Abstract

As computer use has become an
integral part of student
education, student demand for
different types of computing
space has increased
dramatically. To meet this
demand, the Health Sciences
Library Microlab has added
workstations in the lab area
and installed Ethernet laptop
ports in the library study
rooms and general study
areas. Students are now
requesting 802.11b wireless
access to bring additional
connectivity to the study
rooms, and add new
connectivity to large open
study areas in the library
and classrooms. The number
of requests and enthusiasm of
students has been
overwhelming, so we are
requesting the installation
of 27 wireless access
points (WAPs) in the Health
Sciences
Library, Health Sciences
Library Microlab and various
locations in the Health
Sciences Building.

Background

The Microlab, located within the Health Sciences
Library, was established in 1986 to support the
common instructional computing needs of the six
Health Sciences schools (Dentistry, Medicine,
Nursing, Pharmacy, Public Health and Community
Medicine, and Social Work). As computing needs
have changed over the years, primary use of the
lab has shifted from face-to-face instruction to
collaborative learning supported by drop-in use.
Today, most health sciences students use the
Microlab as their primary computing center
because of its central location in the Health
Sciences Building T-wing, where health sciences
students spend the majority of their time on
campus.

To accommodate shifting needs, the Microlab was
remodeled in 1999 to increase the total number of
workstations and to create a collaboratory-style
teaching room. The Microlab currently consists
of a common drop-in area for general use (70
seats), two traditional lecture-style computer
teaching rooms separated by a folding wall that
can be opened to create a larger classroom (20
seats each), a collaboratory-style teaching room
(25 seats), a small Library Teaching Lab (13
seats), and an email area of 14 stations. At
this point, all available floor space in the
Microlab is occupied. We have no room left to
install the additional workstations that students
have requested via our surveys.

In addition to the increasing demand for more
workstations, there is demand for different kinds
of workspace. Students want places they can
access their laptops and places they can work in
groups. To that end, student computing access
was expanded to other areas of the library by
installing 26 Ethernet laptop ports in 2000.
These ports are located in the group study rooms,
on the pillar near the entrance to the Microlab
and in the open study area on the 2nd floor of
the library. We cannot install any more Ethernet
ports because we have already added conduit in as
many areas of the library as possible. We have
also maxed out the capacity of the wiring closets
located in our section of the building. Beyond
this, Computing and Communications no longer
supports the installation of authenticated
Ethernet ports.

Students continue to want more connectivity
choices throughout the building. They would like
to be able to use multiple laptops in the study
rooms and to use their laptops to access
networked resources in the large, open study
areas in the library, in secluded carrels and
elsewhere in the building. Because we have
authenticated laptop ports, the infrastructure
for wireless is already in place. New wireless
points (WAPs) will use existing wiring. However,
to place them in the optimum locations and
provide security, we will need to run both power
and ethernet cords through conduit and affix the
hardware and wires to the walls.

Benefits

If wireless is installed in the Health Sciences
Building, there will be a number of benefits for
students:

1. There will be increased capacity for
networked computing.
2. Students will be able to store their
files on their laptops instead of relying on
other means of transferring files.
3. Students will be able to use their
laptops to take notes during class sessions.
4. Students will be able to access networked
resources and work in collaborative groups at the
large study tables in open areas of the library
where we are unable to install wiring.
5. Students will be able to use multiple
laptops in the study rooms. While it is possible
to install hubs in the study rooms to increase
access, tangling students up in a web of ethernet
cords is not practical.
6. Network access will be available in
secluded study carrels where it is not practical
to run wiring for a single access point.

Student Access

Wireless access in the Health Sciences Library
and selected areas of the Health Sciences
building will be authenticated by UWNetID. The
areas involved are:

Health Sciences Library 3rd floor (Microlab,
study rooms and quiet study areas);
Health Sciences Library 2nd floor (study rooms,
study areas);
Health Sciences Building Classrooms (D209, T435,
T439, T625, T639, T733, T739, T747, K069l, A420);
Health Sciences Building public/food areas (T469
lounge, I-Court Rotunda, HS Lobby, Court Café).

The Health Sciences Building (with the exception
of the library) is open Monday through Friday
7:00 am to 6:00 pm. After hours access is by key
card.

The Health Sciences Library, including the
Microlab, is open 81.5 hours/week, including
evening and weekend hours, spanning the hours
when students generally come to campus.

Over 4,000 graduate and undergraduate students in
the health sciences use the Health Sciences
Library, Microlab, lecture halls and public
services. These areas are also open to all UW
students. In addition to our primary clientele,
the Microlab is used by students in
interdisciplinary programs taught by Health
Sciences faculty, and other nearby programs such
as biology, bioengineering, chemistry and
zoology.

Available Resources

The Health Sciences Library provides funding for
a Senior Computing Specialist who will work with
the vendor to install the WAPs in the library and
provide day-to-day maintenance, in coordination
with the Microlab Manager, and three FTE student
assistants. A librarian and several library
support staff members will maintain appropriate
signage and create web-based instructions for
connecting their laptops to the wireless
network. Microlab staff install new
equipment/software, provide routine maintenance,
and assist students in using the lab.

The Health Sciences Administration provides
funding for the Manager of Health Sciences
Academic Services and Facilities who will work
with the vendor to install the WAPs in the Health
Sciences lecture halls and public areas.

Funding for the 1999 renovation of the Microlab
(which increased seating and added a classroom)
was provided by:

Health Sciences Library $234,000
University Libraries $ 56,000
Health Sciences Administration $250,000
STF Award to School of Nursing $ 53,800
STF Award to HSL Microlab $112,000
TOTAL $705,800

The Health Sciences Library also provided $1900
for the 2000 installation of 26 laptop ports.

Since Spring 2001, the Health Sciences Library
has spent $74,500 to upgrade wiring, power, air
conditioning, and rack mounts in a server room
that houses equipment servicing the Microlab and
the rest of the library.

Computing and Communications has already approved
implementing wireless access in the Health
Sciences T-Wing. We worked with them to have an
initial site survey conducted by NetVersant, the
contractor used by C&C for wireless
installations. The numbers in our budget request
were based on the NetVersant estimate.

The Health Sciences Library will pay ongoing
costs for SSL certification of the authentication
server (currently $349 every two years).

Installation Timeline

If funds are awarded before the end of May 2003,
the proposed services should be operational
before the start of Autumn Quarter 2003.

Departmental Endorsement

This proposal is supported by the following
Health Sciences deans and administrators:

Paul G. Ramsey
Dean, Medicine

Nancy F. Woods
Dean, Nursing

Patricia W. Wahl
Dean, Public Health & Community Medicine

Sidney D. Nelson
Dean, Pharmacy

Martha Somerman
Dean, Dentistry

Stephanie Steppe
Director, Health Sciences Academic Services and
Facilities

Student Endorsement

There have been an overwhelming number of
students supporting wireless networking. In
addition to statistical results from our last two
surveys, there has been a grassroots movement,
led by Sean Hoffman, a first year medical
student. He led an email campaign and created a
web site explaining wireless access. His web
site can be viewed at
http://www.students.washington.edu/daddio/.

In our Fall 2001 survey, we asked students if
they would support using STF funding to install
wireless connectivity in the library. Of the 202
students who replied, 42% said yes, 27% said no
and 31% did not respond. Complete Fall 2001
survey results can be viewed at
http://healthlinks.washington.edu/hsl/commons/stf/
2002/Fall2001survey.htm

We asked the same question again in Fall 2002.
This time we broke the question into two parts:
would they support using STF funds to pay for the
hardware, and would they support using STF funds
to pay for the installation of the hardware.
There were 180 students who completed the
survey. Here is a summary of their input:

Support for hardware: 62.8% said yes, 31.6%
said no and 5.6% did not respond to this question.

Support for installation of hardware: 59.4%
said yes, 35.0% said no and 5.6% did not respond
to this question.

This level of support is particularly impressive
because it is higher than the 55.6% of survey
respondents who use laptops.

Complete Fall 2002 survey results can be viewed
at:
http://healthlinks.washington.edu/hsl/commons/stf/
Dec2002/fall2002survey.htm

The following comments are from the Fall 2002
survey and from email messages sent by people who
responded to Sean’s campaign. While the surveys
were designed to measure student support for
wireless in the library, the comments made it
clear that they wanted wireless access throughout
the building.

More laptop ports need to be available for
ethernet hookup. Or it would be wonderful if you
could get the wireless internet capabilities
(like OUGL or Mary Gates). Then there is no
hookup necessary.
- Nursing Student

My 2nd year medicine classmates and I received an
email today from entering student Sean Hoffman,
encouraging us to write to you in support of a
wireless network for the HSL. I have often wished
for a wireless connection on campus, so I'd like
to add my name to what I hope is a growing list
of students in favor of a wireless network.
Ideally, all of the Health Sciences building
would be included. If a wireless network is
something under serious consideration, I'm sure
that my classmates (and most Health Sciences
students) would appreciate an introduction to the
possibility. Perhaps a web page on the HSL web
site or an email. My apologies if that's been
done already.
Thanks much,
- Wellesley Chapman, Medicine

I would greatly benefit from wireless
networking. Much of the medical school
curriculum is online, such as the digital
anatomist, our entire histology course, and a
giant neuroanatomy atlas. If this were available
in our classrooms, we would be able to access
this wealth of information in study groups and
during lectures. The wireless network would be
most effective in the fifth floor of the t-wing
of the health sciences building, but anywhere
group studying is permitted would be greatly
enhanced by wireless net. Let me know if you
need more 'opinions.'
- Tom Robey, Medicine/MSTP

Given the choice most students would probably
prefer free printing, but I think adding wireless
(802.11b) access throughout the library would
also be a perfect use of STF funds. I don't know
the current budget but I'd imagine that
stretching the equipment replacement cycle by a
year or so would save significant funds that
could then be used for either (or both) purposes.
Of course, additional STF fees could support both
suggestions...
- Terry Lew, Health Administration

I for one would be very happy to have wireless
networking. It would greatly facilitate my
studying at UW Health Sciences Library,
especially when it is crowded.
- Robert Foege, Medicine

I would like to add my support for creating a
wireless system in the Health Sciences Library.
Most students now have laptops, and I believe it
would be highly valuable to be able to access
important class and web materials so easily from
one's own computer. Please feel free to list me
as a student who supports this. Thanks
- Sonja Ronning, Medicine

I am a graduate nursing student (Adult/Older
Adult NP program) and would love to have wireless
networking in the library. I may not be able to
use it before I graduate, but I certainly would
have if it was there when I started my program.
- Kori Dewing, Nursing

I am writing in support of Sean Hoffman's
proposal to install wireless networking in the
Health Sciences Library. I think this technology
would be very useful and would enhance medical
students' access to the many clinical resources
available through the library. Please list me as
a student supporter of this proposal.
- Jennifer Martin Leahy, Medicine

Please list me as a student supporter of wireless
networking for the Health Sciences library. I am
planning on purchasing a wireless networking card
for my laptop before arriving on campus - I know
that having the capability to access web-based
class materials on my computer, without the
hassle of finding an internet port, would be
incredibly beneficial. Thanks for compiling this
list!
- Erin O'Connor, Medicine

I strongly support the idea of wireless
networking in the Health Sciences Library. I
would use this technology extensively.
- Lynne Townsend, Medicine

I am glad to hear there may be wireless network
in the library. I am currently using it in my
house. It makes our life million times easier
compare to using phone line. You are more than
welcome to list me as a student supporter.
- Karen Yau, Medicine

I got an e-mail from Sean Hoffman regarding
trying to get funding for a wireless network for
the HS library. I would like to express my
support for the idea. I am A Masters student in
the Nursing Dept. with an interest in
Informatics. I have found it occasionally
frustrating to go to the library and not to not
be able to find a port to plug into. A wireless
network would help alleviate this.
- Jeff Toffic, Nursing

YES, YES, YES!! If there had been a wireless
network in the Health Sciences Building during my
first two years of medical school, I would have
brought my computer to class every day! Please
add me to your "Student Supporters" list.
- Charlotte Yeomans, Medicine

I am a third year doctoral student in the School
of Nursing. I think wireless networking in the
library would really be ideal as I often bring my
laptop to campus and this way I don't need to
port an ethernet cable. I also believe in 5
years, all internet will be wireless, so I'd like
to see UW be prepared for that. That's my two
cents!
- Elin Bjorling, Nursing

Yes, I think this [wireless] would be an
excellent project and should be supported by the
student technology fee. I would then probably
purchase a lap top and use it.
Pat Forg, Nursing

Please list me as a student supporter of the
proposal to utilize Student Technology Fee
funding for the installation of Wireless
Networking technology in the Health Sciences
Library.
- Deborah Love Frost, Medicine

I'm emailing you to express my support for the
proposed installation of a wireless network in
the health sciences library. This is definitely
something that I would personally benefit from
and I'm certain a number of other students feel
the same way. Please keep me informed if there
is anything I can do to expedite the process.
- Rodney Anderson, Medicine

I'm a supporter of wireless networking getting
set up in the Health Sciences library. I'd be an
even bigger supporter of this getting set up in
the South Campus Center, and possibly even
outdoors somewhere? Maybe that SCC lawn?
- William Finn, Medicine

I was told to let you know an opinion about
wiring health sciences for wireless internet.
I'm a 4th year medical student and wireless
technology would have been something I would have
used. The library resources are increasingly
online and med students are requested to have
laptops so it would be nice to have that
capability. Other places such as the rotunda
where people go with laptops would be good as
well.
- Ben Barreras, Medicine

The following 79 students have offered to let us
use their names in support for wireless (either
in response to our Fall 2002 survey or by sending
us an email message in response to Sean Hoffman’s
campaign).

Jonathan Anderson, Medicine --
babydoc@u.washington.edu
Rodney Anderson, Medicine --
rodneya@u.washington.edu
Annalisa Atienza, Nursing --
asilanna@u.washington.edu
Vijaya Ayengar, Medicine --
vijaya@u.washington.edu
James Babington, Medicine --
jrbabs@u.washington.edu
Denise Barnes, Nursing --
dnyceb@u.washington.edu
Ben Barreras, Medicine --
barreras@u.washington.edu
Blanca Belskus, Medicine --
lbelskus@u.washington.edu
Devon Berry, Nursing -- berryd@u.washington.edu
Elin Bjorling, Nursing --
bjorling@u.washington.edu
Anna Borisovskaya, Medicine --
annaotto@u.washington.edu
Ryan Burton, Medicine --
drburton@u.washington.edu
Kelleye Campbell, Nursing --
kellye@u.washington.edu
Nicole Campbell, Nutritional Sciences
Sharon Chen, Bioengineering --
chenss@u.washington.edu
Susan Chen, Dentistry --
sueychen@u.washington.edu
Yu Chen, Nutritional Sciences --
yuc@u.washington.edu
Diane Conrad, Health Information Administration --
diw@u.washington.edu
Alison Crum, Medicine -- acrum@u.washington.edu
Frederick Cubin, Medicine --
cubes@u.washington.edu
Kori Dewing, Nursing -- koridew@u.washington.edu
Thomas Donn, Microbiology --
tomness@u.washington.edu
Micaiah Evans, Medicine --
micaiah@u.washington.edu
Willaim Finn, Medicine -- bfinn@u.washington.edu
Robert Foege, Medicine --
rcfoege@u.washington.edu
Pat Forg, Nursing -- pforg@u.washington.edu
Deborah Frost, Medicine -- dfrost@u.washington.edu
Xing Fu, Medicine -- oncogene@u.washington.edu
Paul S Furmanczyk, Medicine --
pfurman@u.washington.edu
Nicole Glazer, Epidemiology --
nlg@u.washington.edu
Elizabeth Griffin, Medicine --
elizgrif@u.washington.edu
Haiwei Guo, Medicine -- hguo@u.washington.edu
Michael Hedemark, Medicine --
hedemark@u.washington.edu
Sean Hoffman, Medicine -- daddio@u.washington.edu
Joseph Ho, Medicine -- jtho@u.washington.edu
Lisa Hughes, Medicine -- hugheslm@u.washington.edu
David Hurley, Health Administration --
drhurley@u.washington.edu
Michael Jacobson, Medicine --
micjac@u.washington.edu
Srdjan Jelacic, Medicine --
sjelacic@u.washington.edu
Barbara Jones, Medicine --
bjones77@u.washington.edu
Ana Kanters, Medicine -- anak2@u.washington.edu
Brian Kim, Medicine -- briankim@u.washington.edu
Jamie Kim, Medicine --
jamiekim@u.washington.edu
Patti Kiser, Pathobiology --
pkiser@u.washington.edu
Derek Lam, Medicine -- djlam@u.washington.edu
Erica Lamson, Nutritional Sciences --
elamson@u.washington.edu
Dina Lauman, Epidemiology --
lauman@u.washington.edu
Jennifer Leahy, Medicine - jleahy@u.washington.edu
Terry Lew, Health Administration/SPHCM --
terrycl@u.washington.edu
Christina Lynch, Epidemiology --
cslynch@u.washington.edu
Kate Maurer, MEDEX -- etak@u.washington.edu
Suepattra May, Health Services --
smay@u.washington.edu
Tim McClure, Medicine -- tmcclure@u.washington.edu
Martha McKinney, Epidemiology --
mlmckinn@u.washington.edu
Tess Moore, Medicine -- tess@u.washington.edu
Erin O'Connor, Medicine --
oconnore@u.washington.edu
Tristan Osborn, MSTP, Biochemistry --
tristan@u.washington.edu
Wendy Pabich, Medicine -- wpabich@u.washington.edu
Helena Pasieka, Medicine --
hpasieka@u.washington.edu
John Pedey-Braswell, Pharmacy --
tafkab@u.washington.edu
Eric Rich, Medicine -- enrich@u.washington.edu
Thomas Robey, Medicine/MSTP --
trobey@u.washington.edu
Sonja Ronning, Medicine
Julie Rothfus, Nursing --
jewels18@u.washington.edu
Anne Sammis, Medicine -- asammis@u.washington.edu
Jennifer Shultz, Medicine --
jshultz@u.washington.edu
Stephen C. Schmechel, Laboratory Medicine --
sschmech@u.washington.edu
Elliott Sohn, Medicine -- esohn@u.washington.edu
Justin Thomas, Medicine -- jdt3@u.washington.edu
Bob Thong, Medicine -- uhoh@u.washington.edu
Jeff Toffic, Nursing -- jtoffic@u.washington.edu
Lynne Townsend, Medicine --
ltownsen@u.washington.edu
Lisa Trigg, Nursing -- trigger@u.washington.edu
Shannon Turner, Nutritional Sciences --
shan101@u.washington.edu
M. Celeste Tydingco - Rehab. Medicine --
mmct@u.washington.edu
Tracy Tylee, Medicine -- ttylee@u.washington.edu
Jackie Vasen, Medicine -- jvasen@u.washington.edu
Karen Yau, Medicine -- kk7@u.washington.edu
Charlotte Yeomans, Medicine --
cyeomans@u.washington.edu

Items

Below are the items making up the current proposal. The asterisk (*) beside items signify that they were approved by the committee. This however was not implemented correctly for our database before 2005, so earlier years may not show this.

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