Case Study: Chapman University achieves reliable, secure Wi-Fi for 13K+ users with HPE Aruba Networking

California University simplifies the connected experience for 13K+ users daily

Chapman University, a private institution in Orange, CA with over 9,000 students, ~920 faculty and 60+ buildings, was struggling with spotty Wi‑Fi coverage, frequent disconnects and inconsistent network security as up to 13,000 devices connected daily. The IT team needed a fast, reliable wireless platform that would support voice, e‑learning and cloud apps, simplify BYOD and IoT onboarding, and replace a legacy vendor with a more automated, manageable solution.

Chapman deployed Aruba (300/500 Series APs, Aruba switches, ClearPass and AirWave) with a role‑based 802.1X model, single SSID/EDUROAM, self‑service device registration, zero‑touch provisioning and dynamic segmentation. The result: wireless became the top‑rated IT service, user complaints dropped significantly, policy enforcement is consistent across wired and wireless (including port‑level controls), RF intelligence removed manual tuning guesswork and IT saved substantial time while rapidly bringing new buildings and 400 residence rooms online.

Chapman University

Phillip Lyle

Assistant Vice President of Enterprise and Research Infrastructure