Weak Wi-Fi signals, dropped connections to Blackboard and frozen loading screens have become familiar frustrations for students and faculty since the beginning of the semester. With a change in operating systems, the servers have been having more difficulty running with the number of people online at a time.
In a campus-wide email sent Feb. 5, Keren Fiorenza, deputy chief information and technology officer, acknowledged the connectivity problems and said Drake’s Information Technology Services is actively working to resolve wireless issues affecting multiple areas of campus.
According to Fiorenza, the most significant impacts have been reported in the northeast area of campus, including Collier-Scripps Hall, the Fine Arts Center, Olin Hall and the Science Connector Building; though users in other locations may also experience difficulty connecting to eduroam or staying online.
“We recognize that disruptions to wireless access significantly affect classes and campus operations,” Fiorenza said in a campus-wide email. “We are working closely with our vendor, Cisco, to resolve these issues as quickly as possible.”
Fiorenza said the service issues are connected to the University’s ongoing network refresh project, which involves replacing all wireless access points across campus. The upgrade process is placing unexpected strain on older network equipment, contributing to the connectivity challenges.
