Valdosta State University
Setting New Standards in Education—Wireless Technology on Campus
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Industry: Education
Challenge: Cost-effectively expanding campus
connectivity
Solution: Enterasys RoamAbout
Wireless
Benefits: Expanded network connectivity meets
the demands of technology savvy students—and their
parents Port-per-pillow, 24 x 7 connectivity enables
students to access Internet resources outside the
traditional hours of the university lab setting
Wireless networking is extremely cost effective,
especially when compared to hard-wired alternatives
RoamAbout's 802.11 standards compliance ensures
seamless interoperability Patent-pending power
injector saves hundreds of dollars in installation
costs New locations can be connected by RoamAbout at a
fraction of the cost Increased bandwidth delivers
faster data flow and enhanced performance Users can
take advantage of advanced technology and the latest
applications
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Part of the University System of Georgia, Valdosta State University
(VSU) strives to provide an educational environment that fosters
special concern for individual student needs while providing the best
instruction at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Valdosta's
diverse and comprehensive curriculum includes the humanities,
education, nursing, sciences, business and the arts. VSU's student
body of more than 8,700 represents 48 states and 50 countries; 1,800
of these students live in on-campus residence halls. Small classes at
all levels are taught by 500 highly qualified faculty members, and
unique cultural, business, and industry educational opportunities are
available through performances, workshops, institutes, and continuing
education programs.
Technologically, VSU is on the cutting edge of development. The
campus has a fully operational fiber-optic data network with 28
state-of-the-art student computer labs on its main campus as well as
three labs that support its educational activities 100 miles away at
the Kings Bay Naval Base. All are networked to the Internet. The Odum
Library, through its Galileo workstations, offers online network
access to infinite source materials beyond its own 1.3 million
entries. The University offers distance-learning classes at multiple
sites via the statewide GSAMS network, and to the desktop via various
on-line offerings such as MBA and MPA programs of study. Students are
encouraged to attain technological competence and computer literacy.
"Even though we're a relatively small regional university, we're
very technically oriented regarding the resources we provide our
students," says Paul Worth, VSU's network coordinator. "We
think of our network as a utility, like water or power—something
that's necessary. We try to leverage that as much as possible."
The Challenge
Expanding Connectivity—Cost Effectively
VSU's wired network is basically a star configuration with fiber to
all buildings and some ATM at the central hub. The University is
moving toward an ATM backbone and plans to target the academic
buildings, such as classrooms and labs, first. VSU connects to the
Internet via PeachNet, the statewide Internet provider for the Georgia
university system, via an OC-3 connection. Prior to the wireless
installation, VSU students accessed the Internet via a 33K or 56K
dial-up connection. Students either competed for a limited number of
publicly accessible modems located in the University's central modem
pool, or connected from their residence hall through their own ISP.
In order to be competitive with other colleges and
universities—and with other student housing alternatives—Valdosta
wanted to provide port-per-pillow, 24 x 7 connectivity that would
enable students to access Internet resources outside the traditional
hours of the university lab setting. Joe Mattachione, VSU director of
housing and residential life, explains, "Simply put, students are
looking at the use and availability of technology. They like to see
technology integrated into the curriculum and, as a practical matter,
they want convenient, affordable access—including to the Internet
and e-mail."
To meet this demand, Valdosta initially considered wiring the
residence halls. According to Worth, after observing many of the
campuses around them go through great expense and trouble during their
installations, VSU decided against the disruption and time involved
with wiring each residence hall room. It also decided against the more
than half million-dollar price tag that went with this type of
installation. In the end, VSU looked to wireless. "We didn't
immediately jump on the wireless bandwagon," Worth emphasizes.
"We did look at other options because frankly, we were skeptical
that wireless would fit the bill. We knew we needed a solution that
would interoperate seamlessly. It also needed to be convenient to
install and efficient to operate.
"Of course, cost was a major driver," Worth continues.
"A wireless network is actually a more cost-effective solution
than a wired network since it brings connectivity only to those rooms
in which students have a computer, currently about one third of the
on-campus population. The cost of installing our wireless
infrastructure was less than $50,000, compared to a much higher cost
for the hard-wired alternative."
The Solution
Enterasys RoamAbout Earns High Grades
Once they had made the decision to implement a wireless network,
Valdosta selected Enterasys' RoamAbout
Access Point 2000 and high-rate PC card. "Our students deserve
the best we can give them and easy Internet connectivity is a must
today," explains Tom Archibald, assistant to the president for
IT. "RoamAbout is a perfect solution. It builds on our existing
technology: 800 Internet-connected PCs in 28 student labs; integrated
Banner databases used by faculty, staff and students; student
self-registration via the web; an integrated voice response system;
informational touch-screen kiosks around the campus; 30 multimedia
classrooms; 10 electronic classrooms and many other innovations."
RoamAbout integrates seamlessly thanks to its 802.11b standards
compliance. "With RoamAbout's 802.11 compliance, we know it will
interoperate with other compliant devices," Worth says. "I
want to be able to tell students, 'If you bring an 802.11 direct
sequence device, we can make sure you connect with it.'"
The University also liked the level of product maturity and the
management interface found in RoamAbout, and they viewed its power
injector—its ability to power the Access Points over Cat 5—as a
big plus. "The RoamAbout power injector literally saved the
university hundreds of dollars in installation costs because we didn't
need to wait for electricians to put outlets everywhere," says
Worth.
Official deployment of the wireless network began in the summer
when a team of students installed a single Access Point and began to
put it through its paces. Chris Pyle, a VSU IT employee, was in charge
of the effort. "We pushed a great deal of traffic through the
wireless network to see what it could take. Its performance was
flawless," Pyle says.
Once this "test" was complete, the wireless network was
installed in a fraction of the time that it would have required to get
a hard-wired network in place. Again, Pyle spearheaded this effort.
"Installation was actually pretty easy," Pyle reports.
"We field tested the Access Points before installing them and
found that we had much better coverage than anticipated."
Worth agreed. "Some of the buildings are 40 or 50 years old,
but we've been able to make it work. In a typical two-story wing, for
instance, an Access Point placed in the attic reaches both floors,
making it 'invisible' to students. In a three-story wing, positioning
the Access Point on the second floor enables access on all three
floors."
A Popular Choice for the Student Body
So far, 200 VSU students have begun using the new wireless network,
with more on the way. New students learned about the wireless network
at their orientation where both IT and housing staff touted the
initiative, while returning students heard about the new technology at
their initial residence hall floor meeting. As Archibald explains,
students can purchase PC cards on their own or at the University
bookstore. "We ran into our only 'installation' issue during the
first few hours of the semester," Archibald says. "Within
three hours, the campus bookstore had sold out of PC cards."
Students can purchase wireless access cards for $210 at the
bookstore, and the cards can be resold like textbooks at the end of
the year for $105. HOPE and/or PELL financial aid funds can be used to
help pay costs. Unlike using a modem for access, students with
wireless access do not have to pay $15 to $20 per month to an ISP.
The campus bookstore plays another important role once the PC card
is purchased because bookstore staff members have been trained to
install the PC card and then configure the PC or laptop to work on the
wireless network. "With the bookstore staff handling the
configuration and subsequent registration of users, as well as
RoamAbout's access control lists, we're able to manage the number of
individuals who use the network," Worth explains. "This
helps us ensure that only authorized students, faculty and staff take
advantage of our wireless service." In addition to free
installation and configuration, registered students benefit from free
technical support.
Once their PCs or laptops have been configured, students can access
an Internet service that is 200 to 300 times faster than a modem while
moving throughout their residence halls—and even some distance
away—while remaining connected. The wireless web also keeps students
from having to tie up phone lines for Internet hook-up, which means
that phone lines remain open while students surf. Up to 250 students
can dial into each Access Point, so no one has to worry about getting
a busy signal. "Students who initially grumbled at the cost are
now looking at their wireless counterparts with envy," says
Mattachione. "The ease of use and connection speed are hard to
beat." So far the highest traffic has been 500 Kbytes/sec, about
the equivalent of three T1 lines.
Beyond the rapid access to the Internet for "surfing,"
students also value the easy access to applications. According to
Archibald, a number of professors take advantage of the network using
list servers for particular classes. Web CT allows professors to
develop their own courseware and enables students to receive and turn
in their assignments via e-mail, keep and access class notes online,
and even have class discussions online. "VSU is proud to be an
early adopter of Web CT, which is being implemented throughout the
Georgia university system," Archibald says.
VSU was also impressed with the Enterasys sales and support
representatives with whom they worked. "The people at Enterasys
knew their products very well," recalled Worth. "With some
of the other vendors, I got different stories from different people in
tech support. But the Enterasys' representatives always provided fast
and knowledgeable responses."
The Future
Moving to the Head of the Class
The response to the new wireless network at VSU has been so positive
that plans are underway to expand wireless to cover public meeting
areas like the library, cafeteria and building lobbies. "Our
goal," says Worth, "is for students to be able to access the
Internet or campus computing resources wherever they would ordinarily
sit down to study."
In the long term, Worth envisions the wireless network expanding to
classrooms and laboratories. "Our wired network extends to many
of these areas already," he says, "but we see a real
advantage in offering students the freedom to move around a classroom
with a laptop, particularly in a lab setting."
Mattachione looks at the University's new wireless network as an
investment in the future. "I'm convinced that one of the most
effective use of our resources is to provide technology to our
students. Not only does it help them to succeed while they're here; it
also prepares them for their lives after VSU.
"Today, I would compare Valdosta to any campus around the
country in terms of access to information and technology. Now,
campuses from all over the state of Georgia are contacting us to ask:
'How did you do this so fast? How does it work? How can we do it at
our school?' We're offering students something that can truly set VSU
apart."
"Even at a university, we're always looking for new
opportunities, for better ways of doing business," Archibald
concludes. "If Valdosta is going to maintain our position as a
technology leader, we have to push the envelope. We need to take
action to maintain the optimum technology environment for our
students. Our RoamAbout wireless network is an easy, cost-effective
tool to enhance student learning, our reputation, and our bottom line.
Everyone wins."
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