Introduction
When Tennessee Wesleyan University (TWU) in the rolling hills of Athens, Tennessee faced a sudden leadership vacuum in their IT department, they didn’t just need someone to manage technology; they needed a partner to steady the ship, rebuild trust, and create a foundation for long-term success.

What they found in Boldyn Networks wasn’t just interim help. It was a transformational partnership that improved campus connectivity, modernized infrastructure, guided the IT team through strategic growth — and quietly helped TWU elevate its student experience and long-term retention.

The Challenge
Like many universities, JMU faces the challenge of balancing limited resources with rising expectations:

• Students expect a like-home, high-performance connectivity experience across an ever-growing number of personal devices.
• Budgeting for large capital IT investments is unpredictable, especially when trying to stay ahead of technology demands.
• Manual network onboarding processes have historically strained both students and IT staff during high-pressure times like move-in.
• Limited staffing makes it difficult to provide 24/7 tech support, particularly during nights and weekends when most support requests come in.
• Legacy infrastructure was housed in buildings undergoing renovation, requiring swift and strategic relocations.

These challenges aren’t new. What makes the difference is how JMU has met them – not by stretching their internal team further, but by deepening their partnership with Boldyn.The Solution

What distinguishes Boldyn is not just what they provide, but how they show up.

Boldyn brings more than managed services to JMU; they bring a mindset of shared ownership. Their ability to anticipate needs, move quickly, and deliver with consistency allows JMU’s IT team to stay focused on the bigger picture: innovation, transformation, and strategic planning.

For example, when JMU needed to relocate network cores during a major renovation, Boldyn didn’t hesitate. They executed the move on time, with zero disruption. When aging infrastructure needed a refresh, Boldyn led the planning and delivery — enabling a smoother transition and more predictable spend.

Recent Outcomes Include:

Proactive Technology Lifecycle Management

Boldyn’s 5-year refresh model ensures technology stays modern — without JMU IT needing to push for it. The partnership makes forward planning easier, with financial predictability and fewer surprises.

Seamless 2023 Network Refresh

Boldyn and JMU’s latest campus-wide upgrade brought faster speeds (150 Mbps/100 Mbps), personal area networks for smart device connectivity, and streamlined onboarding through easy PSK and dynamic MAC registration — transforming move-in into a frustration-free experience.

24/7 Support that Feels Local

Boldyn manages the student helpdesk, ResNet, and NOC services — including nights and weekends — with on-campus staff ready to address issues quickly. Students get responsive support; JMU IT gets peace of mind.

Renovation-Ready Flexibility

From Harrison Hall to Potomac Hall, Boldyn has supported major campus projects without delay or disruption — even leveraging shared infrastructure to reduce cost and complexity.

The Impact: Focus, Flexibility, and Confidence

Since partnering with Boldyn, JMU has seen a dramatic reduction in IT service interruptions. Plus, onboarding became intuitive and security improved. And the shift to an OPEX model gave JMU more control over its financial planning.

Perhaps most importantly, Boldyn’s role behind the scenes allows campus IT leadership to focus forward — not just maintaining today’s network, but designing tomorrow’s infrastructure.

“Technology is always changing, and expectations are always rising. The one constant is our partnership with Boldyn. We trust them to evolve with us — and to stay one step ahead of what students will need next.”

Robin Bryan, AVP & CIO, JMU

Looking Ahead

As JMU prepares for more campus growth under new leadership – including a goal to bring 50% of students back into on-campus housing – and supports a more digitally immersive student experience, Boldyn remains a steady, strategic partner. Their adaptability, deep institutional knowledge, and proactive support model continue to give JMU’s IT team the clarity, time, and confidence to focus where it matters most.

Because when the network just works, IT can do more than maintain — it can lead.