— Tim Downs, CFO, Ithaca College
Higher Education | Technology
A Long-Standing Refresh Strategy for Campus Technology
Fast Facts
Aging Technology Created Operational and Security Risks
Two decades ago, Ithaca College faced a growing challenge familiar to many institutions: without a structured technology refresh program, computers were replaced inconsistently across departments. New devices were typically allocated to the most senior staff members, while older devices were passed down throughout the organization.
Over time, this approach left the institution with aging equipment that was increasingly difficult to support. Many devices remained in use long past their optimal lifecycle, limiting the IT team’s ability to deploy new services and software across campus. As technology advanced, these outdated systems also created greater operational complexity and increased exposure to technology obsolescence and evolving cybersecurity risks.
Ithaca College needed a more sustainable approach to maintaining modern, reliable technology for faculty, staff, and students.
“We had machines that would end up being eight or nine years old that were getting more and more difficult to support.”
— David Weil, CIO, Ithaca College
“We work closely to understand what our costing is going to be looking out—not just what it is today, but what we can project for the next three years.”
Structured IT Refresh Model Improved Predictability and Planning
To address these challenges, First American worked with Ithaca College to implement a campus-wide technology refresh strategy designed to create predictability for both technology deployment and budgeting.
Through a structured four-year refresh cycle, the institution is able to maintain a fleet of modern devices while simplifying planning for its IT team. Updated machines can be distributed across campus on a consistent schedule, giving departments access to reliable technology capable of supporting current applications and services.
The program also provides financial visibility that allows the institution to forecast technology costs over multiple years, helping leadership align technology investments with broader institutional planning.
Consistent Upgrades Support a Modern Campus Environment
Today, Ithaca College benefits from a stable and sustainable technology environment supported by its long-standing refresh program.
Devices across campus are replaced on a consistent schedule, helping ensure faculty, staff, and students have access to modern technology capable of supporting their work. The program also reduces the operational burden on IT staff by minimizing the challenges associated with managing outdated equipment.
More than twenty years after the program began, the technology refresh strategy continues to deliver measurable value—creating a more predictable, secure, and efficient IT environment for the entire campus community.
“It really has solved what was a really big problem for us [twenty] years ago and made it something we don’t even think about.”
— David Weil, CIO, Ithaca College
Aging Technology Created Operational and Security Risks
Two decades ago, Ithaca College faced a growing challenge familiar to many institutions: without a structured technology refresh program, computers were replaced inconsistently across departments. New devices were typically allocated to the most senior staff members, while older devices were passed down throughout the organization.
Over time, this approach left the institution with aging equipment that was increasingly difficult to support. Many devices remained in use long past their optimal lifecycle, limiting the IT team’s ability to deploy new services and software across campus. As technology advanced, these outdated systems also created greater operational complexity and increased exposure to technology obsolescence and evolving cybersecurity risks.
Ithaca College needed a more sustainable approach to maintaining modern, reliable technology for faculty, staff, and students.
“We had machines that would end up being eight or nine years old that were getting more and more difficult to support.”
— David Weil, CIO, Ithaca College
Structured IT Refresh Model Improved Predictability and Planning
To address these challenges, First American worked with Ithaca College to implement a campus-wide technology refresh strategy designed to create predictability for both technology deployment and budgeting.
Through a structured four-year refresh cycle, the institution is able to maintain a fleet of modern devices while simplifying planning for its IT team. Updated machines can be distributed across campus on a consistent schedule, giving departments access to reliable technology capable of supporting current applications and services.
The program also provides financial visibility that allows the institution to forecast technology costs over multiple years, helping leadership align technology investments with broader institutional planning.
“We work closely to understand what our costing is going to be looking out—not just what it is today, but what we can project for the next three years.”
— Tim Downs, CFO, Ithaca College
Consistent Upgrades Support a Modern Campus Environment
Today, Ithaca College benefits from a stable and sustainable technology environment supported by its long-standing refresh program.
Devices across campus are replaced on a consistent schedule, helping ensure faculty, staff, and students have access to modern technology capable of supporting their work. The program also reduces the operational burden on IT staff by minimizing the challenges associated with managing outdated equipment.
More than twenty years after the program began, the technology refresh strategy continues to deliver measurable value—creating a more predictable, secure, and efficient IT environment for the entire campus community.
Looking back to 2011: watch how Ithaca College first approached its campus-wide technology refresh strategy.
“It really has solved what was a really big problem for us [twenty] years ago and made it something we don’t even think about.”
— David Weil, CIO, Ithaca College
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