OU wireless network still among top 10

By Jim Stafford

Published: September 6, 2008

NORMAN — The wireless network at the University of Oklahoma blankets the campus with more than 800 access points and provides Internet connections in 90 percent of the academic buildings and most indoor and outdoor common areas.

Students and faculty also can connect to high-speed wired network ports available in all residence halls, university faculty and staff offices, and in most public areas, such as Oklahoma Memorial Union, Bizzell Memorial Library and most major classrooms.

The ubiquity of OU's network, along with its claim that all computers in its computer labs and common areas are less than a year old, have earned the university a second consecutive top 10 ranking in PC Magazine's Top Wired Colleges of 2008.

OU earned a No. 10 ranking, the same ranking earned in the 2006 PC Magazine list of wired colleges.

In fact, OU is one of only six schools to hold its top 20 ranking from 2006, the magazine said in an article at www.pcmag.com. OU was recognized for its high-speed wired and wireless networks, classroom technology, 24/7 support, computer labs, technology availability and a host of online services.

"The breadth and depth of our services makes OU stand out as one of the 10 most wired colleges,” said Dennis Aebersold, vice president for Information Technology. "Our mission is to meet the ever-evolving needs of our students, faculty, and staff. To do that, we've built a catalog of world-class technology services, from computer labs and wireless coverage for students to the Center for Informatics and the OU Supercomputing Center for Education and Research for researchers — and everything in between.”

OU worked closely with students and student government as it expanded the wireless network across campus, Aebersold said.

"We have worked very hard to install our wireless network at a minimal cost to students,” he said. "With the explosion of wireless devices, this becomes an important tool for recruiting and retaining the best students.”

The top five colleges and universities in the "most wired” ranking were: No. 1, University of Illinois-Champaign; No. 2, Kansas State University; No. 3, University of Utah; No. 4, Bentley College, Waltham, Mass.; and No. 5, Pomona College, Claremont, Calif.

OU's vast network provides convenient computing and information technology services for OU students, said Amanda Holloway, president of the student association.

"Students at the University of Oklahoma have incredible IT resources at their fingertips,” Holloway said. "I can be in any classroom and know that I will be able to access the Internet. OU's information technology team constantly seeks student opinions and suggestions, and they works tirelessly to serve the student body in the best way possible.”

The rankings were based on surveys completed by participating universities. Information was compiled in a collaborative effort between PC Magazine and The Princeton Review, which routinely ranks universities.

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