Wireless Upgrade Project
The wireless (WiFi) upgrade project was originally part of the 2017 Bond funded Network Optimization Project (NOP) scheduled for completion in mid-2021, but pandemic-related issues disrupted the WiFi upgrade. With these issues now resolved, we are actively executing on the plan and hope to be finished by the start of Spring term 2024.
Beginning this Fall term we all became aware that our outdated PCC WiFi platform is not able to handle current demands. The existing WiFi infrastructure is operating normally but cannot handle capacity in some areas. In addition to delays in updating our WiFi, several other differences are impacting WiFi performance:
- 40% increase in WiFi traffic since Fall term 2022
- Modern WiFi enabled devices consume much more bandwidth than previous generation devices
- WiFi usage patterns have changed since our return from the pandemic
Plan
Technology advancements in the last two years result in a larger scope than originally planned for. Our current network gear does not support the latest WiFi technology and we must replace network switches across the district. The project requires extensive planning to address:
- More than 500 network switches that must be replaced.
- More than 1,500 WiFi access points that must be replaced, and only after the network switches they connect with in a building are replaced.
Given the large scope of the full upgrade and the need to address immediate needs, our attention is focused in two areas.
Short-Term Goals
The PCC IT team is focused on adding temporary access points at known trouble spots to improve service.
Priority for this work is given to student learning spaces (classroom, labs, congregating spaces, etc.) and faculty support spaces.
Completed
Long-Term Growth
Improvements will continue throughout the end of the school year and involve WiFi optimization and reviewing coverage areas.
Target date: By the end of the academic year (Sept 2024)
Upcoming Locations
Remaining locations require that IT replaces both Access Points and Switches in these buildings. These tasks require more extensive planning and coordination between contractors and IT, which is why these upgrades will be completed over the course of an entire month.
- Cascade campus: Cascade Hall (CH), Paragon Building (PA), Student Services Building (SS), Cascade Gym (PE), Margaret Carter Technology Education Building (TE), Public Safety (PS) – March 2024
Partially-completed Locations
High-traffic locations where we have replaced a limited number of devices. Completion of these areas will be dependent upon dates associated with the above upcoming locations timelines.
- Cascade campus: Cascade Hall (CH)
- Sylvania campus buildings: Bookstore (BK), Amo De Bernardis College Center (CC)
Completed Locations
- Cascade campus buildings: Jackson Hall (JH), Library (LB), Public Service Education Building (PSEB), Terrell Hall (TH)
- CLIMB
- Downtown Center
- Hillsboro Center
- Newberg Center
- Portland Metro Opportunity Center
- OMIC
- Rock Creek campus
- Southeast campus
- Swan Island Trades Center
- Sylvania campus
- Willow Creek
Communication updates
WiFi Upgrade Project – 03/04/2024 Update
PCC Community,
We want to provide a continued update on our WiFi Upgrade project.
Our IT teams continue to upgrade WiFi access points having completed the Sylvania campus last month. We have also begun work at the Cascade campus, with scheduled completion by the end of March, finalizing the hardware upgrades at each campus. From there, we will be optimizing the new hardware to ensure more reliable WiFi connections.
If you happen upon any issues or have specific concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact our IT Service Desk. They are ready to assist you and ensure a smooth experience.
Reminders
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Additional details regarding this project can be found on our Wireless project website
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Students and staff should be using PCCWiFi; Wireless Network Access page
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Please continue to report persistent WiFi issues or coverage gaps by:
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Calling (971-722-4400), emailing (servicedesk@pcc.edu), or using our web form to create an IT Service Desk ticket
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Note: It is important to include the building/room & date/time of the issue.
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Michael Northover
Chief Information Officer/Chief Information Security Officer (CIO/CISO)
Portland Community College
PCC’s Information Security and Acceptable Use Policies
WiFi Upgrade Project – 01/23/2024 Update
PCC Community,
We want to continue updating you on our WiFi Upgrade project. With services restored, we will now be providing monthly updates until the project has been completed.
Our IT teams continue to upgrade WiFi access points and have now completed the Rock Creek campus. Next, we will begin work at the Sylvania campus with a scheduled completion by mid-February.
We expect that this project will continue on schedule until completion in June of 2024.
If you encounter any lingering issues or have specific concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our IT Service Desk. They are ready to assist you and ensure a smooth experience.
Reminders
- Additional details regarding this project can be found on our Wireless project website
- Students and staff should be using PCCWiFi; Wireless Network Access page
- Please continue to report persistent WiFi issues or coverage gaps by:
- Calling (971-722-4400), emailing (servicedesk@pcc.edu), or using our web form to create an IT Service Desk ticket
- Note: It is important to include: Building/Room & Date/Time of the issue.
Michael Northover
Chief Information Officer/Chief Information Security Officer (CIO/CISO)
Portland Community College
michael.northover@pcc.edu
PCC’s Information Security and Acceptable Use Policies
WiFi Upgrade Project – 12/07/2023 Update
PCC Community,
Happy holidays. I am pleased to inform you that our IT teams have completed work on upgrading and placing WiFi access points in high-traffic areas across the district. This marks an end to the short-term goals we sought to accomplish, restoring our WiFi network to normal operations.
Our next phase involves upgrading the remaining campus & building network infrastructure. We will begin this work in late December at the Rock Creek campus, with scheduled completion by the end of January 2024.
If you encounter any lingering issues or have specific concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our IT Service Desk. They are ready to assist you and ensure a smooth experience.
Reminders
- Additional details regarding this project can be found on our Wireless project website
- Students and staff should be using PCCWiFi; Wireless Network Access page
- Please continue to report persistent WiFi issues or coverage gaps by:
- Calling (971-722-4400), emailing (servicedesk@pcc.edu), or using our web form to create an IT Service Desk ticket
- Note: It is important to include: Building/Room & Date/Time of the issue.
Michael Northover
Chief Information Officer/Chief Information Security Officer (CIO/CISO)
Portland Community College
michael.northover@pcc.edu
PCC’s Information Security and Acceptable Use Policies
WiFi Upgrade Project – 11/06/2023 Update
PCC Community,
The following is a status update on our team’s progress regarding the IT WiFi Project.
Latest Updates
- The Sylvania Health Technology (HT), Social Sciences (SS), and Science Technology (ST) buildings are complete and back to normal operations.
- We are in the process of finalizing a schedule to replace obsolete WiFi hardware at Rock Creek, Sylvania, and Cascade Campuses. Currently, half of Rock Creek and half of Sylvania, and all of the Centers are back to normal operations.
- We will continue to analyze ticket information to alleviate issues in the majority of areas. We are anticipating being back to normal operations for the college by the end of the calendar year.
Long-Term Growth
Improvements will continue throughout the end of the school year and involve WiFi optimization and reviewing coverage areas.
Communications
We are updating our new Wireless project website periodically. Visit this website for WiFi support updates.
As a reminder, students and staff should be using PCCWifi, not PCCGuest. You can find instructions for connecting to the PCCWifi network on our Wireless Network Access page.
We ask that you continue to report persistent WiFi issues or coverage gaps, as this information helps to inform our actions and will focus our efforts. Report any WiFi issues to the IT Service Desk by calling 971-722-4400, emailing servicedesk@pcc.edu, or via our online web form.
Our next email update is scheduled for the 20th of November.
Michael Northover
Chief Information Officer/Chief Information Security Officer (CIO/CISO)
Portland Community College
michael.northover@pcc.edu
PCC’s Information Security and Acceptable Use Policies
WiFi Upgrade Project – 10/19/2023 Update
Dear PCC College Community,
In order to keep the community informed, we will be providing regular updates on the WiFi issues that have emerged since the start of Fall Term. We know this has been frustrating and we are actively working to resolve the issue around connectivity and reliability. This has resulted in some class disruptions, which we take very seriously.
There are several factors adding to this that we are working to resolve. Actions we are taking include:
- Actively upgrading our WiFi infrastructure – this week we upgraded Rock Creek Building 2 and we are already seeing better connectivity and accessibility for users.
- Beginning work on Building 3 currently.
- Looking at additional WiFi “Access Points” at problem locations, as an intermediary fix until the upgrades can be completed
- Engaged a specialized vendor to supplement our network team to expedite this project
As we work to resolve this, reducing overall congestion, if not needed can help – ways to help:
- Actively manage your device WiFi:
- Disable WiFi on devices if not required.
- Disable WiFi auto connect settings on your mobile devices (watches, phones, laptops, etc.).
- Wherever possible, use a wired computer.
- Classroom and Student Computing Center computers are potential alternatives to using your laptop.
- Personal owned laptops should not be connected to the PCC wired network for security reasons.
- Limit video streaming services while using PCCWiFi (e.g. Netflix, YouTube).
- If this is required, consider using wired computers (see #2).
- Report WiFi issues via the IT Service Request form:
- Add the campus, building, and room number that you are in.
- Include the date and time that you are having issues.
- Identify which WiFi network you are trying to connect to.
- Report WiFi issues by calling the IT Service Desk at 971-722-4400
We appreciate your support as we work to resolve this issue and resume normal operations.
WiFi Upgrade Project – 10/16/2023 Update
Dear PCC Community,
I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to provide an update regarding the WiFi connectivity and performance challenges that have impacted our college since the start of Fall Term. My team and I understand the frustration and inconvenience this issue has caused, and want to assure you that we are diligently working to resolve the matter. Please know that we are acutely aware of how essential a reliable WiFi connection is for our mission.
The current WiFi service issues are complex. Our WiFi platform is over 10 years old and is not designed to handle the current demands that we are experiencing. Plans to have our WiFi system upgraded 2-3 years ago were impacted by pandemic-related supply-chain issues. With these supply-chain issues now resolved, we are executing our upgrade plan, which we hope to have completed by the start of Spring Term, 2024.
I understand that the access issues have disrupted on-campus operations, and I want to express my sincere apologies for the inconvenience. We are committed to ensuring that our college’s WiFi is brought to full functionality as soon as possible. There have been suggestions that we deploy “hotspots” in the meantime, but this is not a viable solution for the scale of wireless activity at the college. Hotspot devices rely solely upon external cellular service, which is spotty at some campuses and centers, along with only supporting the ability to connect to a limited number of devices. Furthermore, hotspots may interfere with our existing wireless services. We are actively investigating other ways in which we might alleviate the issue until the upgrade is completed, but our options are limited by the capabilities of our legacy infrastructure and size of our institution.
In the meantime, I would like to remind everyone that we have designated Student Computing Centers, Tutoring Centers, and identity-based resource centers listed on Student Life on each campus that provide access to the internet, software and printing to students.
Ways to Help:
- Check with your department’s administrative office, or room schedulers for more information on available computer classrooms and spaces with wired network computers.
- Reduce WiFi congestion for students by using wired connectivity wherever possible (e.g., when at your desk, on a podium computer within a classroom).
- Consider disabling WiFi auto connect settings on your mobile devices to help reduce the overall number of devices attempting to connect to PCC WiFi.
- Consider disabling WiFi on devices if not required.
- Limit video streaming services while using PCC WiFi (e.g. Netflix, YouTube).
If you have any concerns or questions related to this outage, please email our IT Service Desk at servicedesk@pcc.edu. Your feedback is valuable to us and will help us ensure a more reliable wireless network in the future.
We will be sending a similar message to students shortly, along with status updates as we work to resolve this issue. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding as we work to resolve this issue.