The University of Dayton's wireless network has paid off in more ways than one. Not only has the network been valuable for students, but it also moved up in the national rankings.

This year, UD is ranked no. 16 in the top 50 'Most Unwired College Campuses' survey compiled by Intel Corp. Last year, UD ranked no. 28.

According to Tom Skill, UD's Associate Provost and Chief Information Officer, the jump in ranking has been worth the time and effort needed to expand UD's wireless capabilities.

'We are thrilled with this recognition,' Skill said. 'Our primary goal with the wireless network is to serve the students. The results have been quite rewarding for the students as seen in the rankings.'

UD's wireless network has more than 700 access points, including 350 access points added to all UD houses in the student neighborhoods. Overall, 450 of the wireless access points are in residential areas while 240 are in academic areas and green spaces.

'We are not done yet,' Skill stated. 'Plans are in place to put wireless access points in all residence halls. We are looking for a way to fund this without making it too expensive for students.'

According to UD statistics, in the past seven months, wireless Internet traffic has increased 24 percent on campus. Students are using their computers not only for their classes, but also to manage Flyer Enterprises and to connect with researchers around the world. Underground, the wireless network is supported by more than 1,300 miles of network wiring'enough to cover the distance between Dayton and Santa Fe, N.M.

Intel's survey findings are based on the number of undergraduate students at a particular school, the computer-to-student ratio and the percentage of each campus that is covered by wireless technology. All schools assessed in the study have more than 1,000 students. The data was taken from university interviews, public documents and additional industry sources such as past surveys.

The findings show Ball State University in Muncie, Ind. as the most unwired college campus. Western Michigan University, University of Akron, Dartmouth College, Carnegie Mellon University, Bridgewater State College, St. John's University, Case Western Reserve University, Bryant University and Trinity University round out the top 10.

74 percent of schools in the top 50 have 100 percent wireless coverage on campus. This is up from 14 percent in the top 50 last year. On average, the top 50 most unwired campuses are 98 percent covered by a network.

According to Skill, UD is ranked highly in theses statistics.

'We actually have more access points than the school that is number one in Intel's survey,' Skill said. 'And it will only increase as time goes on.'

Intel's survey found a variety of innovative ways colleges are using their wireless networks. Wireless has allowed professors to transmit data to LCD projectors from anywhere in the classroom and conduct virtual office hours online. At some schools, students can view sporting events from anywhere on campus and even check the status of their laundry loads and washing machine availability.

'The class of 2009 will graduate to a world far more technologically advanced than it is today,' Richard Beckwith, an ethnographer with Intel's Corporate Technology People and Practices Research Group, said in a press release. 'Today's campuses are like a living laboratory, providing a window into how tomorrow's digital communities will define the way people work, live, learn and play as wireless infrastructure continues to advance and evolve.'

UD has been aware of this technological change, and in the last few years the university has gained previous recognition for integrating technology into the learning and living experience. In 2003, the Princeton Review ranked UD 24 on its list of the top 25 'Most Connected Campuses.' Also, UD has been ranked in previous Yahoo reviews.

'These rankings are quite an incentive,' Skill stated. 'But in the end, it's really about the students. As long as they are getting what they need out of the wireless network, we are happy.'