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The University of California, Riverside Department of Computing the Communications was honored for providing wireless computer accessibility to the campus community during an award ceremony held on Wednesday, Oct. 20, in Colorado.

The event, sponsored by the Intel Corporation and CDW•G, recognized the nation’s top 100 most “Unwired College Campuses.” At number 16, UCR ranked above Harvard, MIT and Stanford. Intel uses the term “unwired” to describe wireless Internet hook ups. The technology allows users of laptops, personal digital assistants and other portable computing devices to go online without a more traditional wired connection to a network port or phone line.

“We are proud to be recognized for our efforts in this area,” said Chuck Rowley, associate vice chancellor for computing and communications. “Wireless technology has allowed our campus to become a virtual computer lab and has provided the campus community with extended abilities to surf the Web, retrieve e-mail, and engage in online instructional and research activities.”

When wireless technology was first introduced to UC Riverside in summer and fall 2000, “hotspots” — wireless computing access points — were located in some areas of the residential halls, libraries, classrooms and the outdoor Commons area.

Since then the availability of outdoor wireless access has grown to allow users to go online from just about anywhere on campus. During peak periods, as many as 350 users log in via campus wireless connections.

Indoor wireless accessibility will increase as newly erected buildings are constructed with hotspots. In addition, computing and communications staff members are working to add wireless accessibility in departmental labs and some classrooms.

The most "Unwired College Campuses" survey findings were based on the number of hotspots, the number of undergraduates, number of computers and the computer to student ratio. The results were also based on the percentage of each college campus that is covered by wireless technology. The data was collected from university interviews and documents, and a variety of industry sources.

The University of California, Riverside (www.ucr.edu) is a doctoral research university, a living laboratory for groundbreaking exploration of issues critical to Inland Southern California, the state and communities around the world. Reflecting California's diverse culture, UCR's enrollment has exceeded 20,500 students. The campus will open a medical school in 2013 and has reached the heart of the Coachella Valley by way of the UCR Palm Desert Center. The campus has an annual statewide economic impact of more than $1 billion.

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