IT Services and Management Consulting
Solutions for Education
K12 and Higher Education
Establishing technology as a strategic resource for faculty, staff and students is imperative for education institutions to succeed in the 21st century. With an abundance of technology solutions available—from eLearning and Enterprise Resource Planning to Student Information Systems and eProcurement—the opportunities to improve efficiency and effectiveness are endless. But so can be the financial investment.
We leverage the Synch-Solutions Polaris Methodology to help educational institutions define a clear strategy for achieving business objectives while implementing the right technology solutions. In addition, we assess the current environment and determine how future technology solutions will impact client institutions.
Our Education Services include:
- Solutions Enabling Shared Services
- Operational Assessment
- Change Management
- Software Implementation
Solutions Enabling Shared Services
Synch-Solutions can provide school districts with solutions enabling shared services that reduce the costs of administrative functions, freeing up existing budget dollars to be directed to learning activities, and producing higher service levels for the price than can typically be managed on an internal system. Such services include:
- Back-Office Functions
- IT Infrastructure
- Software as a Service
Operational Assessment
The first step in any successful IT implementation is to ensure that the current environment is prepared for change. Our assessment teams mitigate project risk by collaborating with clients to audit, assess and report on operations. Using best practices, our teams perform comprehensive capability reviews of:
- Existing Business Processes
- Technology Plans
- Software Rationalization
- Change Management Acceptance
Our assessment teams also determine if the client’s current technology infrastructure is adequate to meet the requirements of the IT initiative, as well as the needs of faculty, staff and students. Operational Assessment covers:
- Network Capacity
- Applications
- Architecture
- Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)
- Training and Development
Operational Assessment, a solution set within the Synch-Solutions Polaris Methodology, provides a framework for defining the vision and objectives for information technology, relative to the organization's business strategy.
Change Management
Implementing new applications and upgrading existing systems requires a commitment to training and communication among the client’s most important assets—their faculty and staff.
Because we understand the need for short-term vocational and technical training, and adult education, Synch-Solutions can provide direction regarding training programs for teachers, administrators, parents and educational stakeholders.
In addition, we will observe the current organization in order to isolate roadblocks, identify the strongest threats and neutralize existing barriers to prevent derailment.
To help facilitate effective change, Synch-Solutions provides the following services:
- Extended IT Services
- Customized Training
The Synch-Solutions Polaris Methodology helps ensure that the Change Management program is positively embraced across the organization.
Software Implementation
We understand that it is critical for educational institutions to keep accurate and reliable data while managing core administration processes. Software Implementation helps organizations effectively deploy enterprise software covering human resources, financial management, self-service and portal solutions.
In addition, we have deep expertise with Student Information Systems, which offer a variety of student services and administrative functions ranging from student application processing to the development of individual study plans and timetables. Our student administration solutions enable clients to increase efficiencies across administrative and service areas, while leveraging pre-existing technology investments.
Application of the Synch-Solutions Polaris Methodology ensures that Software Implementation covers the full life cycle, from project inception through project closeout.
For more information about our Education solutions and experience, please download and read our Higher Education data sheet and our City Colleges of Chicago case study, or contact us.