Communication and Telecommunications

This July 2008 survey is a critical component of the EDUCAUSE Center on Applied Research (ECAR) study of messaging and communication in higher education. It seeks to understand the provision, policies, use, and emerging trends related to telephony, mobile communications, e-mail and calendaring, and emergency notification systems in colleges and universities.

Citation for this work: EDUCAUSE Center for Applied Research. "Messaging and Communication Survey" (Survey Instrument). Boulder, CO: ECAR, 2008, available from http://www.educause.edu/ecar.

Communications technology can help differentiate your campus not only in serving current students but also in creating a sense of life-long community so that generation after generation of families keep coming back. Hear from one campus using intelligent communications today to make a difference.

The events of April 16, 2007 and the response, investigation, and recovery at Virginia Tech that followed placed extraordinary demands on telecommunications network resources and university Information Technology professionals. This report provides a comprehensive inventory and analysis of the communications infrastructure and information systems used during this time period. It addresses resources depended upon by emergency responders, investigating law enforcement officers, university officials, media, faculty, staff, students, and families of the university community. It includes information about communications resources owned and operated by the University and relevant resources owned and operated by providers and responders.

In the wake of the tragedy at Virginia Tech, colleges and universities across the country are reviewing their emergency preparedness plans and evaluating their ability to quickly notify constituents in crisis situations. Networked technologies (posting notices on Web sites, e-mailing information, and sending text messages to cell phones) are among the most promising solutions. As campuses explore options for their emergency communication plan, they must also consider infrastructure and policy and procedural components. This session will provide an overview of the strategies for emergency notifications of students, employees, and visitors, as well as a context and resources for campus emergency preparedness planning.

This research bulletin describes the University of Cincinnati strategy for addressing a fundamental shift in communication technologies in higher education, and for meeting—or exceeding—community expectations for contemporary productivity tools on campus. It covers the decision factors and service models that UC is implementing in fall 2006 through its UC Mobile program.