The Challenge

Air Force ROTC needed a simple, low-cost way to track uniforms issued to cadets. They required an easy system to enter uniform pieces, view issued inventory, and print statements for cadets to sign when receiving or returning items. With little to no budget available for a full inventory platform, they needed a creative alternative. 

The Collaboration

Air Force ROTC partnered with the IT Coordinator for AddRan College to define their goals and identify a practical solution that would streamline tracking and improve accuracy without additional software costs. 

The Solution

The IT Coordinator designed an Excel-based system that included QR codes for 350 unique inventory items. A barcode scanner was added to quickly record items, and the spreadsheet was configured to generate a standardized statement for cadets to sign, confirming receipt and return of uniforms. This solution created a reliable, budget-friendly way to manage inventory efficiently. 

The Challenge

The Political Science department needed AV support for a special event, including handheld and lapel microphones, camera crew coordination, and setup in a specialty space. Faculty also wanted reassurance that the visiting crew would feel comfortable with the equipment.

The Collaboration

Instructional Services partnered with faculty to understand their unique needs, reviewed the AV setup with them, and scheduled staff to be present at the first event to ensure everything went smoothly.

The Solution

IT staff guided the podcast team through the AV system, answered questions, and offered advice on microphone setup and camera placement. The bi-weekly event was added to the A/V team's calendar so that they can be present at the start of each event to provide consistent support and ensure seamless setup for each occurrence.

The Challenge

During the Academic Year of Fall 2022 through Summer 2023, the Neeley Professional Development Center (PDC) conducted nearly 2,000 1-on-1 and team coaching and mentoring sessions with Neeley students. Of that number, 21% (n=422) were for Case Interview preparation sessions requiring coaching notes. Casing students practice between 20-50 individual sessions over 6-24 months with different coaches. Therefore, it is important to chronicle student progress so that each coach working with the student can track progress and tailor each 1-on-1 session to meet developing skill needs for each student.

Over the years, student tracking had been done in a Word table (1 document per student), chronologically capturing each coaching note. As the program grew, notes were transitioned to a single spreadsheet that tracked individual students per columns and individual case interviews per row, using the “Embedded Notes” function.

Neither Word nor Excel tracking systems were efficient or totally effective. Both proved cumbersome. At the time, there were approximately 70 students being tracked, and 65 cases being used with casing students. It was anticipated that the manual tracking would only get more tedious as the student volume continued to increase and number of cases grew.

The Collaboration

Thus, in April of 2023, Maureen Kenney with the PDC sought a relational database solution for this recurring student tracking issue. After preliminary review with Neeley and TCU IT Directors, a proposed solution was identified: the Slate FrogFlow database.

After further discussions to better understand the project, development activities were underway in the summer 2023. Pamela Andrews took the lead for IT. Throughout the Fall of 2023 the Slate FrogFlow solution came together. By January of 2024, the database was fully functional and fully utilized by PDC staff and coaches.

The Solution

As a result of this collaboration with TCU IT, the PDC Case Practice program has realized process efficiencies with regard to data capture and information access. PDC Coaches have immediate access to student casing records through Slate FrogFlow.

Finding previous coaching notes is easy, and coaches can review any and all previous coach comments within speed and ease. Students are also able to request a “report” of all coaching notes so they can review their own progress with regard to casing skills.

The Challenge

The School of Music needed to upgrade and standardize its live streaming and media production control booths to offer more flexibility and create a consistent experience across all performance spaces.

The Collaboration

IT’s Support, Infrastructure, Networking, Operations, and Labs teams partnered with the School of Music’s technical staff to evaluate needs, research solutions, upgrade network infrastructure, and deploy lab computers with needed software and managed updates.

The Solution

With standardized equipment and improved processes in place, live streaming and production are now simpler, more consistent, and more convenient across multiple locations for events.

“IT was flexible and helpful in meeting our needs while ensuring the continued safety of our campus network.”

— Amanda Goodwin, Technical Director