UMR students enjoy one of the nation’s best wireless Internet systems, according to a recent survey by computer chip manufacturer Intel.
UMR is ranked 89th among the nation’s top 100 universities in Intel’s "Most Unwired College Campuses" survey, released earlier this month. The survey ranks the top 100 colleges and universities for wireless computing access.
According to Intel, the survey "reveals a growing number of schools across the country where students have the freedom to wirelessly access the Internet on notebook PCs — without a traditional wired connection — and stay connected and informed whether they’re in the dorm room, library or outdoors at the campus quad."
The "Most Unwired College Campuses" survey findings are based on the number of wireless "hot spots" (access points), the number of undergraduates, number of computers and the computer-to-student ratio. The results were also based on the percentage of each college campus that is covered by wireless technology. The data was collected from university interviews and documents, and a variety of industry sources.
UMR first began equipping the campus for wireless access in 2001. Today, wireless access is available in several hot spots on campus, including Curtis Laws Wilson Library, the University Center-East, and several classrooms in McNutt Hall, Emerson Hall, the Computer Science Building and other areas.
Students have wireless access throughout the campus mall area, and the recently renovated and expanded Butler-Carlton Civil Engineering Building is completely outfitted for wireless access. The campus also created a hot spot in the Career Opportunities Center to allow wireless Internet access for representatives from companies recruiting on campus.
The use of UMR’s wireless network has grown tenfold since it was introduced in 2001. At that time, approximately 30 to 40 people would access the network each week. Now approximately 300 different users access the wireless network in a typical week.
This was the first year for the survey. Intel also conducts surveys on the nation’s "Most Unwired Cities" and "Most Unwired Airports."