Changes came after the winter intersession in the way students are able to access Internet services both on campus and in Longwood-managed apartments.
Since Jan. 10, students have experienced newly gained access to the Shenandoah Telecommunications Company (Shentel) network due to a partnership created between Longwood and Shentel.
Previously, the university network provided Internet services to students living in dormitories on campus, while Shentel provided television service.
Meanwhile, students living in the Longwood-managed apartments of Longwood Landings, Longwood Village and Lancer Park had both television and Internet services through the Shentel network.
According to an email sent to students on Dec. 10 by Kimberly Redford, director of User Support Services, 10Mbps high-speed Internet and television services are available to students.
Along with those services, Redford announced the arrival of the highly requested wireless network service, but said, “The wireless feature will not be installed until later in 2014.”
While there is now access to the Shentel network, students living in the Cunningham Residence Halls will remain on the university network until May 2014.
Mark Kendrick, director of Communications and Technology Services, said, “We’re going to do another wireless survey throughout the residence halls and apartments to determine how many access points we need to put [in] to have full coverage.”
The wireless survey will occur in early February, but Kendrick stated that the wireless network will most likely not be completed until the month of June.
In terms of wireless set-up, Shentel’s Vice President of Cable Tom Whitaker said, “We want to be done, with everything up and operational and tested in all the on- and off-campus facilities, by Aug. 1.”
The wireless service will be available in the fall, but Whitaker hopes to have wireless in a couple dorms by the end of the semester.
While usng the university network, students were prohibited from setting up wireless routers on campus. This was previously stated as “no extensions of the network” in Policy 6104 of the Administrative Policies & Procedures Manual, titled, “Acceptable Use of Information Technology Resources and Systems,” according to Redford.
Now, all students currently on the Shentel network are able to establish their own wireless routers. Once wireless access points are established on and off campus, it is recommended by Kendrick and Whitaker to discontinue the use of routers to avoid any conflict with wireless signals.
Along with Internet services, Shentel has provided students with more channels and the addition of high-definition channels.
Students may need to reprogram their television sets in order to access the newly provided channels.
According to Kendrick, the cable service will later include an emergency alert system exclusive to Longwood- managed housing that will “automatically take over the TV screen.”
The question of cost inevitably arises when new technology is implemented on such a large scale.
Kendrick reported it would cost less for Longwood to
“outsource” network service than it would to continue upgrading equipment every five years.
“We have not increased anything for students ... It costs the university to do it, but [in the] long term, it’s better for the university because we’re paying less,” said Kendrick.
When the conversion from the university network to the Shentel network occurred, Whitaker reported 228 phone calls where students had issues.
Of those 228 problems, only four problems required technical support for hardware issues.
The rest could be solved through the Shentel phone support.
Although Shentel is now the network provider for the majority of Longwood students, students will still find technology assistance on campus.
Whitaker recommends calling a Resident Technology Associate (RTA) before calling for Shentel support.
“You absolutely still have the resources at Longwood to call on ... to get you resolved,” Redford said.
