Las Vegas City Wire

Students at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, will be able to utilize the Wi-Fi service outside of the classroom this fall.

During the spring semester, the Office of Information Technology installed Wi-Fi for outdoor use at the school’s main campus, which included the Alumni Amphitheater and Lee Pascal Rose Garden, according to a university news release.

“Wireless connectivity is critical to learning, teaching and research,” Lori Temple, vice provost for Information Technology, said in the release. “The pandemic relief funding allowed us to address inadequate WiFi service in outdoor areas on campus. Better wireless coverage makes it more convenient for students to access online classes or study in their favorite place outside.”

OIT project manager Mancin Taylor, who was deeply involved in the planning and development of the project, said it was necessary to provide the service, so students and faculty could have access wherever they preferred to study.  

“A lot of thought and planning went into picking the locations for the bollards. We wanted to make sure the areas would have adequate WiFi coverage but were careful to protect tree roots and restore vegetation throughout the installation process,” Taylor said.

UNLV is also recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree Campus USA, which did present some hurdles when it came to installing the outdoor service.