Stillman Latest HBCU to Go Wireless

TUSCALOOSA, Ala.
Stillman College has joined the ranks of historically Black colleges and universities that have established a campus-wide wireless computing network for its students, faculty and staff. In addition to establishing a wireless network this fall, the college has supplied every one of its 1,513 students with a laptop computer. The laptop purchases are financed through a student tuition increase, according to school officials.
"This is part of our ongoing commitment to provide an elite experience for students who ordinarily would not be able to afford it," says Dr. Ernest McNealey, president of the college.
Students either received an Apple iBook or a Toshiba 1800, according to school officials. Apple Computer donated free printers to the 200 students who received the iBook units, says Veronica Clark, a Stillman College spokeswoman.
 "The Apple iBook and the Toshiba 1800 that all students received this fall are not standard units that one can find at CompUSA or other computer retailers. They are configured for the Stillman initiative with capabilities that will place us on the cutting edge of this technology" McNealey says
The laptops were also configured to utilize the campus's newly established wireless network that can connect the units directly to the Internet and campus information. HBCUs that have established a wireless network on their campuses include Howard University, Morris Brown College, and Savannah State University. A number of other schools have established laptop programs in which students acquire laptops through purchase plans.
"Supplying each student with his or her laptop was a good move for Stillman. Having a laptop of my own is very convenient because as a biology major I have several PowerPoint presentations to make along with many reports to compose. This makes my work much easier," says Antonio Montgomery, a sophomore from Macon, Ga.