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WMU second on Intel list of wireless campuses

Oct. 12, 2005

KALAMAZOO--Western Michigan University ranks second in the nation in the use of wireless computing technology on campus, according to results of Intel's second annual survey of campus computing, released yesterday.

Intel released its 2005 list of the 100 "Most Unwired College Campuses" based on several factors, including percentage of the campus covered by wireless technology, number of undergraduate students, number of computers and the campus computer-to-student ratio.

WMU moved up from eighth place in the 2004 survey, knocking Purdue University out of the number two slot. Ball State University nabbed the top spot, while the University of Akron, Dartmouth College and Carnegie Mellon University filled out the remainder of the top-five slots in that order. WMU is the only Michigan university in the list's top 10 and one of only three Michigan schools in the top 50.

"The bar was set very high with our earlier eighth place ranking, but we continue to work to improve our network," says Viji Murali, WMU vice president for information technology and chief information officer. "Wireless computing is a part of everyday student life now at WMU. We provide ubiquitous access to our students--access that lets them into University networks and the Internet anytime and anywhere. I'm delighted when organizations outside the campus recognize what a special environment we have built."

The goal of WMU's "Wireless Western" initiative officially became a reality in January 2002. The initiative involved placing more than 600 wireless access ports in campus buildings and another 30 outdoor units to carpet the campus with wireless capability that allows faculty, staff and students to access University networks and the Internet from every corner of the campus.

Wireless Western made WMU one of the first major research universities in the nation, and the only one in Michigan, to offer campuswide wireless computing.

Intel 2005 Top 10 Most Unwired College Campuses

1. Ball State University
2. Western Michigan University
3. University of Akron
4. Dartmouth College
5. Carnegie Mellon University
6. Bridgewater State College
7. St. John's University
8. Case Western Reserve University
9. Bryant University
10. Trinity University

Media contact: Cheryl Roland, (269) 387-8400, cheryl.roland@wmich.edu

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