Case Study: Columbus State University achieves dependable campus‑wide Wi‑Fi and boosts academic engagement with Riverbed Xirrus

Like Water or Electricity Wi-Fi has Become a Dependable Utility Contributing to Academic Success

Columbus State University, a two‑campus institution with more than 8,400 students, struggled with slow, unreliable Wi‑Fi caused by coverage gaps in old, thick‑walled buildings and inadequate capacity for the growing number of mobile devices and video-heavy applications. Reliable campus‑wide connectivity was critical for students living in residence halls and for faculty using mobile tools in classrooms.

CSU replaced its legacy systems with a single Riverbed Xirrus network spanning about two million square feet, using purpose-built access points, band steering to 5GHz, application control, and rapid deployment kits for events. The result was a dramatic surge in usage and a consistently good user experience across lecture halls, libraries and residence halls, reduced helpdesk calls, support for large events and classroom activities like polls and quizzes, and elimination of performance problems from mass downloads and streaming.

Columbus State University

Casey Hergett

Senior Manager of Database and Infrastructure Services