Wharton Computing Teams
Expertise. Experience. Commitment.
Wharton Computing provides consulting and technology support for the faculty, students, and staff of the Wharton School. Led by Associate Dean and Chief Information Officer Deirdre Woods, Wharton Computing's staff of more than 100 IT professionals includes PhDs, economists, systems programmers, application developers, and IT support specialists.
Academic Distributed IT Support Reps
A network of Academic Distributed Representatives provides dedicated technology consulting and support to the faculty and staff of Wharton's 11 academic departments. Based within each department in a "spoke and hub" infrastructure, these staff members have dual reporting relationships, closely connected to the needs and priorities of their academic departments, while attuned to technology standards, policies, and resources at a Schoolwide level.
» Contact information: [Wharton only] http://inside.wharton.upenn.edu/faculty/distributedreps.html
Administrative Distributed IT Support Reps
Parallel to the distributed support for Wharton faculty and academic departments, Wharton Computing staff are in place to support key administrative offices – including the Dean's Office, the MBA and Undergraduate Divisions, and Wharton External Affairs offices that span Alumni, Development, and International Relations.
» Contact information: [Wharton only] http://inside.wharton.upenn.edu/staff/distributedreps.html
Classrooms, Labs, and Media Network: Public Technology
The Public Technology group provides technology and support for Wharton's more than 60 classrooms, 57 Group Study Rooms and student computing labs.
In Wharton classrooms, the group supports everything from the Wharton Lectern and computer projection systems to the wireless microphones for faculty lecturers.
The group also ensures that Jon M. Huntsman Hall's computer labs, housing nearly 300 computers – along with printers and projection systems – are up and running 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
And the Public Technology group manages the services and infrastructure for the Wharton Media Network, providing streaming video of class lectures, special events, and guest speakers. Additional services include: public address and computer display systems throughout the Wharton complex, equipment rental for academic projects, and video editing services for selected faculty applications.
» Contact: class-tech@wharton.upenn.edu
Consulting (Computer Support "Help Desk")
Wharton's Computer Consultants, located in F35 Jon M. Huntsman Hall, assist students in using Wharton's computer systems, software, and services. In addition to staffing the Help Desk and creating extensive online resources, consultants are available for one-on-one help by phone or e-mail.
» Contact: consultant@wharton.upenn.edu
Core Systems and Networking
Managing more than 50 terabytes of data and the security on 10,000 network nodes, our Core Systems and Networking team ensures that Wharton's central server systems and networking infrastructure have the capacity, the capability, and the security needed to maintain a seamless experience for the Wharton community.
» Contact: core-systems@wharton.upenn.edu
Executive Education
Supporting Wharton Executive Education initiatives such as the Wharton Learning Continuum and the Virtual Classroom project, Wharton Computing's team assists faculty and staff in using technology to engage with the School's internationally diverse executive participants (numbering more than 8,000 annually) before they arrive at Wharton, to maximize their experience on campus, and to continue their connection after they leave.
» Contact: execed@wharton.upenn.edu
Knowledge@Wharton
Available online and by audio podcast, via cell phones and PDAs, Knowledge@Wharton brings faculty insights to nearly a million subscribers in 189 countries, with a growing number of special international editions. Wharton Computing staff members serve as technical directors, as well as contributing editor in technology and technology management.
» Contact: knowledge@wharton.upenn.edu
Learning Lab
Working with Wharton faculty, the Alfred West Jr. Learning Lab team has developed dozens of simulations, web-based exercises, and interactive programs that help students understand and apply principles taught in class. In 2007, the team was honored with the University of Pennsylvania's Models of Excellence award, which recognizes staff achievements of initiative, leadership, and a deep commitment to service.
» Contact: learninglab@wharton.upenn.edu
Student Technology: SPIKE, Course Auction, Facebook, and More
To create and refine applications such as the SPIKE student intranet, the MBA Course Auction, the online Facebook, and others – all designed to enhance the student experience at Wharton – the Student Technology team actively solicits student involvement, including hosting the Wharton Computing Student Advisory Board, attending MBA cohort lunches and other activities, regularly meeting with student groups involved with information technology, and working closely with Wharton's Computing Consulting group to understand how Wharton systems and services can better address student requirements.
» Contact: spike-dev@wharton.upenn.edu
webCafé and Instructional Technology
Used by nearly every faculty member and student at Wharton, and honored by Computerworld for excellence in information technology, webCafé offers easy-to-use digital project workspaces for coursework and student collaboration. Wharton's webCafé team provides ongoing support and custom features to this groupware environment.
» Contact: webcafe@wharton.upenn.edu
Wharton Research Data Services (WRDS)
Wharton Computing maintains the Wharton Research Data Services (WRDS), a comprehensive set of financial data and software tools for use by faculty, staff, and students. Support services include regular updates and user documentation for this popular service, licensed by Wharton to more than 200 leading business schools and institutions.
» Contact: wrds@wharton.upenn.edu
