Employees at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore are experiencing significant enhancements in their workplace technology this fall. The Department of Information Technology is leading a series of campus-wide upgrades to improve efficiency and security. These improvements include a move to the Windows 11 operating system and a transition from Google Workspace to Microsoft Office 365. A new phone and printing system will also be implemented.
The upgrades were initiated as part of a comprehensive checklist to modernize the campus’s technological infrastructure. The printer and phone migrations were completed over the summer. The final phase—the switch to Office 365—is scheduled to be completed by September 13. According to Mark Van Pelt, UMES’s chief information officer, these changes are crucial for keeping pace with current technological trends and ensuring data security. “The main benefit is modernization,” Van Pelt stated. “We want to be mobile-ready as a campus and allow people to have a more fluid way to work.”
The transition to Windows 11 was prompted by the impending end of support for the previous operating system, Windows 10. The shift from Google Workspace to Office 365 and OneDrive is mainly geared towards enhancing security for sensitive institutional data. “This simplifies transferring of information and makes things easier,” Van Pelt said. “It makes us one big technological family.”
Communication Upgrades
In addition to improving software and operating systems, UMES has upgraded its communication tools. The older NEC office phones have been replaced with a new Cisco WebEx system.
“You can use WebEx on pretty much any device – a mobile phone, iPhone, iPad, or your web browser,” said IT director Rob Lopez. “You can even take your office phone home and connect it to your Wi-Fi if you want.”
This flexibility allows employees to maintain privacy when working remotely. They can now use their office number even while using personal devices. “With WebEx being within an app, it’s like you’re calling from your desk with a campus extension,” explained LaChanda Snead, the director of administrative computing.
A new e-fax configuration enables recipients to receive and read faxes through the WebEx system. The IT department will also install new color copiers and printers, allowing users to print more efficiently across various campus locations.
Furthermore, as part of the University of Maryland College Park’s Elevate program, UMES is transitioning to the cloud-based Workday system. This platform will replace outdated payroll, human resources, financial, and budgeting systems with an integrated solution prioritizing data security, efficiency, and compliance.