IT Services
ITS improvements 2011-2012
In 2011-2012, we completed a major programme of IT improvements to make more computers available to students and significantly increase the capacity of the campus wi-fi network.
A new £1.3m investment was announced in October 2011 to increase the availability and speed of wireless internet (wi-fi) on campus.
The additional funding also enabled IT Services to provide extra computers for students, almost doubling the number of PCs available for general use.
The work was a response to student feedback in the 'learning resources' section of the 2011 National Student Survey, as well as to address issues with connectivity experienced by students and staff during a "bumpy start" to the 2011-2012 academic year.
In September 2011, work began on installing a brand-new wi-fi service on the campus. We also substantially increased the number of PCs in the Library, where students said they were most needed.
The rest of the work, including the provision of wi-fi in student residences, was carried out over the academic year.
More computers
During the course of the project, we added or upgraded 445 new computers, making 905 PCs and Macs available on the campus for use by all students.
| New computers | |
|---|---|
| Library | 105 |
| Arts A104 | 7 |
| Arts B274 | 8 |
| Arts C175 | 15 |
| Bramber 239 | 2 |
| Chichester 156 | 5 |
| Essex house | 5 |
| Freeman Centre | 15 |
| JMS social space | 4 |
| John Clifford West | 4 |
| Jubilee G23 (dual screen) | 24 |
| Northfield social space | 12 |
| Park Village social space | 4 |
| Pevensey 3C11 | 5 |
| Pevensey 2D8/2D9 | 52 |
| Richmond 3B3/3B8/3B9/4B9 | 126 |
| Richmond (old café) | 10 |
| Shawcross (new room) | 24 |
| Shawcross (other areas) | 12 |
| Silverstone (ground floor study) | 6 |
Campus computers
More PCs are now available for general student use with a significant number of new computers in the Library.
905
PCs and Macs for general student use
210
Computers in the Library
By the start of the 2012-13 academic year, we had also installed brand new computers in JMS 1B1 and the ground floor computer room in the Library and replaced older equipment in 70 seminar and lecture rooms. Several new printers were installed too:
| New printers | |
|---|---|
| Arts A104 | 1 |
| Chichester 156 | 1 |
| English B274 | 1 |
| Essex House | 1 |
| John Clifford West | 1 |
| Northfield social space | 2 |
| Silverstone (ground floor study) | 1 |
Improved wi-fi
Demand for wi-fi services has increased dramatically since 2010. Peak usage in the Library in October 2011 was several times greater than the previous year and the proliferation of internet-enabled phones and other mobile devices is radically changing the connectivity requirements for all higher education establishments.
Central campus
We installed 200 new wi-fi access points in lecture rooms, teaching labs and social spaces, substantially improving capacity in the central part of the campus. All of the existing wi-fi points were replaced with different models able to handle 40% more connections than before and in the Library, substantial upgrades to the network were made to improve provision across all of the open-plan areas.
Residences
Working through the 2011-12 academic year, we completed a major project to install wi-fi in all of the campus residences, setting up 400 new access points and upgrading the network infrastructure to handle many more connections. The network access in Kings Road was also improved significantly to give residents better access on both wired and wi-fi networks.
Wi-fi capacity
The additional access points in the central campus and the residences have significantly increased the capacity for wi-fi users.
2011
(approx 360
access points)
2012
(approx 1,150 access points)
Project news
IT improvements update
Wi-fi extended to many more residences and additional buildings in the central campus
4 July 2012
IT improvements update
A new room with 24 PCs in Shawcross and improved wi-fi in Fulton, Arundel and Bramber
17 April 2012
Wi-fi improvements
New controllers allow for many more connections
7 February 2012
Progress update
Over 250 have been installed since last term
17 January 2012
IT improvements underway
Twenty-one new all-in-one PCs installed in the Library plus 11 new iMacs.
23 November 2011
£1.3m for new wi-fi and computers
New investment in IT at Sussex.
28 October 2011
Updated on 21 February 2013