Audiovisual Guidance for Campus Technology

Modified on: 12-9-24

I.  Support

UNIT provides audiovisual support for effective teaching and learning throughout the campus to all faculty, students, staff, and guests. Our services include a broad range of audiovisual technology such as projectors, displays, cameras, microphones, lecture capture, and the necessary infrastructure that facilitates our community and guests to share content from devices such as laptops and various mobile devices. Support for this Bring-Your-Own-Device (BYOD) infrastructure includes: 

1. On-site and remote support for faculty, staff, students, and guests in general-purpose classrooms scheduled by the Office of the Registrar, and classrooms in the Charles Widger School of Law. On-site support for Non-Registrar (college and department operated/scheduled) spaces is provided as second line support only. 

2. Monitor and respond to incoming service and support requests via tickets generated through UNIT’s service and support portal and the Classroom Support Hotline. The Classroom Support Hotline is available 7AM - 7PM Monday-Thursday and 7AM - 5PM on Friday. Weekend support is by phone only. 

3. Accommodate appointments for one-on-one or group training on using classroom technology. 

4. Partner with campus stakeholders such as the Office of the Provost, Facilities Management, building/department managers, the Academic Space Committee, and others to secure funding for upgrades and new installations for learning spaces consistent with UNIT classroom models and standard equipment. 

5. Work with groups across campus, including the Facilities Management Office, building/department managers, etc. as necessary to consult and execute the design plans of future learning spaces. 

6. In locations where audiovisual equipment was not procured or installed by UNIT, direct support may be limited. UNIT will coordinate with building, department, or location managers to provide support without voiding existing terms, warranties, or service contracts with external vendors. Coordination with external vendors may be required to resolve service issues in these areas.  

II.  Funding for General-Purpose/Registrar-Scheduled Classrooms

Funding for the installation, maintenance, and upgrade of AV equipment will be applied to learning spaces consistent with UNIT classroom planning. All rooms in this category follow tiered specifications and are designed to be BYOD compatible. As such, classrooms are designed with the expectation that faculty, staff, students, and guests utilizing classrooms will bring their own laptop, associated power supplies and A/V adapters. House computers are the responsibility of the college or department who manages the location. This funding plan applies to spaces with the following designations in the Infosilem system:  

• CLASS (Classroom)
• SEM (Seminar room) 
• LH (Lecture Hall)
• Lab/Flex
• Rooms that are operated and scheduled by a specific college are not covered by classroom funding. See below.

III.  Funding for College Operated/Scheduled Spaces

Specialized areas of campus are the responsibility of the college or department to fund and maintain. These locations are not subject to maintenance or upgrades within UNIT’s classroom planning and are funded directly under the supervision of departments and/or associated building managers. UNIT will provide consultation on the design, purchase, and installation of such spaces, in which the college or department will be responsible for the cost of all replacement parts and upgrades. Secondary on-site support will be provided in spaces identified in Infosilem via the following designations:  

• LAB (Laboratory)
• DEPT (Department) 
• AUD (Auditorium)
• DL (Distance Learning)
• Other

Conference rooms, huddle spaces, offices, and other meeting spaces not classified in the Infosilem system will likewise remain the funding responsibility of the department that operates these locations. These locations are not subject to maintenance or upgrades within UNIT’s classroom planning and are funded directly under the supervision of departments and/or associated building managers. UNIT will provide consultation on the design, purchase, and installation of such spaces, in which the college or department will be responsible for the cost of all replacement parts and upgrades. 

IV.  Audiovisual Specifications

• Tier 1 -Base AV system with wired connectivity for BYOD. Includes single projector or display, control system, sound amplification, and supporting AV components. Mobile DVD player, document camera, and interactive pen/annotation display (Wacom) are available on request.
• Tier 1.5 – Includes all Tier 1 features plus 2 cameras and 1 or 2 ceiling microphone arrays to support hybrid teaching and learning. Mobile DVD player, document camera, and interactive pen/annotation display (Wacom) are available on request.

• Tier 2 – Includes all Tier 1.5 features plus a dedicated lecture capture system (Mediasite). Mobile DVD player, document camera, and interactive pen/annotation display (Wacom) are available on request.

• Tier 3 Auditorium/Lecture Hall – Includes all Tier 2 features plus additional projectors/displays, wired lectern microphone, wireless microphones, cameras, matrix A/V system, installed annotation, and other specialized controls and features. Mobile DVD player and document camera are available on request. 

• Collaborative and Active Learning – Modified Tier 3 design customized to the unique needs of synchronous collaborative and active learning. These spaces seat 20-25 students, feature multiple displays, wireless A/V connectivity, mobile furniture, advanced control systems and other specialized technologies. These spaces offer faculty a great deal of teaching freedom with a focus on in-person student group engagement. 

V.  Specifications for New Construction and Renovated Classroom Spaces

Where applicable, UNIT will work with campus stakeholders to ensure that all classroom spaces have the same basic design to support the installation of technology at any Tier level. This includes but is not limited to: 

1. A stationary podium, drop ceiling (where possible) to allow for wiring paths between the classroom lectern, racks, ceiling, and wall mounted technologies (projectors, cameras, microphones, etc.). 

2. All classrooms will be BYOD capable via wired A/V connectivity. 

3. Common user interface/touch screen to operate A/V systems within the classroom, and remote management and support capabilities. 

4. A/V equipment rack space is in either the in-room lectern, in-room closet, and/or a nearby closet. 

5. The ability to integrate recording hardware and software-based web conferencing technologies. 

6. Audio design and components to ensure that remote participants in courses utilizing camera(s) and microphone(s) can hear anyone in the classroom. 

7. Quiet HVAC with attention to other acoustical and lighting considerations to make the environment suitable for teaching and learning. 

VI.  Estimated Life Cycle for A/V Equipment and End-of-Life Procedures

All AV equipment is subject to periodic replacement to ensure that devices can be maintained properly via firmware or software updates as provided by the device manufacturer, and that the operational features comply with the intended use of the space. The estimated life cycle of common AV equipment as determined by product warranties, usage, and lifespans is described below. Spaces not included in UNIT classroom planning remain the responsibility of colleges, departments, and/or building managers who should plan to refresh equipment on a similar cycle. 

• Projectors: 5-7 years 

• Displays (LED, LCD, annotation devices, digital signage): 5-7 years 

• Touch Screen control interfaces:  5-7 years 

• Peripherals (cameras, speakers, mics, etc.): 5-7 years 

• Switchers: 5-7 years 

• Podiums: 7-9 years 

• Wiring/cabling: 7-9 years 

• Screens: Manual or electric: 7-9 years 

• Lecture Capture Hardware (Mediasite): 5 years 

• Digital signage player: 3 years 

VII.  AV Device Security

UNIT regularly scans the campus network for vulnerabilities presented by connected devices. In situations where a device vulnerability is identified, UNIT will coordinate efforts to remediate vulnerabilities with as little interruption to the operation of the classroom or campus location as possible. Colleges, departments, and/or building managers that manage the affected spaces will be contacted to inform them of vulnerabilities, and UNIT will provide a recommended plan to address the vulnerabilities. If a device is no longer eligible for security updates by its manufacturer, a replacement device will be recommended. If devices in college/department spaces no longer receive updates and cannot be replaced, such devices may be removed from the network by UNIT regardless of the loss of functionality.