SUNO takes significant step in technology

Southern University, New Orleans (SUNO) announced that the campus will become 100 percent wireless and will implement cloud computing starting the Summer 2011 session. The University also announced that each incoming freshman who qualifies for the Louisiana Board of Regents regional minimum admission standards and without a personal laptop will have access to a laptop upon arrival. SUNO implemented selective admission criteria mandated by the Board of Regents in Fall 2010.

"Part of the focus of both our Strategic Plan as well as our Quality Enhancement Plan is to enhance SUNO's technological resources, and this is a step in the right direction," Victor Ukpolo, the chancellor of SUNO.

"This is a big step in our providing SUNO students with a critical service. Considering that many of our students come from homes that are not wired with internet access, we believe that this is a down payment on their college success."

Cloud computing has been heavily advertised across the nation recently. "Cloud computing is the practice of using a network of remote servers hosted on the internet to store, manage and process data, rather than a local server or personal computer," according to Edmond Cummings, director of SUNO's Information Technology Center.

"I love it," said Eugenie Tobin, SUNO's outgoing Student Government Association president. "It's exciting to know that we're providing this kind of technological access to incoming freshmen. I love the fact that we have this to offer students, and SUNO is still the most cost-effective college option in the state."

The importance of SUNO's technology strides cannot be emphasized enough, according to Chris Boudy, co-founder of NewOrleansTech.net and a 2008 graduate of SUNO. Boudy, who is a rising star on the New Orleans technology scene, estimates that possibly 30 to 40 percent of homes in New Orleans do not have internet access.

"Having a campus that's 100 percent wi-fi and with cloud computing means students will be able to access Blackboard, do research, do homework, chat with fellow students, and communicate with professors much more conveniently. This in addition to freshmen having access to laptops is an awesome step for my alma mater and great particularly for the types of students that SUNO serves," said Boudy.