Beyond Distance Research Alliance Learning Futures conference 'The Campus and Beyond' Going Wireless - Changing the Nature of Communications, Teaching and Learning on a College Campus Bill Seretta, President What. If Networks, LLC Learning Networks Portland, Maine USA
American International College June 2006 • Urban college on 50 A with 35 buildings located in Springfield, MA USA • 2000 students (undergrad & grad) • 400 faculty and staff • 1200 undergrad of which 700 live on campus • History of limited use of technology
The Problem • Unmanaged & unstable network • Old wiring - mix of coax, Cat 3 and Cat 5 • 1. 4 Meg Internet access for the campus & 1. 4 Meg for the 6 dorms • Limited e-mail system • Old, outdated SIS and financial management systems
The Opportunity • New President with a desire to dramatically improve technology of campus • Existing fiber plant connecting 45% of the campus back to a data center • 150 usable Cat 5 cable runs • 50 ft radio tower atop an 8 story building
The Plan The Goal of the Campus-wide Network is to provide ubiquitous network connectivity to all Staff, Faculty, and Students so they can collaborate, communicate, work, conduct social discourse, teach and learn. This will be accomplished by: • Utilizing the existing fiber and copper cabling plant • Adding wireless backhaul where fiber and copper not present • Deploying a new managed switch fabric consisting of nearly 50 Cisco Switches • Deploy 150 Cisco Wi. FI Hotspots in a density such as to provide coverage for : • All buildings where students, faculty and staff work, teach, learn and reside. • Outdoors coverage: • Courtyard outside of Schwartz Campus Center • Seating Area outside Dinning Commons • Courtyard outside of Magna Hall • Both the Football and Baseball fields as well as the Press Box
Wireless backhaul
Infrastructure Results • • • Installation started July 2006 Went live September 2006 Network completed and stable Nov 2006 High-speed, switched and managed WAN 97% of the campus now has wireless access (150 access points and every building connected by fiber or P to P wireless broadband)
The Virtual Structure
Services • Virtual Campus – E-mail, calendar, contacts, IM, work, collaboration and teaching and learning areas • • • 45 Megs of Internet access All faculty issued wireless laptops Web based Help Desk Web based Financial Management System “Buy” program set up for students New Web based SIS system (going live Jan 2008)
Virtual Campus Portal
Key Issues for Success • • Support of top leadership Poor state of IT prior to the change Strong positive cost/benefit (5 year ROI) Solid plan with identifiable outcomes
Results • Transforms how students, faculty and staff communicate • Changed the way faculty teach traditional classes • Provides a mechanism to support blended and low residency classes
Transforms How Students, Faculty & Staff Communicate • • All campus communications on the VC Virtual office hours Digital handouts Faculty more accessible through IM and email • Virtual workgroups formed to facilitate discussions and decision making
Changed The Way Faculty Teach Traditional Classes • Added ongoing virtual discussions to continue in class discussions • Created group assignments and projects • Support internships and practicums • Classes meet (F to F) less often
Provides a Mechanism to Support Blended and Low Residency Classes
What Didn’t Happen • Not sufficient support for faculty development • Did not adopt a mandatory laptop program for students • Did not install a print management system
Thank You
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