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Elon, AppsAnywhere, and Improving the Student

Experience
Julia Redbord
Monday, January 25, 2021
Industry Insights

3
min read

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Elon University's student-led approach prompted the institution to upgrade the IT service
and student experiences it offers.

When the coronavirus pandemic hit and college and university campuses had to close,
most higher education IT departments across the United States were hard-pressed to
find the best solution for delivering software to their students. Elon University, however,
did not have to scramble. Prior to campus closures, the university had implemented
AppsAnywhere in computer labs across its campus. Elon's journey toward innovation
started small but grew quickly when the demands of its students grew. The Student
Government Association caught wind of AppsAnywhere and pushed for an immediate
change.

AppsAnywhere allows students to access their coursework and applications anytime,

anywhere, on any device. Built from the ground up for higher education, AppsAnywhere
helps colleges and universities and other academic institutions deliver a better IT service
experience to every student; it allows all academic software to be available in a
consistent way and transforms student outcomes both on and off campus.

Higher Education IT Challenges

Like many colleges and universities, Elon faced IT challenges long before the pandemic
forced it to close its doors last spring. At the time, remote access was not possible. The
institution was delivering its applications and software through traditional means such as
imaging in designated labs. Some students were also using Citrix XenApp, but it was not
scalable due to cost. This made it difficult to support any BYOD initiatives. Given these
limitations, students were frustrated with when and where they could access software,
which in turn had an effect on their student experience and a potential impact on
outcomes. Pat Donohue is the assistant CIO and director of campus technology support
at Elon University. When tasked with creating a more innovative student experience, he
turned to the students and asked them what they needed to be successful. Not only did
they request access to their software across campus, but they also asked for
AppsAnywhere by name. After a few departments began using AppsAnywhere, the
positive feedback spread like wildfire, and all students wanted full access on and off
campus.

The student-centric approach toward innovation propelled Elon to be ranked first in the
United States for academic experience.

"You need to be where your customers are, and our customers are our students. It is
essential to keep an eye on the modern student so we can keep up with the latest trends
in technology. When our students are happy, it results in their academic success,"
Donohue said.

Elon's strategic plan revolves around its students' success and the accessibility of its
technology; AppsAnywhere fits perfectly into the institution's plan.

Student Response
Since the implementation of AppsAnywhere, Elon students have been able to access
their coursework and university software with ease. Whether students are on campus, at
home, or in their dorms, they no longer need to worry about how they are accessing their
applications. Donohue explains: "Students just want their tech to work. They don't want
to have to think about how they're getting their software—they just want it.
AppsAnywhere allows us to give our students access to technology that works." The
student body echoes Donahue's sentiments about AppsAnywhere. Chemistry major and
criminal justice minor Hayley Clos (Elon class of 2022) describes AppsAnywhere as "a
really cool and easy way to access classwork. I am taking classes in various
departments, so having everything I need all in one place has made it convenient for me.
I don't have to go to different computer labs anymore, which has made my life a lot
easier."

Julia Redbord is a Marketing Executive at Software2.

© 2021 Software2.

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