Empowering Departments with Low-Code Solutions
Ryan and Kevin brought back practical, real-world insight from Empower26 that’s already strengthening how Student Affairs approaches QuickBase strategy and governance. See how their hands-on experience is helping departments design smarter, more scalable solutions across the entire application lifecycle.
Purpose and Conference Engagement
Ryan Lanman and Kevin Borsani recently attended Empower26 with a clear purpose: to deepen their expertise in the Quickbase platform and ensure that Student Affairs continues to align with current governance standards and emerging best practices.
Hands-On Learning and Ecosystem Exposure
The conference offered a rare opportunity for hands-on engagement with Quickbase product experts, implementation partners, and third‑party developers, giving them a comprehensive view of the broader Quickbase ecosystem.
Through in-depth sessions and direct conversations, they explored how organizations are using the platform to support complex business processes, integrate with other enterprise systems, and scale solutions in a sustainable way.
Recent Platform Upgrades and Improvements
At the same time, Technology Services – Student Affairs has recently completed a significant upgrade and configuration of Quickbase for the Division. This work focused on improving performance, strengthening security, and standardizing how applications are built and supported across departments.
Quickbase Platform Overview
Quickbase is a low-code application development platform that allows departments to create custom tools for tracking data, automating workflows, and managing processes without needing traditional software development resources. When implemented thoughtfully, it can replace spreadsheets and email-driven processes with centralized, auditable, and scalable solutions that better support day-to-day operations.
The recent upgrades also allowed the team to tailor Quickbase specifically for departmental use within Student Affairs.
Governance Model and Departmental Empowerment
A new governance structure has been put in place that empowers designated Department Administrators to manage their own applications while still aligning with divisional standards for data stewardship, security, and supportability.
This balance ensures departments have the flexibility to design solutions that meet their unique needs, while Technology Services maintains visibility and consistency across the environment.
Departmental Onboarding and Adoption Efforts
Ongoing departmental onboarding is currently underway, helping teams understand how to use Quickbase effectively, adopt shared best practices, and plan applications that can grow with their operational needs.
Empower26 Key Takeaways
Insights gained at Empower26 directly informed this work.
Ryan and Kevin returned with a clearer understanding of how to guide departments from initial idea and onboarding through long-term application support and optimization. Key takeaways included strategies for designing clean data structures, knowing when to rely on native Quickbase functionality versus third-party extensions, and establishing governance models that encourage innovation without sacrificing stability.
Strengthening Consulting and Support Capabilities
Their expanded knowledge strengthens Technology Services – Student Affairs’ ability to consult with departments, recommend best-fit solutions, and help teams avoid common pitfalls as their applications evolve.
Getting Started with Quickbase
Departments interested in learning more about Quickbase or exploring how it can support their processes are encouraged to start by contacting their departmental IT Liaison.
Role of Departmental IT Liaisons
Liaisons can help assess use cases, explain the onboarding process, and connect departments with Technology Services for further consultation.
Looking Ahead: Strategic Positioning for Student Affairs
With the recent platform upgrades, a clear governance framework, and lessons learned from Empower26, Student Affairs is well positioned to continue using Quickbase as a strategic tool for improving efficiency, visibility, and service delivery across the Division.
