Langston U Overhauls Network To Support Expansion

Langston University has overhauled its network infrastructure in an effort to support students across multiple locations, as well as distance learning students.

Langston has recently experienced significant growth, opening new locations in two different cities. The university's IT staff, charged with providing access to university services and educational tools, began encountering numerous problems, resolving network security issues and responding to user complaints related to the expansion. So the school upgraded its existing infrastructure with solutions from Enterasys Networks, including Enterasys N-Series switches and the Enterasys RoamAbout wireless system. The university is also using the Enterasys Network Management Suite.

"We selected Enterasys solutions because they were compatible with our existing IT infrastructure, at a price point that other leading vendors couldn't come close to matching," said Pritchard Moncriffe, CIO at Langston University, in a prepared statement released earlier this month. "At a smaller university, budget and return on investment criteria are always a primary consideration when partnering with a solution provider. Enterasys was the only company that delivered an affordable, robust, and reliable solution that we could understand and would last a long time without putting a strain on our existing resources."

The university's network now connects more than 3,000 devices across three cities, including classrooms, administrative buildings, and residences. It's managed by a network operations staff of three. The staff received training and support from Enterasys.

Langston University serves about 4,000 students and employs 247 staff in Langston, Tulsa, and Oklahoma City, OK.

About the Author

David Nagel is the former editorial director of 1105 Media's Education Group and editor-in-chief of THE Journal, STEAM Universe, and Spaces4Learning. A 30-year publishing veteran, Nagel has led or contributed to dozens of technology, art, marketing, media, and business publications.

He can be reached at [email protected]. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidrnagel/ .


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