A Message

From the Vice President & CIO

Technology is at the core of how we teach, research, work, and connect. At Augusta University, Information Technology drives innovation, solves complex problems, and boosts efficiency across campus. Our mission depends on the modern tools and infrastructure that support these efforts.

Over the past year, our IT Division has delivered several impactful initiatives despite the staffing and supply challenges facing the broader industry. We enhanced campus safety through physical security upgrades to classrooms and exterior door access. We also launched the new myAugusta platform, creating a more personalized and seamless digital experience for students, faculty, and staff.

To further support research, we expanded our High-Performance Computing (HPC) capabilities, equipping researchers with faster, more powerful tools for discovery and innovation.

Cybersecurity remains a top priority. This year, we advanced protections for institutional data and refreshed AU-owned devices to ensure they meet current standards and support the latest defense technologies.

These accomplishments reflect the dedication of our IT team and the continued support of university leadership. Together, we’re building a secure, modern, and collaborative technology environment that empowers the AU community.

Michael
Dr. Michael Casdorph, EdD
VP, Information Technology
Chief Information Officer

Driving Innovation Through Technology

The Division of Information Technology is dedicated to enhancing the educational and professional experiences of students, faculty, and staff. Our primary objective is to simplify and enrich learning, teaching, research, and work through active engagement with the Augusta University community. By understanding their unique needs, we provide the essential resources and innovative tools that empower our customers to excel in their roles. Our commitment is realized through advanced teaching, learning, and research facilitated by cutting-edge technologies, comprehensive resources, and exceptional services.

By the Numbers

Dedicated to Keeping You Connected

Our IT team provides around-the-clock IT support to our community through various services, including email, wireless networks, and phones. We offer hardware and software assistance, addressing issues like password resets and network outages. Our team tracks and resolves problems efficiently, using multiple channels and consolidating tickets to save time. Services are accessible via our Online Self-Service Portal, four in-person Help Desks across the Summerville and Health Sciences campuses, and a 24/7 call line, ensuring continuous support for faculty, staff, and students.

30,112

Help Desk Phone Calls

19,371

ServiceNow Requests

41,024

Incidents Reported

96%

Overall Customer Satisfaction Rating

1,295

Equipment Loans

61,409

KnowledgeBase Article Views

Driving IT Projects to Completion

The Project Management Office (PMO) within the Division of Information Technology oversees strategic IT projects from inception to delivery. Our role encompasses the entire project lifecycle, including conceptualization, proposal development, discovery, governance, execution, and final delivery—we meticulously document business needs, justifications, and funding requirements to create detailed, resource-driven plans. Several key projects are underway and anticipated to be completed in Fall 2024.

ID card being used to open door to building

Door Access Controls

AU has standardized access control across campus buildings to improve safety, security, and efficiency. AUPD can now initiate targeted or campus-wide lockdowns instantly in emergencies. The system also enables secure access to sensitive areas, simplifies event entry, and eliminates issues with lost keys. This upgrade lays the foundation for future automation and enhanced classroom safety. 255 Interior Doors and 165 Exterior Doors have been secured.

Fiber Optic Cables shown with University Village and Christenberry Fieldhouse

Network Infrastructure Upgrades

IT completed two significant infrastructure enhancements to support AU’s growing campus and digital needs. The first included new AU-owned fiber connections to Christenberry Fieldhouse and University Village, increased bandwidth between Summerville and Health Sciences campuses, and the second was an enterprise network refresh with updated UPS systems and network switches. These upgrades improve connectivity, reliability, and overall student, faculty, and staff performance.

Aerial view of the summerville campus with wifi symbols all over it to indicate improved wireless connectivitity

Campus Wi-Fi Refresh Complete

Augusta University IT has closed out a $1 million project aimed at strengthening Wi-Fi performance and reliability across campus. This extensive refresh of wireless components is now complete on both the Summerville and Health Sciences campuses. The upgraded infrastructure significantly enhances coverage, speed, and overall connectivity in classrooms, offices, and common areas, supporting a more seamless experience for students, faculty, and staff.

Updating and Protecting Campus Devices

The Desktop Engineering and Technology Services team has diligently enhanced device management and security across our campus. AU IT can exercise greater control over the desktops and laptops connected to our network by updating devices and implementing advanced management programs. These efforts enable us to replace outdated, vulnerable devices and ensure we can enforce security policies, deliver timely software updates, and prevent unauthorized applications from compromising university systems.

2,424

Devices Provisioned

100,380

Security Patches Pushed

1,430

Devices Upgraded to Windows 11

Building a Strong Online Presence

In the second quarter, Web & Digital Services went live with the new myAugusta platform, enhancing the existing intranet experience with new tools and services that will allow us to build a unique intranet tailored to individual user needs. Not only does this new platform open up opportunities to integrate with other services used at Augusta University, but it also further refines the Augusta University website by providing a better home to content with a more inward focus.

1,465

Daily MyAugusta Users

16,410,364

Yearly Pageviews for Augusta.edu

1,534,608

Total Communications Sent

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Dedicated to Accelerating Discovery

Our Research Technology Services department continues to enhance its research computing infrastructure, supporting advanced academic and scientific discovery through expanded storage, network capacity, and user-focused tools. The Augusta University High Performance Computing (AUHPC) environment provides researchers vast opportunities to accelerate data analysis, streamline workflows, and power innovative discoveries.

  • Deployed 2.2 PB of storage to support next-gen research data (NG-RDS)
  • Launched the AUHPC knowledge base for user self-support and documentation
  • Piloted the AUAHPC cluster for faculty HPC instruction
  • Expanded AUHPC network with high-speed Ethernet and InfiniBand
  • Enabled 100 Gbps data transfer between AUHPC and NG-RDS
  • Integrated Globus for streamlined data transfers
  • Added web interfaces to improve AUHPC and NG-RDS usability

Get IT Support

Online Service Portal

Submit a ticket for support or search the knowledgebase

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Phone Support

Call the help desk at 706-721-4000 (1-4000)

IT Help Desks

Walk-up, in-person support for basic IT concerns

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