibomi Saula), 10 years (Daniel Erichsen), 15 years (Richard Frovarp, Robert Viou and CeCe Rohwedder), 20 years (Wendy McCrory), 25 years (Kim Lammers, Tim Mooney), 30 years (Bruce Curtis and David Dahl) and 40 years (Lorna Olsen).
Kim Lammers and Tim Mooney were inducted into NDSU’s Quarter Century Club
Organization and Staff Changes
Organizational Changes
- Tran Brunsberg, hired as Network Support Coordinator, Network Engineering and Operations (from Office Coordinator, Office of the Vice President for Information Technology), 9/3/19
- Richard Frovarp, promoted to Principal Software Engineer (from Senior Software Engineer), 8/8/19
- Francisco Hidalgo, promoted to Desktop Support Specialist (from Desktop Support Technician), 9/5/19
- Sharley Kurtz, title changed to Instructional Technology Specialist (from Learning Technologies Specialist), 8/26/19
- Sharley Kurtz, promoted to Learning and Applied Innovations Assistant Manager (from Learning Technologies Specialist), 1/27/20
- Jill Peterson, promoted to Enterprise Applications Manager (from Database Applications Developer), 3/5/20
- Sharon Brinker, hired as Office Coordinator (from Senior Account Technician, Budget Office), 12/9/19
- Network Engineering and Operations was renamed "Enterprise Networks" in April, 2020
- Teaching and Learning Media Center (TLMC) was renamed "Learning and Applied Innovation Center" (LAIC) in April, 2020
- NDSU IT Staff moved to remote workspaces as a response to the COVID-19 Pandemic in April, 2020
New Staff Hires
- Camille Brown, Account Technician, 2/18/20
- Navneet Deosi, Help Desk Consultant, 3/9/2020
- Danyelle Marthaler, Office Coordinator, 10/21/19
- Krishna Kambhampaty, Software Engineer, 11/15/19
Staff Resignations/Retirements
- Eric Christeson, Software Engineer, 7/1/19
- Steve Beckermann, Learning and Applied Innovation Assistant Manager, 11/15/19
- Krishna Kambhampaty, Software Engineer, 5/1/20
- Daniel Koiner, Help Desk Consultant, 11/29/19
Employee List
Below is is a list of employees in each IT Division department as of June 30, 2020 60 employees, 3 Indirect Reports (Business Unit), 61 student employees. *needs update
Office of the Vice President for Information Technology
Marc Wallman, Vice President for Information Technology
Sharon Brinker, Office Coordinator
Curt Doetkott, Consulting Statistician
Enrique Garcia, Chief Information Security Officer
Jeff Gimbel, Senior Security Analyst
Diane Harrison, NDSU Card Center staff
Danyelle Marthaler, Office Coordinator
Wendy McCrory, Program Manager, NDSU Card Center and Software Services
Kim Owen, Program Manager, Research and Education Network Resources
CeCe Rohwedder, Assistant to the Vice President for Information Technology
Kristi Steinmann, Communication and Strategic Partnerships Lead
Enterprise Networks
Steve Sobiech, Assistant Vice President for Enterprise Computing and Infrastructure
Jon Bronken, Assistant Manager and System Administrator
Tran Brunsberg, Network Support Coordinator
Bruce Curtis, Senior Network Engineer
David Dahl, Senior Network Infrastructure Engineer
Kevin Dittemore, Network Infrastructure Technician
Jason Eide, Manager, Enterprise Systems
Chad Foster, Network Infrastructure Technician
Richard Frovarp, Principal Software Engineer
Brian Kennedy, System Administrator
Pete Lambertz, Enterprise Networks Director
Brian Miller, Telecommunications Analyst
Tim Mooney, Senior System Administrator
Val Nordsletten, Network Engineer
Jill Peterson, Enterprise Applications Manager
Nathan Robideau, Telecommunications Analyst
Verlyn Sandhurst, System Administrator
Suhan Vethanayagam, System Administrator
Bob Viou, Senior Network Engineer
Greg Wettstein, Information Technology Principal Engineer
Gary Whaley, System Administrator
Information Technology Services
Jason Blosser, Assistant Vice President for Information Technology Services
Michael Aho,Help Desk Assistant Manager
Vince Anderson, Desktop Support Specialist
Neil Brock, Help Desk Consultant
Chad Coleman, Interim Desktop Engineering Team Lead
Tammy Cummings, Instructional Services Consultant
Navneet Deosi, Help Desk Consultant
Daniel Erichsen, Interactive Media Specialist
Francisco Hidalgo, Desktop Support Specialist
Nathan Gonser, Help Desk Manager
Cole Jackson, Desktop Engineer I
Cindy Kozojed, Telecommunications Analyst
Sharley Kurtz, Instructional Technology Specialist
Susan McDaniel, Interim Voice and Collaboration Services Team Lead
Micah McGowen, Classroom Technology Manager
Trevor McNeil, Classroom Technologies Specialist
Lorna Olsen, Instructional Services Consultant
Jayme Pfeifer, Telecommunications Analyst
Jim Sellner, Desktop Support Specialist
Jim Senechal, Computer Systems Specialist
Ethan Smith, Classroom Technologies Specialist
Melissa Stotz, Learning and Applied Innovation Manager
Josh Teegarden, Senior Help Desk Consultant, NDSU Downtown Campus
Michael Wolf, Desktop Engineer
Business Operations, Policy and Strategic Services (all indirect reports)
Camille Brown, Account Technician
Kim Lammers, Business Manager
Rhonda Nilles, Information Technology Budget and Cost Accounting Manager
Center for Computationally Assisted Science and Technology (temporary placement)
Dane Skow, Executive Director
Nick Dusek, HPC System Administrator
Khang Hoang, Research Facilitator
Oluwasijibomi (Siji) Saula, HPC System Administrator
Student Employees and Major
Carter Aanenson, Computer Engineering
Kelvin Abambora, Electrical Engineering
Ali Mohammad Reza, Computer Science
Hussain Alibrahim, Computer Science
Abdelaziz Alsubie, Grad: Statistics
Christopher Antholz, Computer Science
Logan Balvik, Sociology
Scobie Bathie, Theatre Arts
Bat-Od Bat-Otgon, Grad: Software Engineering
Matthew Bauer, Computer Engineering
Jade Berg, Psychology
Natalie Bloodgood, Electrical Engineering
KamrynBrecht, Architecture
Ian Burnham, Management Information Systems
Isaac Burton, Computer Engineering
Thomas Bye, Computer Science
Rand Carlson, Civil Engineering
Jacob Carter, Mechanical Engineering
Nathan Christensen, Computer Engineering
Dawson Coleman, Computer Science
Sara Cramer, UG: Management Information Systems Grad: MBA
Matthew Dahlen, Electrical Engineering
Quang Dang, Electrical Engineering
Navneet Deosi, UG: Management Information Systems Grad: Software Engineering
Carter DeWolfe, Computer Science
Dylan Ditlevson, Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering Grad: Civil Engineering and Transportation and Urban Systems
Evan Eggers, Computer Science
Nazrin Ferdousi, Computer Science
Milton Fernandez, Computer Engineering
Michael Footitt, Computer Science
Jack Frazzini, Computer Science
Jingyan Fu, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Rakhen Garg, Computer Science
George Garrison, Finance
Kunjan, UG: Business Admin Grad: MBA, and Business Analytics
Ruisi Ge, UG: Elect. Engineering Grad: Electric and Computer Engineering
Brandon Gehrls, Construction Management
Elijah Gjerdingen, Computer Science
Daniel Gottwalt, UG: Architecture Grad: Architecture
Tyler Grose, Mechanical Engineering
Joshua Grosz, Mechanical Engineering
Gurmeet Chaudhary, Grad: Software Engineering and Cybersecurity
Riyad Hakim, Grad: Computer Science
Nathan Hanson, Computer Science
Oveis Hassanijalilian, Grad: Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
Matthew Herman, Computer Engineering
Andrew Hershberger, Computer Science
Chase Hinderks, Management Information Systems
Huan Ho, Computer Science
Russell Hofmann, Chemistry
Rahmanul Hoque, UG: Computer Science Grad: Computer Science
Tim Hunter, Computer Science
Anusha Inugurthi, Grad: Computer Science and Software Engineering
Nauman Jalil, Grad: Electrical and Computer Engineering
Bonnie Jan, Grad: Software Engineering & Cybersecurity
Ismael Kamara, UG: Management Info Systems Grad: Business Analytics
Krishna Kambhampaty, Grad: Computer Science
Steven Karschinia, Computer Science
Simon Karst, Computer Science
Rupinder Kaur, Grad: Software Engineering
Trevor Knutson, Computer Science
Shubit Kumar, UG: Statistics Grad: Computer Science
John Langaas, Mechanical Engineering
Jacob Laurent, Computer Science
Jonnah Lee, Agricultural Communication
Minglian Lin, Grad: Mathematics and Statistics
Kyle Ly, Computer Engineering
Levi Lystrom, UG: Chemistry Grad: Chemistry
Gavin Mallott, Electrical Engineering
Ranjan Maskey, Biotechnology
Marisa Mathews, UG: Sociology Grad: Sociology
Chantel Mertz, Crop and Weed Sciences
Pranjal Misal, UG: Computer Engineering Grad: Electrical and Computer Engineering
Samuel Morrison, Mechanical Engineering
Ryley Mullins, Computer Science
Seth Oppong, Grad: Statistics
Cassandra Pennings, UG: English Grad: English
Zachary Pocquette, University Studies
Mason Pugh, Computer Engineering
Victor Rauta, UG: Computer Science Grad: Computer Science
Pricilla Rozario, Biological Sciences
Michael Russell, Strategic Communication
Rashmi Satyal, Computer Science
Noah Schottler, Computer Science
Matthew Seefeldt, Mathematics
Justin Slater, Computer Science
Ibrahim Soumare, Grad: Applied Statistics and Statistics
Logan Steffen, Computer Science
Dmitrii Sysoev, Nursing
Chengyao Tang, UG: Computer Science Grad: Computer Science
Devan Thompson, University Studies
Jackson Thurn, Computer Science
Dibyashu Tibrewal, Grad: Computer Science
Minh Tran, Mechanical Engineering
Nicholas Turnquist, Electrical Engineering
Chrystian Ulrich, Computer Engineering
Andrew Voss, Computer Engineering
Nathan Walker, Grad: Physics
Eric Welle, Management Information Systems
Qian Wen, Grad: Statistics