INTRODUCTION
Home to more than 31,000 students, Northern Arizona University (NAU) provides a student-centered experience through distinguished programs led by committed professors. The university’s main campus is located in Flagstaff, Arizona, with an additional 19 satellite community campuses statewide. As a public research institution, NAU is committed to developing solutions to challenges while driving innovation in a supportive, inclusive, and diverse environment.
THE CHALLENGE
The classroom AV technology deployed throughout the academic buildings was highly inconsistent. Each department had its own platform, resulting in different operational, infrastructure, and support requirements. Faculty and students who moved between buildings had a difficult time learning how to use the different classroom technologies, resulting in wasted class time. Compounding the issue was the lack of a centralized IT department for the campus.
THE SOLUTION
The Classroom Support Team, responsible for managing the technology on the main campus, led an initiative to create a standardized, simplified AV solution for all classrooms on the main campus and all satellite community campuses state-wide. This would also improve the quality and expediency of support provided to faculty. Additionally, the team wanted to implement network AV technology in select large spaces, plus try it out in conference rooms around campus.
THE TECHNOLOGY
During the project’s early planning stage, the team knew that Crestron solutions were already the most utilized across campus. After finding success with Crestron Fusion® management software, the university wanted to expand its Crestron footprint with more AV technology. "Our College of Engineering, Forestry, and Natural Sciences already had Crestron Fusion set up," says Remington. "We decided to piggyback off of that."
The team established a new AV technology standard for all NAU classrooms based on Crestron technology. This included: powerful DigitalMedia™ DMPS3 Series all-in-one presentation systems; DM® receivers / room controllers; AirMedia® presentation gateways for wireless presentation from laptops and tablets; 7" TSW touch screens for room control; FlipTop™ in-table connectivity and cable management solutions; and Saros® in-ceiling speakers. NAU also deployed DM matrix switchers in collaborative spaces where three or more displays are present. Crestron Fusion software allows the team to centrally monitor and manage it all from a web-based dashboard. They receive alerts in the event of technical issues, enabling them to resolve them remotely without having to dispatch staff and, thereby, minimize disruption of class time.
Finally, DM NVX™ network AV technology was utilized in the Cline Library Assembly Hall, the school’s largest classroom, seating 400 students, as well as in some simple conference rooms around campus. DM NVX delivers flawless 4K video over existing 1Gb networks, with no latency.
The Crestron A+ Educational Partner Program also played a key role in the university’s decision to standardize on Crestron. The program is designed to support the needs of the academic community by facilitating learning with the latest classroom technology. Colleges and universities receive special pricing on equipment, free travel for training, and system design assistance, among other benefits. Members of the Classroom Support Team found the Crestron training especially helpful and, in turn, passed along their new knowledge to the rest of the team.
RESULTS
A total of 177 mediated (tech-enhanced) classrooms are now fully outfitted to the established Crestron standard, providing a simple, consistent user experience in each. The faculty now has the tools they need to start their lectures on time every time, with pristine video quality, and without disruption or confusion. Students enjoy the cutting-edge learning tools, particularly the ability to present wirelessly. It’s a lesson in how standardization can optimize education.
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.
