The wait for campus-wide Wi-Fi and up-to-date technology is almost over.

After four years, the Information Technology Department is nearing completion with the network infrastructure project. Most recently, the department finished setting up the Wi-Fi on the first and second floors of Paul R. Stewart Hall.

The Wi-Fi setup has taken around three weeks to complete. Stewart Hall didn’t have the space necessary to house the access points – small, white boxes that provide the wireless coverage – or the cables needed for the new Wi-Fi system. William Dumire, vice president for Information Technology Services and chief information officer, said that Stewart and other buildings needed renovations in order to complete the project.

“In our particular case, at the university, a number of buildings had to be retrofitted with wiring closets,” said Dumire. “So, we had to physically carve out space on every floor to put in the networking equipment where everything gets housed and secured.”

In the next couple of weeks, a new telephone system will be set up and ready to use. Services such as enhanced caller ID, conference calls and long-distance calls will be available. Waynesburg University previously used Windstream Holdings, Inc. as its service provider. That service, however, has become outdated.

IT has since switched to Voice over Internet Protocol, technology that allows the user to call using a broadband internet connection instead of an analog phone line. According to Dumire, VOIP was a necessity to install if Waynesburg was to own up-to-date technology.

“It was just updating outdated technology on those floors to match the rest of campus,” said Dumire. “And to make sure everybody has the same amount of equal services with telephones.”

Another update students can look forward to is the new computers that will be installed in multiple labs across campus. Stewart, Hanna Hall, Eberly Library, Southpointe Campus Lab and Buhl Hall will have most of their computer labs revamped with HP Windows 10 computers. More than 200 computers will arrive sometime in April and will hopefully be fully installed by this summer. One of the reasons why IT has waited to upgrade the new computers is because a new network system wasn’t in place.

Those with questions about the new tech upgrades can contact the IT Help Desk at 724-852-3413.