Azusa Pacific University welcomed students back to campus with experience-first Wi-Fi

When a university survey revealed that students wanted better Wi-Fi, Azusa Pacific took swift action to upgrade the campus network.

“Students expect Wi-Fi on campus to be commensurate with their experience at home,” says Erin Dibble, assistant director of operations support at Azusa Pacific University. “Students have high expectations for quality Wi-Fi for their academic and living expectations.”

That means the campus Wi-Fi must not only support academic endeavors, but also gaming, streaming media, and making and creating videos. 

“Mist’s AI was a real game changer for us,” says Dibble.

Azusa Pacific deployed Juniper wireless, driven by Mist AI, at its academic, residential, and administrative buildings on its 52-acre campus. AI-driven automation and insight, combined with the agility and reliability of Mist Cloud, enable the university’s IT team to deliver optimized network user experiences.

“The residence halls are where students spent most time using the wireless network, with their laptops, phones, gaming, and streaming media devices,” Dibble says. “With a Juniper network, we can really improve the student experience.”

Mist AI streamlines network operations for the IT team as well.

“The benefit of a Juniper network is the use of data analytics to aid in identifying changes to the service and providing measurable performance indicators to maintain service levels and pinpointing areas for improvement,” she says.

The shift from legacy wireless controllers to a cloud-managed network has been welcome.

“If we have controllers onsite, we have to monitor, patch, and maintain them,” says Dibble. “We have saved precious time and people resources time by moving to Juniper, freeing up the IT team for more strategic work.”

“We were excited to impress our students when they arrived on campus in August 2021,” says Dibble. “With Juniper, the value of our exemplary educational experience is elevated. This tool is a multiplying factor in delivering an awesome student experience.”

Students who attend Azusa Pacific University take seriously God’s call upon their lives, leaning into how they prepare themselves to make a difference through their academics, faith, and action.

“Without connectivity, the activities and the mission of the university can’t happen,” says Dibble. “The student experience from an academic and living perspective hinges on connectivity. That’s something Juniper has helped us accomplish at Azusa Pacific University.”

Working with Juniper has been a positive experience for the university. “Juniper support is responsive and helpful,” says Dibble. “It felt like a concierge service.”