Bellevue College Accommodates Proliferation of Mobile Devices, Enables Classroom Technology Innovations with Aruba Networks

Aruba Unified Wired and WLAN Infrastructure Supports 36,000+ Students and Faculty Campus-wide

Bellevue College students can now use their mobile devices inside and outside the classroom to access the Internet, email and important educational applications and resources via the college's new Aruba wireless LAN. (Photo: Business Wire)

SUNNYVALE, Calif.--()--Aruba Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ: ARUN), a leading provider of next-generation network access solutions for the mobile enterprise, today announced that Bellevue College, the third largest public institution of higher learning in Washington State, has deployed a unified wired and wireless access network based on Aruba’s Mobile Virtual Enterprise (MOVE) architecture. The new infrastructure delivers high-performance, campus-wide wireless access inside buildings and outside in common areas to the College’s 36,000+ students, faculty and staff as well as guests, enabling Bellevue to accommodate the escalating number of mobile devices being used on campus and to deploy a wide range of technology innovations to enhance students’ educational experiences.

Bellevue’s previous network could not deliver the coverage and capacity the College’s students, faculty and staff were demanding. Also, the device on-boarding process was complex and time-consuming and the security capabilities were inadequate. After a focus group of students told Bellevue’s IT Department that wireless access was their primary technology concern, the College sought a new network that would deliver reliable and secure access for its students and would enable Bellevue to implement leading-edge educational technologies.

Following a thorough evaluation process with multiple vendors, and a Proof of Concept (PoC) wherein Aruba installed its infrastructure in the Student Commons, Bellevue College chose Aruba to deliver the new unified access network. “During the PoC stage, Aruba told us to deploy their gear in the densest, highest-use area we had, which is our cafeteria,” said Russ Beard, VP of Information Services/CIO for Bellevue College. “Unlike the other vendors we considered, who wanted to do their demos in controlled lab environments, Aruba was not afraid to prove their solutions in a real-world, challenging environment. At the end of our evaluation, our team decided unanimously that Aruba was the best solution.”

The network was deployed quickly – in just two months. Comprised of Aruba Access Points, 7200 Series Mobility Controllers, Aruba Mobility Access Switches, the AirWave Network Management System and the ClearPass Access Management System, the network supports up to 15,000 simultaneous wireless device connections at any given time across the 100-acre campus. “Our students’ laptops, tablets and smart phones are becoming an integral part of their college environment – both inside and outside of classrooms. They are being used continuously to access educational tools and materials that are improving the learning process,” said Beard.

The new unified infrastructure supports access to Bellevue’s Canvas learning management system, which is currently the most-used application on campus, as well as Microsoft Lync, which provides Bellevue’s faculty with a robust solution for student and campus staff contact. The network also supports a Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) program and interactive whiteboards, and will soon be used for lecture capture and video broadcast solutions that will help the College enact the ‘flipped classroom’ model for some of its courses. In addition, the College radio station uses the Aruba network to stream its digitized programming to students, and Bellevue’s TV station will eventually use the network to upgrade its services as well.

Aruba’s AirWave Network Management System and ClearPass Access Management System were also key factors in Bellevue’s selection of Aruba. AirWave allows the College to identify who is on the network, where they are accessing the network, the mobile devices they are using and how much bandwidth is being consumed by specific devices, so that the IT Department can quickly troubleshoot issues and proactively plan for future capacity requirements. ClearPass enables Bellevue to easily and securely onboard mobile devices, ensuring that each user has the right access privileges based on who they are and what device they’re using.

As the College embarks on innovative initiatives such as a new campus that will include new buildings and outdoor classrooms for forest care and water conservation courses, and potential partnering programs with area hospitals and local companies, Bellevue is confident that the new network will continue to meet its growing access needs.

“Ultimately, it is our teachers who should determine what technologies are utilized in our classrooms,” said Beard. “Their options shouldn’t be limited by IT restrictions. With our new network infrastructure, our educators can introduce tools that will help our students reach their highest potential.”

About Aruba Networks, Inc.

Aruba Networks is a leading provider of next-generation network access solutions for the mobile enterprise. The company’s Mobile Virtual Enterprise (MOVE) architecture unifies wired and wireless network infrastructures into one seamless access solution for corporate headquarters, mobile business professionals, remote workers and guests. This unified approach to access networks enables IT organizations and users to securely address the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) phenomenon, dramatically improving productivity and lowering capital and operational costs.

Listed on the NASDAQ and Russell 2000® Index, Aruba is based in Sunnyvale, California, and has operations throughout the Americas, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific regions. To learn more, visit Aruba at http://www.arubanetworks.com. For real-time news updates follow Aruba on Twitter and Facebook, and for the latest technical discussions on mobility and Aruba products visit Airheads Social at http://community.arubanetworks.com.

© 2014 Aruba Networks, Inc. Aruba Networks’ trademarks include Aruba Networks®, Aruba The Mobile Edge Company® (stylized), Aruba Mobility Management System®, People Move Networks Must Follow®, Mobile Edge Architecture®, RFProtect®, Green Island®, ETips®, ClientMatchTM, Virtual Intranet AccessTM, ClearPass Access Management SystemsTM, Aruba InstantTM, ArubaOSTM, xSecTM, ServiceEdgeTM, Aruba ClearPass Access Management SystemTM, AirmeshTM, AirWaveTM, Aruba CentralTM, and “ARUBA@WORKTM. All rights reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Contacts

Aruba Networks, Inc.
Pavel Radda, +1-408-419-0294
Director of Corporate Communications
pradda@arubanetworks.com
or
LSH Communications for Aruba Networks
Lori Hultin, Principal, +1-818-879-4651
lhultin@arubanetworks.com

Release Summary

Bellevue College in Washington State has deployed an Aruba Networks unified wired and wireless network to accommodate the growing number of mobile devices on campus and ensure campus-wide access.

Contacts

Aruba Networks, Inc.
Pavel Radda, +1-408-419-0294
Director of Corporate Communications
pradda@arubanetworks.com
or
LSH Communications for Aruba Networks
Lori Hultin, Principal, +1-818-879-4651
lhultin@arubanetworks.com