Albany State University stands at the heart of southwest Georgia, an HBCU rooted in
courage, perseverance, and a deep commitment to transforming lives through education.
For years, limited infrastructure, constrained budgets, and accumulated technology
debt created barriers that no student should have to climb just to learn. Today, that
story is changing.
The Story: Rewriting what is possible...
ASU is amid a sweeping, once-in-a-generation transformation, built not on surplus
resources, but on vision, resilience, and the belief that students deserve better.
We are rebuilding the backbone of the institution so opportunity is not constrained
by infrastructure.
“Every project in this transformation is connected to a singular truth, when students
have the tools to succeed, they change not only their own lives, but the future of
their families and communities.”
Albany State University - Chief Information Officer
Impact Areas
This work is practical and measurable, and it is also deeply human. It removes friction,
expands access, and builds an environment where students can focus on learning, while
being technologically empowered.
Technology Equity, IN ACTION!
We are replacing inequity with access, modern tools, consistent experiences, and a
campus designed for the way students actually live and learn.
Design Principle: Meet students where they are, in classrooms, residence halls, outdoor spaces, and
in the in-between moments that matter so much in todays learning space.
Student Success Outcomes
Learning access expands through modern empowered connectivity and reliable instructional
technology.
Faculty are supported with standardized, secure tools that reduce classroom friction
and drive engagement.
Students facing hardship stay enrolled through loaner devices and resilient services.
Data, analytics, and AI readiness becomes a career pathway, not a privilege.
Rebuilding the Digital Foundation
For many institutions, modern connectivity is assumed. For Albany State, it has become
a mission, eliminating infrastructure barriers and supporting modern learning everywhere
students are.
Campus Network Modernization
ASU is replacing over 180 network switches across both campuses, a foundational modernization
that touches every building, every classroom, and every service students rely on.
Improves throughput and reliability across academic, administrative, and student systems.
Builds a stable foundation for cloud adoption, security controls, and modern learning
tools.
Removes networking equipment that is more than 10 years old. Power and Security -
ENABLED.
Housing Wi‑Fi - Built for Real and Modern Student Life
ASU is executing a full renovation of the entire student housing network, expanding
from approximately 430 wireless access points to more than 2,300, targeting saturation
coverage at or above a 1-to-1 ratio with residents. Increased Wi-Fi density by over
400%.
Why it Matters: Students study in rooms, lounges, hallways, parking lots, and common areas. Learning
is not confined to a classroom. A study found that 78% of students feel anxiety and
worry when they do not feel they can count on connectivity.
Car‑to‑Class Connectivity (Project C3)
C3 extends robust outdoor Wi‑Fi to parking lots, walking paths, transit stops, quads,
and green spaces, creating a campus where students can connect and thrive wherever
and whenever life happens. This investment is designed to make the connectivity experience
at Albany State University a comforting, safe, and uplifting one. It will also allow
for a community connection.
Meeting Students Where They Are
Many ASU students work, commute, or juggle family obligations. This initiative respects
those realities and supports the learning conditions they deserve.
Reliable access where students need it most, not just where it is easiest to provide.
A stronger foundation for advising tools, engagement platforms, and success initiatives.
Erasing Technology Debt and Opening Doors
Albany State’s accumulated technology debt was 7–10 years deep, aging equipment, slow
systems, outdated hardware, and inconsistent experiences. We are erasing that debt
with intention and compassion.
Modern Tools for Teaching and Learning
Refreshing faculty and staff devices, and building a sustainable device refresh program.
Modernizing the technology in over 130 classrooms, teaching labs, collaborative spaces,
and high-use learning environments.
Rebuilding the print, audio-visual, and instructional technology ecosystem for consistent,
reliable, secure experiences.
Refreshing over 600 student lab computing devices.
Support That Keeps Students Enrolled
We are expanding the student loaner pool by over 300%, so students facing financial
hardship or device failure can remain in class without disruption.
Equity Outcome: Limited resources should not limit student potential.
These steps quietly and relentlessly and directly level the playing field by providing
the technological equity that is standard at far wealthier institutions.
Data Modernization and Information Governance
With a multi-year roadmap, ASU is building an institutional data ecosystem designed
for accuracy, transparency, accountability, student success, and ethical stewardship.
What We are Building
A unified Microsoft Fabric Data Lakehouse to break down silos and create a single
source of truth.
Data lineage, metadata, retention, and access policies to ensure trustworthiness and
compliance.
Purview integration for governance, risk mitigation, and secure data cataloging.
Campus-wide data literacy and reporting capabilities to support informed decision-making.
Foundational construction to allow the build out of agentic AI for student enablement
and empowerment.
Dashboards and reporting that will operate in realtime, allowing organizational agility
to ensure student success.
Training 1,500+ STEM Students
ASU is committing (with partners Microsoft and Accenture) to offer free data, analytics,
and AI training to more than 1,500 STEM students, opening doors to high-demand fields
and building a Microsoft-ready workforce.
At an HBCU in a rural region, this is not just transformation, it is economic mobility and generational change.
Copilot training for academic use cases.
Training in development of academic, governance and workflow agents.
Integration with Accenture - hands-on workshops, knowledge exchange, and student workforce
development.
Transforming Learning, Research, and Community Spaces
Technology is more than hardware, it is an environment where confidence grows and
possibilities expand. Across campus, ASU is redesigning spaces that inspire learning,
collaboration, and Ram pride.
Modern and Consistent Learning Environments
High-flex computing labs to support research and specialized learning.
Classroom modernization with interactive displays, BYOD technology, standardized interfaces,
and secure managed devices.
Expanding digital signage, event technology, and AV infrastructure for a cohesive,
future-ready campus experience.
Student Life, Wellness, and Belonging
Digital and instructional technology upgrades in gyms, event spaces, and student activity
areas improve engagement and wellness.
Signal to Students: You belong here, and your experience and success is what matters.
A vision larger than our budget, but not larger than our resolve
Albany State is advancing this work without a large endowment or major capital infusions.
We are building the future through Title III funding, strategic stewardship, selective
spending, industry partnerships, and a small, dedicated team who are driven to build
a better future for our students.
What ASU Has Proven
We can do more with less, with sustainability, accountability, and measurable impact.
The groundwork is laid, the plans are in motion, leadership is aligned, and the community
is ready.
Through a relentless focus on optimization, we have learned how to do more with less.
With that discipline in place, any new investment can be maximized, accelerated, and
converted into measurable impact.
Opportunity: Albany State is poised for a leap forward that could redefine what opportunity feels
like in southwest Georgia and beyond.
Why ASU is a powerful investment in equity and the future
Expanding access to learning everywhere students are.
Giving faculty the tools they need to teach well.
Creating pathways to careers in data, analytics, and AI.
Enhancing student life, wellness, and belonging.
Ensuring limited resources do not limit student potential.
Designing a campus that is equitable, modern, and ready for the next decade.
