About California State University Stanislaus
California State University, Stanislaus, is part of the 23-campus system of California State University. Well-known as Stanislaus State, this school has a student body of nearly 10,000 students in two locations – the main Turlock campus and the Stockton Center. The University’s four colleges offer 42 undergraduate majors, 17 minors, 23 master’s programs, one doctoral program and seven teaching credential programs. Its most popular areas of study in the 2016-17 school year were business administration and psychology. The University has a staff of more than 1,100 people, including 584 instructional faculty, allowing for a student/teacher ratio of 21:1 (Fall 2016).
Led by President Ellen Junn and Provost Kimberly Greer, California State University, Stanislaus has been ranked among the best colleges in the nation by The Princeton Review, and it has been among the top 100 colleges for bachelor’s degrees awarded to Hispanic Students. The American Association of State Colleges and Universities rated it as one of 12 public universities that demonstrate exceptional performance in improving retention and graduation rates.
Challenge
When California State University, Stanislaus, began its quest for a campus-wide wireless audio/video solution, the technology professionals ranked Cloud-based control, a control interface that was device agnostic, and a networked AV over IP solution among their requirements. Because the system was to be used for collaborative classroom environments by faculty, students, staff and guests, the school also wanted something that was easy to use and intuitive for all audiences.
In addition, the school wanted to be able to demonstrate the technology to end users and to other visitors to the campus.
Solution
Kramer’s VIA Site Management and VIA Connect PRO Wireless Presentation and collaboration solutions fit the bill here. Coupled with Kramer Control in through the use of the Kramer SL-280 Master Room Controller, this system provided everything the University needed in one easy-to-use package.
Information Technology Consultant Luis Segovia said he chose Kramer electronics products because there was a full line under one umbrella, and everything worked together seamlessly. “They were truly app-based,” Segovia said. “Kramer has one suite that can be accessed from anywhere on campus in one program. There is continuity going from room-to-room, and the simplicity is inherent.”
Results
The Kramer VIA system was wirelessly connected to the classrooms, and instructors know exactly what to do with the system because it is intuitive and seamless. The active learning classrooms include five work pods, each with a VIA Connect PRO, iPad interface and 4K display, and an instructor pod with the same equipment plus a projector, twisted pair transmitter/receiver, power amp, document camera, Blu-Ray player and Kramer VS-1616DN matrix switcher. With each VIA Connect PRO connected to the VS-1616DN matrix switcher, the Kramer Control creates a collaborative learning environment, interconnecting the student pods. Work can be shared in real time, and the student pods can send to each other, to the teacher and to the main screen.
The University provides a brief training with the end users in its demo room, then the faculty jumps right in to use the system in presentations and classes. The University launched 14 classroom upgrades in Fall 2017, with an additional 25 scheduled in each of the next three years, for a total of 90 classrooms by 2020. The system will also be installed in the president’s conference room.
A graduate of DeVry Institute of Technology, Doug has been in the Technology industry since 1976 and actively oversees Fearing’s daily operations. Along with his wife, Lois, and three others, Doug started Fearing’s in a 600 square-foot facility in Portage, Wisconsin. In the 25 years since, the company has grown to over 30 employees with offices in Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Doug likes to say he’s a “TV Technician with a dream� going back to his history with the family’s original business-Fearing’s TV and Appliance.
Doug values time with family, watersports, hiking, snowshoeing and skiing. In addition to being a devoted member of his church, Doug serves as Board President for Kinship Mentoring of Columbia County, Board member of Schools for Haiti and Scripture Chair of the Gideons-Portage camp.
A graduate of MATC, Lois oversees Fearing’s daily book keeping along with various HR responsibilities.
Along with Doug, Lois is deeply connected to community outreach, serving as a Board member and Fundraising Committee Chairperson for Kinship Mentoring of Columbia County. She also serves on the Schools for Haiti Fundraising committee. In addition, Lois’ ongoing passion and commitment to provide care for the elderly comes from her 10-year history of working in a Reedsburg, Wisconsin Nursing home.
Lois enjoys singing, hiking, sunny days on the pontoon, and spending time with her 4 grandchildren.
Ehren drives Fearing’s technology by continually seeking out trends to enhance capabilities while supporting Sales, Engineering and Installation teams. Throughout his years with Fearing’s, Ehren’s talent and vision have joined forces to create a wide variety of projects and strategic solutions that exceed expectation.
Ehren loves music, family time, movies, nature, sustainability efforts and electric vehicles.
With 10 years with Fearing’s and over twice that long in the industry, Ben continues to lead, coordinate, and develop the Commercial AV team.
By consistently delivering an outstanding experience and outcome, Ben contributes to the Fearing’s legacy of long-lasting partnerships that truly make a difference. Whatever the Commercial AV need may be, Ben and team deliver at the highest level.
Ben is an avid fisherman and photographer. He enjoys coaching his sons and other youth.
Chris has been with Fearing’s for 20 years and in the industry for over 2 decades. As a Certified leader in Sales Acceleration and trained in EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating Systems), Chris successfully utilizes his skills to lead the Fearing’s Salesforce. Chris and team are motivated and driven to develop new client partnerships while continuing to reinforce loyal long-term relationships with ongoing Service excellence.
Married for 19 years with 3 children, Chris enjoys skiing, hiking, fishing, boating, hunting, camping and golf. He’s also been actively involved as a Youth Football and Softball coach for his family and others.
