UNC to launch extended Wi-Fi across campus

The University is spending approximately $3 million on a new Wi-Fi system that would gradually reduce the need for ethernet cords in campus housing by fall 2014.

The project, launched in May, is a collaborative effort between Information Technology Services, the Department of Housing and Residential Education, the Residence Hall Association and ResNet. “My community director told me that surveys had to be changed from, ‘What improvements would you like to see in residence halls?’ to ‘What, besides Wi-Fi, would you like to see in residence halls?’” said RHA President Kendall Nicosia-Rusin, who lived in Cobb last year and led the initiative.

Hinton James, Craige, Ehringhaus, Horton, Koury, Craige North, Hardin and Morrison residence halls are scheduled to have Wi-Fi by Tuesday.

“We had been pushing it for a while but didn’t have the money,” said Larry Hicks, director of housing and residential education.

The choice to start with South Campus residence halls was based on a prioritized schedule. The high-rise dorms were the most difficult to install with Wi-Fi, Hicks said.

“We didn’t choose the low-hanging fruit first,” Hicks said.

Chris Kielt, vice chancellor for information technology, said the project will be funded by the University Priorities and Budget Committee. Kielt, who started his position in July, said installing campuswide Wi-Fi was his goal from day one.

Residence halls that require more significant changes in wiring and structure, including Kenan, Alderman, McIver, Spencer, Old East and Old West, will not have the Wi-Fi until next year.

Kielt said Baity Hill and Ram Village will be more challenging to install with Wi-Fi, and it may not be offered there until spring 2015.

The $3-million price tag for the project is on-campus residents’ main concern, Nicosia-Rusin said.

“Students primarily own laptops and don’t work exclusively in one place in their room,” Nicosia-Rusin said. “They also have iPods, tablets and other forms of technology that don’t allow for ethernet connections.”

Christina Campbell, a junior biology and psychology major, said not having Wi-Fi in her dorm room for two years was a burden.

“It was extremely frustrating because anytime I wanted to do anything school-related in the room, I had to be connected to the wall,” Campbell said.

Campbell said the organizations at UNC took measures to minimize the project’s cost.

“The school did a good job of ensuring it wasn’t wasting money by using more ports and things than necessary.”

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