Life in the IT Office

By: Aryana Dokter

The University of Sioux Falls IT Office is where all the technology magic happens. From helping with student needs on a daily basis to keeping technology up to date, the IT Office handles so many different things. Bill Bartell, who is the Vice President of Information Technology, gave some great insight into what the IT Office is involved in. When planning for technology changes, he comes up with a technology plan for improvements. He said, “The operational plan is based on maintenance for existing systems, including repairs for existing hardware, and planning for future needs of various software and cloud-based products. When possible, I purchase 3 or even 5-year maintenance contracts, which normally locks in the price during that time.” In addition to coming up with a plan, he must consider how long computers need to work and plan for repairs. He mentioned that computers typically need to work for five to seven years before there are security concerns. For 2026, the IT Office purchased 165 desktop PCs, which covers about one third of the total desktops on campus. There are also plans to replace the higher-end PCs in the Pierce Media Studies Lab and more Macintosh systems for the Art and Media Labs later in the year. On top of all that, with the launch of the ESPORTS Program, there are new gaming systems being purchased in preparation for the launch in Fall of 2026. Bar tell said, “We’ll have invested over $330,000 in new PC equipment.” When keeping up with all the changes, Bartell mentioned it can be quite challenging. “For instance, when picking the gaming systems for our ESPORTS program, I leaned heavily on everyone in the department and the new ESPORTS coach for recommendations in hardware configurations as well as what the high school students in the area expect. Though I play a lot of XBOX with my grandkids, in the gaming world, I spend most of my time in games like “Myst” and all the “LEGO” titles, so I needed my staff’s experience picking systems that are appropriate for high-end competition.” He knows that leaning on the staff and staying up to date takes a conscious effort to make sure the campus has the proper technology needed. When it is all said and done, the IT Office plays a crucial role in the life of the campus and making sure that students have the resources needed to further their education. To not raise tuition costs for students, Bartell and the rest of the IT Office work hard to make insightful decisions. “The best I can do is provide technology vision for my staff and the campus, allow them to do their best work, make myself available where needed, and keep us as informed as we can as to how technology is evolving.”