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ConnectND Meets Student and Faculty Demands

Posted on 9/13/2011

For More Information Contact:
Debra A. Anderson, Director of Public Affairs & Marketing
North Dakota University System
Phone: 701.328.2962
E-mail: debra.a.anderson@ndus.edu

BISMARCK, N.D. - The demand for information technology services on North Dakota University System campuses continues to grow at a rapid rate, and the ConnectND administrative computing system is keeping pace with these tremendous demands.

ConnectND experienced unprecedented user loads during Fall 2011 registration and enrollment. Students and faculty accessed the system at a sustained rate of 4,500 logins per hour, peaking at more than 5,000 per hour. This level of usage is nearly double the historical average and about 1,000 more logins than the previous hourly record.

ConnectND handled the pressure without a problem, thanks to recent improvements to the system, according to Randall Thursby, NDUS CIO.

"A long-term strategic plan for ConnectND was developed about three years ago," Thursby said. "The underlying goal was to provide the best possible service to students by enhancing system performance. Students drive what we do, and they continue to demand more and better access to services. We now have reached a point where technology services and resources are about as important to a campus as heat and lights."

Improvements to ConnectND include:

A complete upgrade to the student system in 2008
Significant improvements to the student admissions process: A client/customer relationship management system was added, thus allowing students to register completely online.
In combination, the first two improvements simplified the registration and admission processes, improved the flow of communication and streamlined data processes at the campus level.
Implementation of a credit card processing system: TouchNet allows students and parents to pay fees online in a secure environment. The use of this service is growing rapidly; during the first week of the Fall 2011, 3,000 payments totaling more than $6 million were processed on TouchNet.

A series of less dramatic improvements and changes to ConnectND also have contributed to enhanced system performance. Improved services range from online academic advising tools and degree planning processes to the ability to view campus employment information and to purchase online parking permits.

Demands on the ConnectND system will continue to expand with students' growing access to devices such as laptops, smart phones, iPads and tablets.