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Main Campus wireless offerings expand |
| By
Kim Harvey |
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Aug 19, 2008
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The first phase of a project to expand wireless service recently was completed on Main Campus, yielding greater accessibility throughout several facilities.
According to Michael Firsdon and John Chanowski, network engineers in Information Technology, the goal to add wireless points of service began about a year ago.
“Wireless service was available in many locations throughout Main Campus,” Firsdon explained, “but it wasn’t extensive. Even in buildings that were covered, it was available in some areas, but not others.”
For instance, last year at this time, Rocket Hall had just one access point for wireless service. According to Chanowski, the facility now hosts 39 access points. Another focal gathering facility, the Student Union, also has been blanketed with wireless coverage.
In all, wireless points of service have increased from about 100 last year to 461 throughout Main and Scott Park campuses.
“Wireless accessibility was one of the most sought-after things students wanted when they were interviewed,” Firsdon said. “It was in their top five. Wireless availability also complements the educational process.”
Faculty and staff, he noted, echoed students’ requests for coverage in buildings that house classroom, office and conference areas.
“Our strategy was to have wireless coverage in as many of the academic buildings as our budget would allow and in places where students were congregating,” Chanowski said. “We worked with the individual colleges to determine where students were likely to be and where tenants felt wireless access was most-needed.”
Information Technology spent about $250,000 purchasing wireless equipment and installing it in buildings pivotal to student access, including the Student Union and Rocket Hall. Individual colleges and buildings, Firsdon said, identified primary coverage zones that could be established within budget parameters.
“Not all buildings are fully covered,” Firsdon explained. “The tenants let us know which areas they wanted covered, and we worked within those guidelines.”
Buildings and departments that have zones of wireless access include:
• Bowman-Oddy Laboratories;
• Carlson Library;
• Center for the Visual Arts on the Toledo Museum of Art Campus;
• Driscoll Alumni Center;
• Dowd Hall;
• Gillham Hall;
• Health and Human Services Building;
• Larimer Athletic Complex;
• Law Center;
• Learning Resource Center on Scott Park Campus;
• Nash Hall;
• Palmer Hall;
• Rocket Hall;
• Scott Park Library;
• Stranahan Hall;
• Student Medical Center;
• Student Union;
• Sullivan Hall;
• Transportation Center;
• University Computer Center;
• University Hall;
• Wolfe Hall; and
• White Hall.
To see the specific wireless points of service in these buildings and departments, view http://www.utoledo.edu/depts/it/Service_and_Support/O&I/Networking.html.
Because of budgetary concerns, student residence halls currently do not have University-supported wireless service. Firsdon said the undertaking will be a substantial one from the standpoints of cost and staff, but Information Technology is exploring wireless possibilities in all residence halls.
The next phase of wireless expansion is planned for several areas of campus:
• University Hall;
• McMaster Hall;
• Memorial Field House;
• Ritter Astrophysical Research Center;
• Snyder Memorial Building;
• Savage Hall Arena; and
• Savage & Associates Complex for Business Learning and Engagement.
According to Firsdon, expansion is dependent upon budget considerations and prioritization within UT’s strategic plan.
“Our ultimate goal is to have blanket coverage throughout the Main Campus, including our green spaces,” Firsdon said. “But we haven’t really touched on that part of it yet.”
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