JULY 13, 2011

Greenville Tech going wireless

The Barton Campus of Greenville Technical College will have an indoor-outdoor wireless network thanks to a nearly $250,000 donation from ScanSource Inc., Motorola Solutions Inc. and Axis Communications.

Axis also has provided video surveillance, to allow for increased security coverage and overall campus management.

Installation of the wireless network and video surveillance is under way and expected to be completed in time for the start of fall semester on Aug. 15.

We look forward to seeing how this installation helps Greenville Tech move closer to becoming a wireless campus of the future, said ScanSource CEO Mike Baur. I encourage other members of the community to take a close look at Greenville Techs future plans to see how they might be able to help.

Moving the campus from wireless hot spots to an enhanced wireless environment expands the learning environment from one restricted to classrooms and buildings, Greenville Tech said. Students and professors will now have access to better opportunities for collaboration, research and instruction, the school said.

College President Keith Miller wants to see the college become a testing ground for new technology developments. With the diverse student populations that two-year institutions serve, Miller said, Greenville Tech and other two-year colleges should play a more prominent role in such research.

Greenville Tech is working to remove barriers that keep students from the education they need to succeed, and this donation is a major force in making that happen, he said.

The Greenville Tech Foundation now is seeking additional donors to help the college fund more technology upgrades, such as virtual computer labs and remote videoconferencing.

Technology is a key differentiator in todays learning environment. Students are more tech-savvy than ever they come from a wireless world at home and expect their schools to offer the same capabilities, said Jim Welch, corporate vice president for North America Enterprise at Motorola.