Wireless moves into the dorms

Soon trashcans may be overflowing with Ethernet cords. VCU’s dorms are going wireless.

For years, students living on-campus needed an Ethernet cord to have access to the World Wide Web. But Residential Life and Housing is about to experience a facelift.

After many meetings, long hours of planning, survey estimates and price arrangements it is official, wireless cards are moving in.

The large project to enhance on-campus living is broken down into two phases and will commence as soon as VCU knows when the equipment is available.

“Since this is such a large project and when you ask a company for that much equipment, we don’t know when we’re going to get it,” said Michael Miller, desktop support supervisor for the Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Services.

VCU will use CISCO Systems Inc. equipment under the management of Richard Shumaker.

VCU sent out bids to vendors for the cabling required in this project for the new access points. They expect to start installation next month in the freshman dorms, said Bob Neale, director of computing and communications.

Phase one includes Johnson, Brandt, Rhoads and Cabaniss halls, as well as Gladding Residence Center, Phases II and III. The target date for completion is early this fall.

Phase two includes GRC Phase I, Ackell Residence Center, West Grace, Warner Hall, Broad and Belvidere Apartments, RAMZ Hall on the Monroe Park Campus and Bear, McRae and Rudd halls at the VCU Medical Center Campus. The target date for completion is summer 2007.

Neale and Miller say wireless in the dorms will be a large improvement from the network. The network caused so many problems that in 2005 students brought it to the attention of Student Government Association President Eddie O’Leary. The division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Services implemented some changes, but not one this large.

Wireless in the dorms has taken so long because of the cost.

The project is estimated to cost around $200,000 for the high-rise freshman dorms and $500,000 for the apartment-style dorms such as Ackell Residence Center and Broad and Belvidere Apartments.

Residential Life and Housing is providing the funds for the project, said Miller.

“VCU has a large and spread-out campus, which is intermingled with the city of Richmond,” Miller said. “We don’t have the luxury like other universities of having an enclosed campus.”

Wireless access will soon be available in freshman dorms on “every floor and in every residence hall room,” Neale said.

The equipment will be managed to ensure operating efficiency after installation, but actual content filtering “is not a capability with the technology we are implementing,” Neale said.

The project will take time, said Neale. But that is not hindering the excitement.

“We now have a common goal to create a total wireless community for our students, faculty and staff,” Neale said.

Miller shares his excitement. “Making VCU a wireless campus will enable VCU to be technologically competitive,” he said. “Students will be able to take their laptops almost anywhere on campus and maintain an Internet connection. They are no longer confined to specific wireless areas.”