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Higher Education | Technology

Proactive IT Acquisition Strategy Helps College Stay Ahead of Technology Curve

Fast Facts

Industry

Higher Education

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Organization

Cornell College, Mount Vernon, IA

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Client Since

2015

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Equipment Financed

$1,550,000 in computers, wireless equipment, AV upgrades, and servers

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Financing Structure

48-month lease line

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Industry Specific Fact

Cornell College, a small, private, liberal arts school, in 1871 became the first U.S. college to grant a full professorship to a woman (Harriette J. Cooke) with a salary equal to her male colleagues

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Industry

Higher Education

Star icon

Organization

Cornell College, Mount Vernon, IA

Building Icon

Equipment Financed

$1,550,000 in computers, wireless equipment, AV upgrades, and servers

Money icon

Cornell College Seeks Different Approach to IT Purchasing

The IT strategy at Cornell College was simple, reactive—and inefficient. Whenever a problem arose, administrators sought a solution and figured out later how to fund it. This approach led to numerous individual equipment purchases being tracked and managed across multiple departments, often resulting in delayed or abandoned projects and impeding the college’s ability to plan effectively. A more comprehensive approach was needed to fund key projects, enable proactive replacement cycles, and facilitate more authority across departments.

“You can plan long-term on the strategic aspect, but then you also have to be able to respond in a nimble fashion to the tactical things that pop up that you’re never going to be able to plan for.”

– Jeff Gibson, Director of Technology, Cornell College

“Leasing just allows us to be very flexible in terms of meeting our technology needs on campus without being locked into a particular solution.”

– Dan Layzell, CFO, Cornell College

From Reactive to Proactive: Lease Line Enables New IT Acquisition Strategy

A fixed-rate lease line from First American provided a readily available source of funds that Cornell needed to be both flexible and nimble when considering their ongoing IT needs. The rate was locked in during a rising rate environment—providing significant cost savings over time. The college was also able to convert the lease line into individual project leases on separate schedules, eliminating the need to underwrite each project while maintaining their freedom to choose vendors.

Cornell College Seeks Different Approach to IT Purchasing

The IT strategy at Cornell College was simple, reactive—and inefficient. Whenever a problem arose, administrators sought a solution and figured out later how to fund it. This approach led to numerous individual equipment purchases being tracked and managed across multiple departments, often resulting in delayed or abandoned projects and impeding the college’s ability to plan effectively. A more comprehensive approach was needed to fund key projects, enable proactive replacement cycles, and facilitate more authority across departments.

“You can plan long-term on the strategic aspect, but then you also have to be able to respond in a nimble fashion to the tactical things that pop up that you're never going to be able to plan for.”

– Jeff Gibson, Director of Technology, Cornell College

From Reactive to Proactive: Lease Line Enables New IT Acquisition Strategy

A fixed-rate lease line from First American provided a readily available source of funds that Cornell needed to be both flexible and nimble when considering their ongoing IT needs. The rate was locked in during a rising rate environment—providing significant cost savings over time. The college was also able to convert the lease line into individual project leases on separate schedules, eliminating the need to underwrite each project while maintaining their freedom to choose vendors.

“Leasing just allows us to be very flexible in terms of meeting our technology needs on campus without being locked into a particular solution.”

– Dan Layzell, CFO, Cornell College

New IT Acquisition Strategy Creates Long-Term Efficiencies That Benefit Staff and Students

First American has helped Cornell College create and execute a long-term, strategic IT plan that operationalizes their equipment budget and aligns financing with the useful life of the assets. The result is simplified implementation and documentation, increased ability to quickly fund equipment as needs arise, and proactive planning for expenditures that allows for reprioritization when necessary. By demonstrating the ability to provide much more than a “one-and-done” finance solution, First American has become a consultative resource for Cornell on all their long-term capital endeavors.

“Rob and his team, I think, really cared about providing the best possible solution for us as a long-term ally.”

– Dan Layzell, CFO, Cornell College

New IT Acquisition Strategy Creates Long-Term Efficiencies That Benefit Staff and Students

First American has helped Cornell College create and execute a long-term, strategic IT plan that operationalizes their equipment budget and aligns financing with the useful life of the assets. The result is simplified implementation and documentation, increased ability to quickly fund equipment as needs arise, and proactive planning for expenditures that allows for reprioritization when necessary. By demonstrating the ability to provide much more than a “one-and-done” finance solution, First American has become a consultative resource for Cornell on all their long-term capital endeavors.

“Rob and his team, I think, really cared about providing the best possible solution for us as a long-term ally.”

– Dan Layzell, CFO, Cornell College

Other Relevant Case Studies

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A Custom Refresh Program Empowers Student Success

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