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How a commitment to education for all is driving Texas A&M University-Kingsville to embrace digitalization

As modern technologies fundamentally redefine the landscape of higher education, faculty and students can now access resources and conduct research anywhere in the world. The significant impact of technological modernization across the entire spectrum of the learning experience highlights the road ahead for thousands of IT professionals who dedicate their lives to removing barriers to knowledge.

As part of its efforts to become a smart campus, South Texas’ oldest operating public institution of higher education, Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK), is undergoing a comprehensive digital transformation to improve accessibility, encourage innovation, and increase operational efficiency across the university. Inefficient maintenance systems and software are being replaced to increase operational efficiency and reduce security risks associated with legacy technologies.

This proactive approach keeps TAMUK’s systems up to date and in step with the latest technological advances. An impressive range of new digital tools support interactive learning, data-driven decision-making and collaboration across disciplines.

Following a successful pilot program last spring, TAMUK’s Center for Academic Technology is planning a soft launch of the Blackboard Learn Ultra learning management system this summer and fall. The system will be ready for educators to use in early 2025. The extended ramp-up time will make it easier for users to get used to Ultra’s new features and improved platform, designed to make the learning environment more collaborative, engaging and efficient.

By streamlining administrative processes and improving the management of campus operations – from registration systems to campus security – digital technology increases efficiency and effectiveness for administrators, faculty and students, regardless of location.

The increasing reliance on digital technologies has also increased the importance of cybersecurity, making it critical for institutions to protect sensitive data and ensure the privacy of their communities. Embracing new technologies and integrating them in ways that promote inclusivity and accessibility while ensuring they can be used effectively on and off campus is a complex balancing act.

To meet these needs, TAMUK is expanding its digital learning platforms, improving remote access to research resources and developing online portals that provide easy access to administrative services.

The focus of the work is on investing in high-performance computing to support data-intensive research projects and providing faculty with modern tools to create interactive and engaging learning experiences.

TAMUK’s forward-thinking actions are built on a robust infrastructure and strong operational backbone to support a large-scale transformation towards a more integrated and technologically advanced university environment. Shadow IT, a common problem faced by many organisations, arises when individual departments, agencies or functions find and apply their own technical solutions to meet their specific needs, taking IT out of the picture.

By centralising IT and improving governance structures, TAMUK was able to regain control of its IT resources, improve security and implement a unified technology strategy across the university. In addition, moving the IT helpdesk in-house improved support for users and made the user experience as pleasant as possible.

A major challenge that exists in any workplace undergoing a technology modernization is the integration of legacy systems with newer technologies. Even robust legacy systems are not designed to communicate with each other or integrate with modern platforms, so system interoperability and optimized data management are critical aspects of the project.

TAMUK’s new central network infrastructure provides fast, reliable connections across the campus, improves data processing capabilities and scalability, and increases disaster recovery and data security. New integration platforms and solutions for data exchange and workflow automation between different systems also provide a significantly improved user experience.

Technology investments have been carefully selected to align with the University’s broader academic and operational objectives. Work will be undertaken with particular attention to environmental sustainability, with the aim of reducing the carbon footprint of IT operations by integrating energy-efficient systems and processes.

Regardless of industry, technology adoption requires full buy-in from senior leadership. Once this is achieved, the next step is to ensure users across industries are comfortable with the changes and are willing to invest their time and energy in the success of critical projects. The expertise and commitment of the university’s skilled and dedicated staff are critical to the success of the initiative.

By prioritizing strategic technological upgrades and continuous improvement and maintaining a culture of innovation and inclusion, TAMUK is removing barriers to progress and empowering faculty and students to meet the challenges of ongoing, unstoppable technological and social change. When higher education institutions use technology to advance their mission of serving students, faculty and staff, their horizons are limitless.

Texas A&M University-Kingsville grew out of the teachers’ college or “normal school” movement that swept Texas and the nation in the early 1900s. The university was founded in 1917 but did not open until 1925 due to America’s entry into World War I. It is the oldest continuously operating public institution of higher education in South Texas. Shortly after its founding as South Texas State Teachers College, its role expanded to cover a wider range of programs. As its mission expanded, its name also changed to reflect its larger scope. The first name change, to Texas College of Arts and Industries, occurred in 1929. In 1967, the name was changed to Texas A&I University. The university became a member of the Texas A&M University System in 1989 and changed its name to Texas A&M University-Kingsville in 1993 to reflect that membership.

Texas A&M-Kingsville is the largest university in South Texas, offering more academic programs and degrees, better learning and living conditions, conducting more research, awarding more scholarships, and producing more successful graduates than any other college or university in the region.

Texas A&M-Kingsville strives to provide high-quality undergraduate and graduate degree programs for students of all ages through a balanced mix of general and professional education programs. The emphasis is on an intellectually challenging education that reflects high standards of academic achievement.

Texas A&M-Kingsville is dedicated to serving an ethnically and culturally diverse population. The university’s mission is to teach, research and serve in South Texas to advance knowledge and regional development.

Texas A&M University-Kingsville has been designated a StormReady facility by the National Weather Service.

Corporate Headquarters

700 University Blvd. MSC 128.

Kingsville, TX 78363

Phone number: 361.593.2111

Homepage link: https://www.tamuk.edu/

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