STAY CONNECTED: DoIT Strives to stay Online

Modern day Southern University has been gearing towards new technology initiatives each semester for the past few years to keep students engaged and educated. All throughout last year and continuing this semester, the Division of Information Technology staff and vendors have been gradually upgrading network and wireless coverage on campus.
During this time, one obstacle that has proven itself over and over again is the lack of wireless services provided for the students and faculty spread across campus. The various complaints have included minimal access to wireless internet in dormitories, classrooms in various buildings, and even the library.
As a result, some students, like junior Secondary Education major, Caitilin Virdure, have found that the absences of wireless connection around campus interrupt productivity.
“I understand the school feels that WiFi on our campus should be more-so utilized for school related work instead of the social media platforms. However, the slow speed of our WiFi on campus causes us as students to become frustrated. When we are using it to prioritize and complete assignments, it runs slowly, we become less likely to finish our work, and create excuses,” Virdure expressed.
After numerous similar complaints and disruptions, the university has begun to make slow and steady improvements throughout the 72 buildings on campus.
According to the Division of Technology and Information, the university has invested about 1.3 million dollars recently to gradually build up the infrastructure.
The Director of Infrastructure and Network Operations, Lloyd Allen has confirmed that these improvements have not yet been completed, but presumes they will be soon. Buildings deemed to be ‘incomplete’ have wireless connections, but have not been updated with multiple access points for a widespread connection.
Among the incomplete buildings are Higgins Hall, 3rd and 4th floor, Blanks Hall, T.H Harris Hall, T.T. Allain, Stewart Hall, Hayden Hall, John B. Cade Library, P.B.S Pinchback, and the Smith-Brown Memorial Union, to name those directly affecting students.
In addition to upgrading the aforementioned buildings, Allen revealed that there will soon be a backup internet service in case of an emergency.
“We brought in an additional internet service provider with a different path. Once we get it setup, which will be soon, even if LONI goes down, that connection will be up and [students] won’t know the difference,” he relayed.
The Associate Vice President for Information and Technology and Chief Information Officer, Dr. Gabriel Fagbeyiro has expressed that he can relate to students complaints, as he lives in student housing as well, but ensures that the goal is to be technologically forward.
“One of the things that we want to do to make sure that Southern University, the only historically black university system in the nation, can take its’ rightful place in Higher Education in Louisiana is to make sure that our infrastructure is out the park. Both technology as well as the grounds,” Fagbeyiro stated. As technology continues to change and grow, so will the students’ need for resources, and the Division of Information and Technology is committed to providing relevant technology to make educational experiences of students more fulfilling
“The main purpose of Southern University is to be able to educate our students, and to do so in this day and age, technology is key,” Fagbeyiro concluded.