University of Louisiana at Monroe Appeals to the Digital Generation

“As an institution, you’re only as good as your network,” says Tom Hoover, CIO at University of Louisiana at Monroe. “Our network is critical to everything we do on campus, academically and administratively.”

“Student expectations are extremely high,” says Chance Eppinette, director of IT at University of Louisiana at Monroe. “The student mindset is that they don’t know why the network wouldn’t work.”

Today’s college students were raised in a digital world where social interaction is commonly digital. They’ve had smart phones for years, and expect always-on connectivity and engaging, collaborative learning.

Hoover has been working in IT in higher education for nearly two decades and has witnessed the digital transformation of learning. “Most of our incoming students don’t know a different world,” Hoover says. “They use their laptops or tablets to take notes, not pen and paper.”

Students’ technology habits are driving change across higher education. As Hoover explains, “Meeting those expectations is why we always have to improve our network. We can’t wait five to seven years for a refresh anymore. We have to improve the network every two or three years.”

“Our Juniper network provides resources for each and every one of our students so they can get the best education possible,” says Eppinette.

Technology is a competitive differentiator for today’s digital generation. As Hoover explains, “Universities are competing for students, and we know students make decisions based on factors like technology. Our Juniper network delivers a competitive advantage.”

With a Juniper network, the university is well-positioned to accommodate future growth in users, devices, applications—and the campus itself. The new core will easily accommodate the needs of a planned residential hall as well.