WFU named second ‘Most Connected Campus’ in America

Wake Forest, which has provided laptop computers for all undergraduate students since 1996, was recognized for its student-to-computer ratio, wireless access on campus and breadth of computer science curriculum. Rankings were based on data from campus administrators and comments from students.

Wake Forest is the only North Carolina school ranked in the top 15. The Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey ranks first. The entire list of 351 colleges and universities is posted on Forbes.com.

Since 1996, Wake Forest has remained at the forefront of developing and implementing academic technology on college campuses. Every freshman student is given an IBM laptop computer and HP color printer. They exchange the laptop for a new model their junior year. All university classrooms and residence halls are wired for high-speed Internet access. The university is currently updating its wireless network first implemented in 2000.

This semester, students in courses ranging from calculus to biology to health and exercise science are using hand-held computers and software developed for them by the university’s Information Systems (IS) research and development staff. One of the programs allows students to ask questions in class via their handhelds and lets professors conduct impromptu quizzes during a lecture. The handhelds have also been used for various research projects and schools across the country have downloaded the software.

Wake Forest students play an active role in the development and application of technology on campus. This fall, the university debuted Technology Quarters, themed housing in Luter Residence Hall. Freshman in this hall are learning about new technology, sharing technical expertise with each other and helping the university test new equipment being considered for use on campus.

Students also serve as student technology advisors for faculty and fellow students, offer technology training services and provide Web site development and consulting to external clients.