An inquiry by The Equinox about the silence of the carillon bell led to an unexpected discovery—the bell was not broken, just forgotten. In that silence, a new question arose: Are students using the tools available to report problems on campus?
The work order system is the University System of New Hampshire’s (USNH’s) online platform designated for reporting maintenance issues around campus, and is routinely mentioned in The Equinox’s coverage, often as a reminder from facility staff urging students to use the platform. Despite receiving reminders, many students interviewed said they’ve never used it, and some didn’t know it existed.
Sophomore Dylan Burwell reflected this thought.
“I’m not even sure what that is — I have never had to use it,” Burwell said.
The work order system is run through TeamDynamix, an online IT management service. According to the company’s website, the software can create, edit, manage and organize requests based on urgency and type.
Jack Colvin, a sophomore, said he used the system before, after a chair in his dorm broke. Reflecting on the events, he said, “It was very easy, all I had to do was put in my room information, and they were there to replace my chair that day.” So, if the work order system is easy to use, why aren’t more students using it?
When asked how he discovered the work order system, Colvin said, “My girlfriend told me about it, and she found it through an email sent out at the beginning of the year.”
Colvin’s experience highlights a lingering issue: The system lacks visibility among some students. While the system may work efficiently, the student body remains unaware of it because most students only discover the system when they need it.
In an email to The Equinox, Enterprise Technology & Services, the department overseeing TeamDynamix, acknowledged the platform’s lack of a student-friendly design.
“Enterprise Technology & Services administers TeamDynamix for all areas of USNH that use it,” the department wrote.
“Right now, there is focused work happening in the ET&S support area of TeamDynamix as all of the teams within ET&S are reviewing their services and forms with the goal of improving navigability for customers!”
“This review is underway, and when changes are implemented, it should make the IT support request process easier to navigate.”
USNH’s modernization of TeamDynamix comes as some students remain unaware of the system, raising questions about how well reporting tools are communicated across campus.
Xander Noel can be contacted at
xnoel@kscequinox.com
