Building a stronger digital foundation for VIU
VIU’s Technology Renewal Program is a five-year initiative to modernize the university’s digital infrastructure so it can better support learning, teaching, research and work. The program introduces a planned, ongoing cycle for upgrading key technologies. This includes classroom technology, computers, servers, the network and core IT services. The program ensures our campus community has access to modern, secure and reliable tools today – and well into the future.
Questions? Email trp@viu.ca
The Technology Renewal Program includes six inter-related project streams:
- Classroom and collaboration technology
- Endpoint technology (desktop computers, laptop computers and other devices)
- Server and cloud readiness
- Network infrastructure
- Renewal framework development (replacement cycle plan)
- Service improvement and automation
More on each of these streams:
This project will expand and standardize modern teaching technologies across campus by refreshing 25 classrooms in the first year and establishing a consistent refresh cycle.
What this will enable:
- Better support for wireless use, group work and interactive learning
- More hybrid-ready spaces for simultaneous online and in-person teaching
- Fewer interruptions during class
- Faster support when assistance is needed
We are moving to a modern, standardized set of devices that start up quickly, run smoothly and require less support.
What this will enable:
- Faster, more secure and more reliable computers
- Reduced downtime for students and employees
- Better support for learning, research and hybrid/remote work
- A smoother, more consistent user experience
Modernized server systems will mean quicker load times for hosted applications, websites and online tools. With increased performance and reliability, students and employees can have greater confidence that key services such as their VIU Identity (computer account logins), student record system, network drives, and building access and inventory systems will work when they need them. Updated infrastructure enables the IT team to detect and resolve issues more quickly and protects VIU's critical data.
In today’s world, internet access is a basic but essential need, much like electricity or running water. These upgrades will make our network faster and more reliable across the board, improving performance for devices connected through Wi-Fi as well as those using wired connections. They will also allow the VIU IT team to diagnose and fix issues more quickly. Our current network systems are aging, prone to failures and difficult to manage, resulting in slow speeds, inconsistent wireless coverage and reduced reliability on VIU's network. Overall, these improvements will make using the internet at VIU smoother, faster and more secure for everyone.
This project will create a five-year plan that will help VIU upgrade and modernize its technology in a predictable, organized and sustainable way. With the new framework, students and employees can expect fewer disruptions and more reliable and up-to-date working environments. The plan will also help VIU clearly communicate its technology strategies and priorities to the community. Students and employees are encouraged to share feedback so improvements can better support their needs.
The goal of this project is to make it faster and easier for students and employees to get help from IT. Right now, many tasks take too long or are confusing, which can lead to delays and uneven service. By improving these processes and adding smart tools, VIU will be able to respond more quickly and offer clearer ways for students and employees to ask for support. Some of the benefits include sending requests to the right team right away, better self-help options, simpler ways to ask for help and finding system problems earlier.
Frequently asked questions
About 30 per cent of VIU’s technology is already obsolete and that number will rise to 40 per cent next year if we don’t take any action. Old technology can fail without warning and interrupt classes, work and student services. Upgrading now helps prevent major outages, keeps the university running smoothly and gives students and employees the tools they need to succeed in their work.
Systems will break down more often, run slower, become less secure and cost more to repair. Some software like Windows 11 doesn’t work on older devices at all. This can lead to bigger disruptions for students and employees and may even cause costly emergencies that interrupt learning and day-to-day work. Regular upgrades help prevent these problems and keep the university running safely and reliably.
Many universities follow a planned, ongoing upgrade cycle, replacing technology on a schedule instead of waiting for equipment to break. VIU is moving to this same approach so our systems stay reliable and up to date.
Most of this work will take place over the summer and in the background, so aside from the occasional, brief planned outage, it will have minimal impact on day-to-day operations. Any planned outages or issues will be posted on the IT Status Updates page.
Most of this work will not impact VIU students and employees much other than perhaps slightly adjusted processes for how you ask for help from IT or login to VIU-hosted apps and services (but we promise these processes will be easier and faster!).
You’ll start noticing improvements next fall, with more upgrades rolling out over the next few years. The most urgent fixes will begin now and updates will continue in phases.