MARYVILLE – Faced with an antiquated technology infrastructure which included a phone system that was more than 20 years old, the Yuba Community College District (YCCD) included improving the district’s technology infrastructure in its priorities when developing its Facilities Master Plan in 2005 in preparation for the Measure J facilities bond in 2006.

Five years later, this priority is continuing to materialize as the district upgrades its network to provide the infrastructure needed to support the implementation of advanced internet provider (IP) based unified communications applications such as voice over IP (VoIP), unified messaging and security alerts.

VoIP refers to technology that enables routing of voice conversations over a computer network.

The new network will substantially increase performance and ensure first-class service delivery to staff and students. New switches will enhance network resilience, reduce power consumption and enhance virtualization projects maximizing the district’s investment in a new virtual server environment.

In conjunction with the network upgrade, the district has refreshed its server environment, reducing 28 of its servers down to four virtual servers.

In addressing the district’s phone system the technology department wanted to improve service, boost staff productivity and decrease costs, and felt like VoIP was the right solution. YCCD also wanted a unified communications infrastructure for all users.

Working with Altura and Netvad, the district created an open communications infrastructure that resulted in business benefits including improved communications between sites, better service to current and prospective students, and cost savings.

For instance, the district couldn’t use four-digit dialing between its two college campuses or remote sites before the switch. Not only was this costly, but it also made communications more cumbersome and hindered service to students. As part of its roll-out a VoIP platform and over 600 VoIP handsets have been distributed district wide.

All in all, the district’s move to VoIP will save the district $100,000 a year while giving it far superior technology than it had with the central office-based Centrex telephone service.

Karen Trimble, YCCD’s director of information technologies, said “We had hit a crunch point with network capacity, wanted to move to a more efficient server environment, and had outgrown our telecommunications system. Our 20-year-old Centrex system was no longer meeting the needs, nor was it cost effective. Moving to VoIP, in addition to cost savings, gives us the opportunity to move to unified communications technology and the ability to provide emergency notifications. The new equipment gives us a 10-fold performance increase and allows us to run all these new services.”

Also important, the switch to VoIP will enhance the district’s security and emergency preparedness. Under the old Centrex system, the district lacked the ability to alert emergency workers quickly via calls to 911. The district will also now have the ability to send alert messages to designated zones.

“Being able to have a quick and more effective way to communicate in a time of emergency is of the utmost importance for the safety of our students and staff,” said Dr. Nicki Harrington, YCCD chancellor. “This new technology enables us to have rapid response in emergency situations, strengthens communications for students and staff, and further enhances our distance learning options for students.”

The infrastructure upgrades and the switch to VoIP are just some of many technology upgrades that have been made possible thanks to Measure J Bond dollars. For instance, in 2007 YCCD was able to begin offering wireless Internet access to students and staff.

The Yuba Community College District spans eight counties and nearly 4,200 square miles of territory in rural, north central California. It has colleges in Marysville and Woodland, an educational center in Clearlake, and will be adding outreach facilities in Sutter and Colusa counties as part of the Measure J facilities bond.

For more information about YCCD visit www.yccd.edu .