By Josh Bull
The college implemented a tech fee of $3 per credit hour on student tuition to help fund an effort to improve network access in 2011. This money has been used to fund a variety of tech improvements, including improved Wi-Fi coverage, a second Internet connection and a smart phone app.
Through a partnership with Cisco Systems and CDW-G, a secondary division of CDW Corporation, the college has made improvements to its wireless network on campus and released a smart phone app to help students access the Internet on campus and use college services.
The JCCC Mobile smart phone app can be used to access content on the college website and more. Along with accessing a student’s schedule, checking grades and paying tuition, it can be used to check the college’s Facebook, Twitter and Youtube pages, as well as the Campus Ledger and any phone numbers relevant to the college, including the Campus Police. It can also be used to search the campus bookstore and library, campus jobs and faculty.
“One of the things we knew in the beginning is that we didn’t want to roll out a mobile app just in a hurry just because we could. We wanted to roll it out and have it provide you value from the very beginning,” Sandra Warner, Deputy CIO, said.
JCCC Mobile is available on Android and iOS devices. Beyond JCCC Mobile, the college has improved its Wi- Fi access.
“Obviously, wireless is a big part of a student’s needs on a college campus today, and so a lot of enhancements have been made in that arena,” Warner said.
Every building on campus and many outdoor areas, including the baseball field, now have wireless access and more access points will be installed.
“We’ve got others we’re going to add on campus to improve coverage,” Matt Holmes, Administrator of Computer Services, said.
Also implemented was the log in system used by students and faculty trying to access the wireless network.
“Our wireless prior basically had an open network, so to speak,” Martin Huerter, Network Architect, said. “An open wireless network, with your BYOD, bring your own device being so popular, we had to address that. So we implemented the identity service.”
The college hopes that students notice the improvements as they use the wireless network and that the classroom experience is enhanced by these improvements.
“We’re really excited to be able to offer that experience campus wide, indoor and outdoor, the mobile app, the whole thing is really exciting,” Warner said. “We hope that the experience in the classroom is better, but this is, I think, where the fun is because now you really get to have an improved user experience and user interface to interact with the college.”
Contact Josh Bull, reporting correspondent, at jbull3@jccc. edu.