Situation
UWM, the second largest school in the University of Wisconsin system,wanted to keep pace with the needs of its student body, by installing internet kiosks in common areas around the campus. This would allow students to check their email, make and adjust class schedules, and browse the Web with ease. In addition, this would help UWM stay current and competitive with peer institutions.
Problem to be Solved
UWM needed secure, attractive and modern kiosk terminals for student use around campus. However, costs were an issue; some administrators wanted to keep the costs down by repurposing used PCs.
The dcVAST Solution
To meet the unique security requirements of a kiosk environment, dcVAST designed and deployed 60 Kiosks based on the SunRay ultra thin client technology from Sun Microsystems. This virtual solution allowed UWM administrators and student groups to achieve all of the goals set for the project. The units were a visually appealing and functional addition to the campus, offering user-friendly operation and powerful security features.
Results
Today, over 27,000 UWM students have convenient access to the internet from anywhere on campus. They have experienced very high percentage uptime, and have been received well. In addition, they have had zero administration at the kiosk terminals. All administration is performed at the server.