Things appear to have been improving for the Wi-Fi since August based on a few students comments but are not progressing as fast as before. The Shield has reached out to IT director Richard Toenisketter five times via phone and email without response.

“The wifi was terrible,” senior sports management major Brandon Barton said. “There was no connection, I could not get into MyUsi and couldn’t see assignments, but now it’s improved since around late September to October.”

Senior English literature major Crystal Thompson said in the past she was unable to log onto her online homework assignments.

“The Wi-Fi has been fair but could be faster,” she said. “I do a lot of homework on campus a day. Two of my assignments were late but had no affect on my grade.”

Thompson, however, said it can affect other students.

Senior creative writing major Theresa Stiers said one of her professors lowered her grade ten points after submitting her essay on Safe Assign.

“It did not go through the first time,” Stiers said, “so I lost points because it was late.”

“They’ve recently upgraded all the Wi-Fi in the buildings,” senior CIS major Wyatt Rondot said.  “Lately it’s been pretty good. Blackboard this year has been way more consistent since I’ve been on campus.”

Rondot, who works for IT (Information Technology), said in the past when there were 10 to 15 devices being used all at once, the internet connection was much slower.

“Thousands of people who graduated or who will never be on campus are still remembered on the server,” he said. “There are leaps and bounds but it’s still not perfect.”

Senior public relations major ThuThienSuong Trihn said the Wi-Fi is especially slow when groups of students are on the internet at the same time.

“It’s decent on your own,” she said, “but if you’re with four of your friends in The Loft, the connection is extremely slow.”

Sophomore Marketing major Lilly Howard said she believes the slow connection was because of campus residents and students using unregistered devices.

“I have a SmartTV, which is registered,” Howard said, “but other students with unregistered devices take up all the Wi-Fi. Every time the staff would update, more people would buy wireless printers and Xboxes .”

She suggested one way for the connection to improve is to have Internet cords provided for people who use printers or other devices.

“I wish IT would have better answers,” Howard said. “We should be able to have Wi-Fi since we pay for it.”