The College of Engineering announced this week it will be expanding the wired network connectivity infrastructure at Gellersen Hall. This expansion will provide immediate and long-term benefits to the network users in the building. These benefits include additional wired connectivity points in classrooms, as well as upgraded communication speed from the desktop to the network. The installation upgrade will begin March 3, 2008. This project is possible through a partnership with the new Cabling Services within IT.

Cabling Services designs solutions for new voice, data, and video cabling installations. By providing these services in-house, Cabling Services is a more cost-effective solution, while maintaining the quality of work performed. By consolidating project inventory and forecasting of future projects, Cabling Services is able to purchase materials in expanded quantities to obtain greater cost savings.

In addition to the cost benefit of this project, students from the IT Fellows program will be involved in the installation, labeling, and certification process. It is a win-win situation. The department is able to expand its infrastructure at a reduced cost, while IT Fellows will learn first hand the dynamics of a “wired” installation from start to finish. Nate Bruce,  Mike DeMateo, Greg DeVries, Brett Maynard, Carlton McDonald, and Larry Selvy will be working on the project.

The IT Fellows web page notes the Fellows program is like a supplementary education, an opportunity for students to increase their marketable attributes while at the same time contributing something that will have substantive meaning. When asked about the IT Fellows program, Fellow Amanda Turkes commented, “Overall, I'm extremely impressed with the amount of education provided to the students. This level of training would generally be sought during the first year in the corporate world, not during college, and from this, the students should have admirable resumes that will hopefully help with the success of our graduates.”

Laura Sanders, Director of Learning Resource and Assessment for the College of Engineering, offered this opinion about the project. "The networking project will help students, faculty, and staff by significantly improving network speeds and telephone reliability. The partnership between IT and the College of Engineering that makes this possible is an excellent example of what can be done when we work together."