UMW needs to provide better Wi-Fi connection
3 min read
Apogee is the Wi-Fi provider at UMW, as well as other universities across the country. | apogee.us
Due to staff error, an earlier version of this article utilized a quote from a 2009 article by The Blue & Gray Press. The quote was used without providing context and has been removed.
GRACE SCHUMACHER
Staff Writer
For over a decade, UMW students’ pleas to fix chronic internet issues have been snubbed by the university’s Department of Information Technologies. UMW’s Apogee internet is unfit to handle student traffic, and the university needs to either solve its internet issues or switch providers altogether.
Apogee Interactive Inc. has been the University’s internet provider since 2009. Based in Texas, Apogee provides campus internet services all across the country, according to the company’s website. The initial contract with Apogee was set for five years, with five one-year renewals following its expiration.
Hall Cheshire, UMW’s Chief Information Officer, said that UMW keeps in regular contact with Apogee.
“I have a standing monthly meeting with Apogee to discuss and review call volumes and treads reported by UMW students,” said Cheshire. “We collaborate frequently.”
From a faculty standpoint, operations may seem smooth, but there continue to be issues and unhappiness amongst the student population.
Senior historic preservation major Zadie Lacey said she is often frustrated by the inconsistency of the Wi-Fi around campus.
“I think that it would be really helpful if my Wi-Fi didn’t cut out when I’m walking from place to place and if it wasn’t so slow,” said Lacey. “I think there is an issue sometimes where there are a lot of people trying to use the internet in the same place.”
According to UMW’s website, the Apogee wireless network is available in residence halls and in the academic buildings across campus. When students first come to campus, they are told to set up an account with Apogee and connect to MyResNet, which is the Wi-Fi network the University provides.
The basic Wi-Fi service is provided to students free of charge, and students are able to upgrade to a larger package that costs $100 per semester, connects 21 devices instead of 11 and has 110 megabits per second rather than 60. Apart from this upgraded package, any other Wi-Fi source, such as the use of personal routers, is not allowed, according to UMW’s website.
Edward Gray, one of two co-managers in IT Support Services, helps run the UMW IT Help Desk.
“The IT Help Desk has been on campus for well over 20 years,” said Gray. “[We] support faculty, staff, students, alumni, retirees and others that may need assistance accessing UMW resources. This includes assistance connecting to UMW networks (wired, wireless, Apogee/MyResNet).”
Following the submission of a Service Request Form, an IT Support Ticket is generated and submitted to the Help Desk staff, which is generally staffed by part-time student aides. These requests are responded to during Help Desk hours, but when students have internet issues and the Help Desk is closed, such as during the late evening and on weekends, they are left to troubleshoot by themselves.
“The IT Support Tickets are logged and addressed within an hour or two, depending on volume,” said Gray. “The beginning of each semester has higher volume, which can lead to longer turnaround times. For requests submitted outside of working hours, we log and address these on the next business day.”
Junior English and theatre double major Emily Kile is frustrated with the Wi-Fi on campus and the connection provided in residence halls.
“My dorm room had the internet router on the ceiling my freshman year,” Kile said. “I think that is why I didn’t have too many issues then. But still, the internet is really not the best. We are being slowed down, considering that most of our course work has to be done online.”
Consistent, high-speed internet is an essential resource for college students who rely on it to write research papers, email professors, sign up for classes, submit assignments and more. Today, large amounts of information such as books, audio, images and videos are available at one’s fingertips through internet access. Especially due to relying on online learning during the beginning of COVID-19, technology has become much more essential to the academic world. Due to this, UMW’s internet needs to be equipped to meet student internet demands.
