Akron Only University in Ohio to Earn an “A” in Wireless Technology

Akron, Ohio, Jan. 31, 2002 Reaching beyond the constraints of hard wire and desktop computers, The University of Akron's wireless initiative continues to receive accolades as one of the most technologically advanced campuses in Ohio and in the country. The University of Akron's wireless initiative, under the direction of the VPCIO Division, has placed it among an elite group of universities.

Last fall, Yahoo! magazine recognized Akron (Yahoo! Internet Life, Oct. 2001) as the best wireless campus in Ohio. Of the seven Ohio universities that made the magazine's top 200, only Akron received an A- for it's wireless initiative. One other campus received a B+, while the other schools fell in the C range.

Yahoo!'s Internet Life survey solicited responses from 3,703 open-enrollment, accredited, undergraduate two- and four-year U.S. institutions. Of the top 200 schools in Yahoo's annual survey, only 20 schools received wireless grades in the A range, meaning that the school is a wireless pioneer.

Our commitment to the wireless initiative was born out of the demands for better information access and very real fiscal constraints that limited what we otherwise could have accomplished via traditional hardwire approaches. Our objective was to 'wireless-enable' every space on campus where students and faculty normally congregate to learn, collaborate and exchange ideas, says Dr. Thomas Gaylord, VPCIO. Through hard work, we have built a solid information access infrastructure that is now being recognized as among the best in the country".

The University of Akron intends to maintain its leadership role as it continues to move forward with more wireless testing and implementations during 2002.

In its wireless ranking, the Yahoo! magazine said that, While most major universities and colleges offer high-speed Net access in dorm rooms, only a select few have rolled out wireless networks. . . . it's a good indicator of whether a school is an early adopter of new technologies.

We are the only major university in the state of Ohio that is completely wired for wireless coverage, says Michael Donnelly, UA network services manager. Our coverage includes all campus buildings and green spaces. It also includes our branch campus Wayne College in Orrville, our sports stadium the Rubber Bowl, and the off-campus Heisman Lodge.

The University of Akron is the public research university for northern Ohio. Founded in 1870, it is the only Ohio public university with a science and engineering program ranked among the nation's top five by U.S. News & World Report. The University of Akron is a leader in the implementation of learning technologies, as evidenced by its numerous partnerships with companies such as PeopleSoft, Cisco Systems and IBM. Serving approximately 24,300 students, the University offers more than 350 associate, bachelor's, master's, doctoral and law degree programs and approximately 100 certificate programs at its main campus in Akron, its Wayne College branch campus in Orrville, and at sites throughout Medina and Summit counties. For more information, visit www.uakron.edu.