Located in Topeka, the capital of Kansas, Washburn University has been a beacon of education since 1865, welcoming 7,000 students every year to its publicly funded, independent institution. The university offers over 200 courses of study, catering to a diverse population, including older and part-time learners. Like most modern universities, technology has become fundamental to delivering the learning experiences that students expect, especially via Washburn’s new all-online courses. To meet these demands, Washburn sought a more cost-effective and innovative IT solution – and turned to Lenovo for assistance.
This decision not only modernized the university’s IT infrastructure but also enabled the creation of an esports lounge on campus, adding an extra dimension to student life. However, the journey overcame significant challenges to achieve this success.
Facing challenges head-on
At Washburn University, the growing importance of technology has driven the need for a more modern, efficient approach to device management. With technology playing a crucial role in supporting students, faculty, and staff, the IT team recognized the need for regular device refreshes to ensure seamless access to modern applications and tools across the 160-acre campus.
John Haverty, Chief Information Officer at Washburn University, said, “IT underpins practically everything we do: from controlling the heating and ventilation systems in our buildings to helping our faculty to present, teach, and engage with students. As a result, it’s crucial for us to ensure we have the right technology infrastructure.”
Moving faster
Washburn University identified several key priorities, amongst which was its sustainability program that includes energy conservation and recycling targets. The institution was keen to adopt a faster refresh cycle, transition to a leasing-based approach, and align its IT practices with these sustainability goals. After evaluating solutions from multiple vendors, the university chose Lenovo for its strong capabilities in performance, cost-effectiveness, and build quality.
Lenovo Financial Services provided a solution, that replaced capital device procurement with flexible, manageable leasing contracts. Working closely with Lenovo, Washburn University chose and configured brand-new devices for students and faculty, including high-performance Lenovo ThinkCentre M90a all-in-one PCs, Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Tower W680 workstations, and Lenovo ThinkPad P16v laptops.
Haverty said, “Thanks to our work with Lenovo Financial Services, we’ve moved to a five-year refresh cycle. All our new Lenovo devices come with full warranties, which means it’s quick and easy for us to get repairs and replacements when we need them.”
Delivering results
The results were rapid and measurable, with performance for end users rising by around 35%, and a further uplift expected to 70% as a new round of devices are deployed in the coming months.
With a focus on environmental responsibility, sustainability was another key consideration for the university. Lenovo’s commitment to reducing environmental impact aligned perfectly with Washburn’s campus sustainability initiatives, which focus on energy conservation and waste reduction. By recycling devices at the end of their lifecycle, the university minimized e-waste and met critical sustainability targets.
Haverty said, “After five years working with Lenovo and counting, one of the things we appreciate about Lenovo is their focus on reducing the environmental impact of their operations.”
John Stamer, Vice President & General Manager, Global Product Services for Lenovo, commented, “Our experts worked closely with Washburn to deliver the cutting-edge hardware that students and faculty needed, while also helping the University achieve its sustainability goals, with new devices shipped in reusable bulk packaging made from recycled and renewable materials, and every device recycled at end-of-life.”
Abdul Hakim, Executive Director, Digital Workplace Solutions at Lenovo, added: “With Lenovo TruScale Device as a Service (DaaS), we’re enabling institutions like Washburn University to revolutionize how they manage IT. By simplifying procurement and maintenance through a leasing-based approach, Washburn has achieved significant performance gains while aligning with sustainability goals. Our partnership empowers the university to focus on innovation and delivering exceptional experiences for students and staff, preparing them for the future of technology-driven learning and engagement.”
Gaming to win
Washburn University also upgraded its servers in its data center to boost its digital services for online learning and created a fully equipped eSports center in one of its residential halls. Equipped with 24 Lenovo competitive gaming PCs, the eSports centre offers games ranging from FIFA to League of Legends, with tournaments and events for both fans and casual players. Lenovo’s experts recommended 24 Lenovo Legion gaming PCs, and ggLEAP venue management software which allows the university to easily manage everything from daily operations to gaming tournaments.
Haverty explained, “By replacing end-of-life servers in our data center with Lenovo ThinkSystem solutions, we’ve strengthened the availability of our core digital services. Office of Student Life approached us to ask for help setting up the university’s first esports lounge. We were new to the world of esports, but Lenovo helped us get up to speed quickly with everything we needed to know.”
Looking to the future
The University is now firmly focused on the future. A new device refresh cycle will see users across the university equipped with cutting-edge hardware to support their learning and teaching. Haverty believes that Washburn is well-placed for a future where tech will play an increasingly important role.
“As new technologies like AI explode in popularity, IT is only going to become more important for Washburn in the years ahead,” Haverty said. “With Lenovo as our go-to technology partner, we’re ready to help our users take full advantage of the latest digital capabilities.”