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Issued by: Wendy Luljak
Phone: 414-229-3795
wluljak@uwm.edu
Nov. 14, 2006
UWM Honored with 2006 InfoWorld 100 Award
MILWAUKEE – The University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee (UWM) has been named to the prestigious 2006 InfoWorld 100, a list of organizations recognized for investing in innovative information technology that enhances business practices and meets technology objectives.
Honorees on the list are chosen each year by InfoWorld, a leading publisher of technology information, providing expert analysis and review of emerging technologies and products.
UWM was honored for its implementation of a secure enterprise content storage and collaboration solution. The system, named “PantherFile,” allows faculty, students and staff to store files that can be easily accessed and shared through any Web browser, on or off campus. The university’s Information and Media Technology (I&MT) department was the technical lead on the project.
PantherFile is used by over 8,000 members of the UWM campus community and is incorporated into many work processes. It gives UWM’s American Geographic Society Library the opportunity to share GIS data; the Office of Charter Schools the ability to provide contract compliant documentation to their nine chartered schools; and the Student Accessibility Center a method to deliver textbooks in an electronicformat for students with disabilities.
In addition, faculty and students share course information; researchers collaborate with researchers at other institutions; and campus committees share files across campus.
Ensuring the security of information was one of the key objectives in the development of the PantherFile system. Files on PantherFile are located in a campus SUN server environment that has been designed for security and reliability. The system also allows the University to better respond to data compliance requirements on the state and federal levels.
“PantherFile allows us to focus our resources on securing one location and one technology,” said Bruce Maas, interim CIO of I&MT. “The result is better data security and greater efficiencies in managing the data.”
Although files can be accessed from any Web browser, access to files is controlled by the individual or groups that own the files. PantherFile is replacing multiple file storage devices, including storage on Local Area Networks and USB drives that can be more easily compromised.
PantherFile has also resulted in cost-savings. With limited IT resources, UWM collaborated with an outside company for a solution. The PantherFile system uses the Xythos Enterprise Document Management Suite.
Collaborating with Xythos has been advantageous to UWM. “To ensure that software vendors respond to the needs of higher education, we develop business relationships with them,” said Maas. “Xythos has proven to be a very responsive partner which has allowed us to better meet the needs of the campus community.”
In addition, PantherFile eliminates the need for units to manage their own file storage systems. “These technologies save money by providing one well-researched and planned solution, rather than multiple pockets of solutions,” said Maas. “The key savings are in the reduced number of staff and infrastructure required to support core services.”
To research and implement the PantherFile system, UWM used a core service team approach composed of faculty, staff and students from across the campus with expertise and an interest in improving technology. “The PantherFile project core service team was led by someone outside of the central IT division.” said Maas. “This helped ensure that the solution met the needs of the campus community.”
“This award validates the innovative and highly democratic process we use at UWM to plan for and make technology decisions,” said Maas. “We are very honored to receive this award.”
UWM is one of six universities, as well government, manufacturing, financial services, health care, telecommunications and other industries honored this year.
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