Mitel Case Study: Rosalind Franklin University

This is part of a series of case studies on BCStrategies.com by Blair Pleasant showcasing how companies and organizations achieve their communications objectives with Mitel technology.

Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science Learns About Cloud Communications

Teaching some of today’s brightest minds how to prepare for a future in health care is a huge responsibility. Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science (RFU), which brings together five colleges and over 30 graduate health profession and science programs, focuses on team-based, interdisciplinary learning and practice opportunities, making it a leader in interprofessional healthcare education and research. Faced with an aging legacy PBX system, the university needed a more modern communications solution for its faculty, staff, physicians and more than 2,000 students. Through Internet2 NET+, RFU turned to Mitel’s Clearspan for a modern, cloud-based communications system.

Focusing Resources on Teaching, Not Managing Phone Systems

According to RFU’s Chief Information Officer, Richard Loesch, the university was at a crossroads regarding its 20+ year old legacy phone system. No longer supported by the manufacturer, it required third-party support, and parts were hard to find. When it was finally time to make the move, and after evaluating three other vendor solutions, RFU chose Mitel Clearspan, one of the trusted solutions through Internet2 NET+, which provides universities and other research and educational organizations a portfolio of offerings to help accelerate the adoption of cloud solutions. Through Internet2 NET+, RFU knew that Mitel’s Clearspan cloud solution underwent rigorous, peer-driven security, accessibility and performance reviews.

The Clearspan private cloud system, which was built for enterprises, universities, and large institutions, was the most logical solution for RFU, which wanted to manage its own operation without the responsibility of managing the phone system infrastructure. In addition, Clearspan lets the university take advantage of the customized service, terms and pre-negotiated pricing offered through the Internet2 NET+ program.