IT Services
ITS improvements
A new £1.3m investment in IT at Sussex will increase the availability and speed of wireless internet (wi-fi) on campus.
The cash injection, agreed by senior managers in October, will also pay for 400 new computers: replacing 245 old machines and installing 155 new ones.
The work is 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 this academic year.
We are in the process of installing a brand-new wi-fi service on campus and making a 40% increase in the number of PCs in the Library, where students say they are most needed.
The rest of the work, including the provision of wi-fi in student bedrooms in residences, will be carried out over the following weeks and months.
Iain Stinson, Director of IT Services, said: "We have seen the demand for wi-fi increase this year.
"The biggest demand on the system so far this year has been for 1,600 connections at the same time - compared to a maximum demand last year of 650. The new investment will mean that we will in fact be able to support 12,000 simultaneous connections to the wi-fi system."
More computers
We have now added and upgraded 358 new computers in the current academic year, making more than 800 computers available on the campus for use by all students.
New computers installed this year:
| Location | |
|---|---|
| Library | 105 |
| Arts A104 | 5 |
| 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 |
| Northfield social space | 4 |
| Park Village social space | 4 |
| Pevensey 3C11 | 5 |
| Pevensey 2D8/2D9 | 52 |
| Richmond 3B3/3B8/3B9 | 99 |
| Richmond (old café) | 5 |
| Shawcross (new room) | 24 |
| Silverstone (ground floor study) | 6 |
| Total | 367 |
We've also upgraded 27 computers in Arts C169 as part of our normal replacement cycle and installed several new printers:
| Location | |
|---|---|
| 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 grown significantly since 2010. Peak usage in the Library has more than doubled in comparison to the same period last year.
Central campus
All 160 wi-fi access points in the central part of the campus have been replaced with different models which are able to handle 40% more connections than before and we've been working to install a further 200 wi-fi access points in lecture rooms, teaching labs and social spaces.
During the Easter vacation, we installed new access points in Fulton lecture theatres, Arundel and Bramber.
Residences
In early 2012, we completed a series of detailed site surveys to identify the best locations for wi-fi and have purchased over 400 access points ready to be installed. Wi-fi has now been installed in Swanborough and we are moving on to Stanmer Court, East Slope and Norwich House.
Wi-fi improvements at a glance
- All access points in the central campus can now handle 40% more connections
- New network controllers provide for far more capacity
- Infrastructure now in place for 200 new access points in central locations
- Over 400 access points to be installed in campus residences
Progress bar
367
new computers making a total of
828
available on campus for general use
(there were 461 when we started)
The totaliser in this field shows there are now 828 computers. There were 461 before the improvements project began.
Latest news
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 04 May 2012