Elon receives award for information technologies initiative

Elon was among four institutions to be honored for technology projects significant to their campuses and communities.

(l-r): Joe Harrington, director of Network Services at Boston College and ACUTA President; Arif Kahn, director of information systems and technologies; Christopher Waters, assistant CIO and director of TLT; Michael Thompson, manager of telecommunications; Larry Foster, general manager for PINNACLE-Windstream; and Matt Arthur, director of incident communications solutions and media services at Washington University in St. Louis.

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Elon University was recognized May 1 by the Association for Information Communications Technology Professionals in Higher Education (ACUTA) for its Virtual Computing Initiative, which provides immediate and reliable access to state-of-the-art hardware and software for faculty, staff and students.

Christopher Waters, assistant CIO and director of teaching and learning technologies, Arif Kahn, director of information systems and technologies and Michael Thompson, manager of telecommunications, accepted the Institutional Excellence in Information Communications Technology Award on Elon’s behalf during ACUTA’s 41st Annual Conference in Indianapolis, Ind.

The other institutions to be recognized were Wagner College, San Diego State University and Indiana University (honorable mention).

The award is ACUTA’s most prestigious award for institutions. Winners are selected on the basis of the technology department’s contribution to and support of the mission of the university. Applications are evaluated on the basis of scope and complexity of the endeavor, technological leadership, benefit to the institution and key constituents, and demonstration of excellence and professionalism.

The Virtual Computing Initiate, which Elon implemented in 2006, enables more efficient and effective operation of existing campus resources. The virtual environment has also given the university greater access to key software applications, streamlined server and desktop management, reduced expenses associated with allocation licensing, and extended the life of server and client equipment.