More and more buildings on campus are WiFi-enabled as the ITS network services team continues to extend coverage.
Most recently Burson Building’s 50-plus classrooms, labs and offices were added to the list of facilities with full interior wireless coverage. This new functionality will have a positive impact for faculty, staff and students, noted Solomon Gugsa, research laboratory manager in the Department of Physics and Optical Science.
“In an environment where students spend around three hours in the lab, the advantage of Niner WiFi is enormous,” Gugsa explained. “Teaching assistants who are helping students during the lab session can use the new Niner WiFi service to upload grades in real time on Moodle; print quizzes and tests; and check student rosters and other student-related matters. In addition, students in the lab with urgent requests can use their wireless (notebook) or device to immediately connect to departmental or campus-wide networked resources, instead of interrupting a lab partner to use the shared computer.”
The Physics Resource Center, located in the Burson Building, is utilized by nearly 3,000 introductory physics students each semester. With WiFi access, these students can use their own laptops to finish assignments or for discussions with larger groups, added Gugsa.
Dewey Williams with the Chemistry Department echoed Gugsa’s comments. “Students will enjoy being able to connect to the Internet using their smart devices, and faculty and staff will be able to use their smart devices in classrooms and meetings, too. This will certainly increase our efficiency.”
To date, the ITS project team has successfully deployed more than 600 wireless access points within 23 nonresidential buildings on campus, in order to significantly enhance the wireless network experience for both academic and administrative users. As a result of these efforts, nearly 200 classrooms, labs and offices are WiFi-enabled for the first time. ITS network services, in collaboration with facilities management, has enabled exterior building wireless network service around Cato Hall; College of Health and Human Services; and the Colvard, Denny, Friday, Garinger, Rowe, Smith and Winningham buildings.
“One of the team’s next major steps is to provide full interior wireless network coverage at the College of Education, Barnhardt Student Activity Center and the Miltimore-Wallis Center by the end of the summer. In addition, we have Grigg Hall and the Duke Centennial Hall in our sights as well,” remarked Chad Lenox, a network specialist in ITS. “Overall, Information Technology Services is pleased to successfully deliver a campus-wide, value-added service to the students, faculty and staff at UNC Charlotte.”
Photo: Soloman Gugsa and students working in the first Niner WiFi-enabled lab in the Burson Building.