Excellence in Networking 2005 Award Winner

Coppin State University

Transforming the Campus with Converged IP Networking [PDF 244 KB]

Coppin State University is a historically black, four-year liberal arts institution in Baltimore, Maryland, serving about 4,000 students, more than 80 percent of them off-campus. In 2002, Coppin State developed a strategic vision to address the challenges of a deteriorating infrastructure and the need for a competitive differentiator. Guided by strong executive leadership, the school's Shared Governance Committees representing senior leaders, students, faculty, and technical staff laid the foundation for change with the implementation of a Technology Fluency policy and program, and approval of a three-year project to replace the old technology infrastructure with a converged IP infrastructure and enhanced services. The result is an environment in which technology is understood, accepted, embraced, and utilized as an enabler of teaching, learning, collaboration, services, and innovation.

The comprehensive project included new cable plant infrastructure for academic buildings, library, and student; VoIP PBX and 600 VoIP phones; remote buildings connected to the main campus via wireless for voice, data, and e-mail; unified messaging services; smart classrooms and instructional technology software; and a sophisticated threat protection system. Noteworthy features include:

• a sustainable central budget allocation
• a laptop program for students supported through technology grants
• integration of monitoring and management of HVAC and smart classrooms into the converged network
• assessment tools for student technology fluency

Transformation at Coppin State has been informed by clear awareness of the institution's mission and the unique needs of its urban clientele. In addition to providing a state-of-the-art 24X7 IT infrastructure, the university has boosted student enrollment, energized faculty, and enabled expansion of important community activities. It has empowered students and their families by making them active participants in the Net Generation.

This award is sponsored by Cisco Systems, Inc., An EDUCAUSE Platinum Partner