Technology Enables and Supports Ohio State’s Academic Missions
The numbers that flow through our systems every day tell a compelling story about how deeply embedded technology is in the fabric of Ohio State’s university experience. But it’s not just about the numbers; it’s also about the insights and stories these numbers tell—stories that illustrate the profound impact of technology on the student experience, research, and university operations.
For instance, the Ohio State App serves as a critical resource, seamlessly integrating the many facets of student life into a personalized digital experience. With over 98,000 monthly active users and a 92% adoption rate among undergraduate students, the app has become indispensable for navigating Ohio State. Features like campus navigation, grade tracking, BuckID management, and even recreation center capacities have made daily life more manageable for students.
These quantitative data points illustrate the app’s widespread usage, but the real story lies in the feedback we receive from students who express how the app has made their academic journey more convenient and accessible. For example, the introduction of To-Do lists within the app has quickly become one of the top 20 used by students. It helps them organize their responsibilities, keeping them on track and reducing the stress of managing multiple systems. It’s a small yet impactful way that technology supports student success.
The qualitative feedback from our users is what truly brings this data to life. One student praised the Ohio State App for its intuitive design, noting how easy it is to access vital information like their class schedule and grades. Another expressed appreciation for how the app integrates seamlessly with campus life, from parking permits to emergency contact options. These stories reveal the power of technology in making university life more efficient, secure, and connected.
The network services that power our university are equally impressive. On any given day, the campus Wi-Fi supports 242,000 unique devices, with 95,000 devices connected simultaneously during peak hours. These numbers underscore the vital role of connectivity in our digital age, enabling everything from streaming lectures to real-time collaboration on research projects. We’ve also implemented authentication improvements that have reduced the need for users to reauthenticate on the eduroam network, further enhancing the user experience and streamlining access to university resources.
OTDI’s work doesn’t stop there, because we are constantly looking for ways to improve the services we offer. Technology is driving student success, enabling groundbreaking research, and supporting the day-to-day operations of one of the largest and most innovative universities in the world. Looking at the broad range of OTDI services we can see the incredible value that technology brings to Ohio State, further aligning our efforts with the academic missions of the university.
The story of how technology enhances and supports Ohio State’s academic missions continues to be written every day with each student, instructor, researcher and staff member. As the academic year progresses, we’ll keep adding important chapters to that story.