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Dartmouth's Network Strategies Recognized
Dartmouth's wireless computing initiatives were recently recognized by
EDUCAUSE, a nonprofit association dedicated to advancing higher education by
promoting the intelligent use of information technology. Dartmouth won
EDUCAUSE's 2004 Award for Excellence in Networking: Innovation in Network
Technology, Services, and Management. The award acknowledged Dartmouth's
efforts to create a 100 percent wireless computing network environment on
campus that supports teaching, learning, research, and daily life on the
campus. Dartmouth was honored at the EDUCAUSE Annual Conference on October 21
in Denver, CO.
From left: Brian Hawkins, EDUCAUSE president; Anna Kircher, 2004 Network
Award Committee Chair and Director of Computing & Communications at The
Evergreen State College; Larry Levine, Chief Information Officer and Associate
Provost for Information Technology at Dartmouth College; Brad Noblet, Director
of Technical Services at Dartmouth College; and Charles Fadel, Worldwide Lead,
Education, for Cisco Systems (award sponsor).
"It's a great honor to be recognized by EDUCAUSE, an organization
that knows the value and the challenges behind our wireless computer networking
program," says Larry Levine, Dartmouth Chief Information Officer and
Associate Provost for Information Technology. "We are very proud of our
wireless computing program, which is successful because of a variety of
collaborations with colleagues around campus."
The EDUCAUSE award celebrated Dartmouth's program to provide a comprehensive
wireless overlay to the existing wired infrastructure. The project involved
deploying wireless access points in all campus buildings and major auxiliary
operations, which consequently supplied many outdoor locations with wireless
service. The resulting network environment allows for convenient indoor and
outdoor Internet accessibility, spontaneous and continuous communications with
friends and colleagues, and numerous opportunities for study-group
gatherings.
According to Levine, the network was envisioned in part as a test bed,
intended to support innovative new projects and ideas, in addition to extending
the computer network to every corner of the campus. The wireless network has
helped launch new activities, from classroom and teaching enhancements to
research initiatives to corporate partnerships.
Levine credited the vision and the support of the administration, the
faculty, the alumni, and the staff of Peter Kiewit Computing Services to make
the wireless campus a success.
The Network Services team that built and maintains the wireless network
includes, from front to back and from left to right: Charlie Clark, James
Baker, Charlie Wilber, Kathy Marlar, Barbara McDonnell, Laurie Pollard, David
Bourque, Robert Beach, Brad Noblet, Bob Johnson, and Jason Jeffords. (Photo by
Jay Collier.)
"The wireless network has quickly become woven into the fabric of our
community," says David Kotz, Computer Science Professor and Executive
Director of Dartmouth's Institute for Security Technology Studies, who also
contributed to the award submission. "It's in constant use. No one thinks
about it anymore; it's just there."
The award honors strategic and creative networking programs that improve the
quality of campus network services through new or enhanced network
architectures, infrastructures, or practices. The selection committee wrote,
"Dartmouth's wireless initiative reflects planning that is in tune with
overall university priorities, exemplary responsiveness to the user community,
and interesting and unconventional thinking throughout the deployment that has
generated excitement and experimentation across the various campus
constituencies."
By Susan Knapp
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