On October 14, 2024, Christopher Wessells, a higher education strategist at Unisys and former Chief Information Officer at the University of San Diego, provided insights into the importance of scalable cloud strategies for higher education during a discussion with Mary Grush.
The Importance of Cloud Migration in Higher Education
Wessells emphasized that institutions currently running enterprise applications, such as ERP systems or learning management systems on-campus, should consider migrating to cloud-based infrastructures. He explained that transitioning core enterprise systems to Software as a Service (SaaS) or utilizing public cloud environments can significantly improve the services available to students, faculty, staff, and institutional leaders.
Streamlining Processes with Elastic Compute Environments
An example shared by Wessells was the establishment of an elastic compute environment to streamline registration processes, allowing for increased automation and productivity compared to traditional capital infrastructure. He noted that even a basic transition to a modern public cloud provider can represent substantial progress for institutions managing varying workloads.
Broader Advantages of Scalable Cloud Services
Wessells also highlighted the broader advantages of scalable cloud services, especially regarding data integration capabilities. He pointed to an initiative by the California State University (CSU) system that implemented data virtualization to enhance both security and agility while achieving considerable cost reductions.
Case Study: The CSU System’s Cloud Strategy
In discussing the CSU system’s cloud strategy, Wessells recounted its decision in the early 2000s to adopt PeopleSoft across its 23 universities. However, the system’s need for modernization over the past twenty years has led to a comprehensive transformation in cloud services and security to improve its student information system, human resources, financial systems, and other related applications.
Conclusion: Transformative Potential of Scalable Cloud Strategies
This discussion underscores the transformative potential of scalable cloud strategies in enhancing educational services and operational efficiency within higher education institutions.
(Campus Technology)