3Com ATM Network Enables Guilford College to Implement Campus-Wide Fully Integrated "Smart Card" System
Business Wire - February 04, 1998 10:15
%COM COMS %CALIFORNIA %NORTH-CAROLINA %COMPUTERS %ELECTRONICS %COMED %INTERACTIVE %MULTIMEDIA %INTERNET %TELECOMMUNICATIONS %EDUCATION %PRODUCT V%BW P%BW
SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 4, 1998--
Smarter Campus Identification Cards Deliver Wide Array of Financial and Personal Services to Students, Faculty and Staff
3Com(R) Corp. (NASDAQ:COMS) today announced that Guilford College, a prestigious liberal arts college located in Greensboro, N.C., has deployed an advanced ATM (asynchronous transfer mode) enterprise network standardized on 3Com systems. In addition to academic services, Guilford's new ATM network enabled the school to architect its new "smart card" system for student identification, financial transactions and residence hall access. "In order to remain competitive into the 21st century we needed an aggressive plan to upgrade our technology infrastructure," said Norm Gibbs, director of information technology and services for Guilford. "We needed a network that would support advanced academic and campus services that students and parents expect from a private college. By implementing an ATM network from 3Com, we plan to not only meet, but exceed expectations."
Student Identification Cards Get "Smarter"
The smart cards, which are the same size as a credit card, replace existing student identification cards, which are used not only for identification purposes but also as a debit card for meals and to check out books from the school library. In addition to these traditional services, the new smart cards also enable students, faculty and staff to purchase a variety of items and services from vending machines and the college bookstore, provide long distance calling card services and offer greater security in residence halls. Guilford is the first school in North Carolina and is among only 10 schools in the country to implement a campus-wide, fully integrated smart card system. In the future, additional functions may be added to the smart card's embedded micro-chip, allowing them to be used by students to vote in campus elections, register for classes, or conduct financial aid transactions. Guilford's new smart card program is a joint initiative between the college, First Union!
Corp. and Cybermark LLC. First Union will provide banking services to students, faculty and staff, enabling those with a First Union bank account to use the smart cards for Automatic Teller Machine transactions. CyberMark is responsible for integrating all of the card functions in its embedded micro-chip. "The new smart card program moves us toward our goal of providing state-of-the-art network services to our student population," said Gibbs. "We are proud to be one of the first schools to offer our students a superior level of convenience and safety."
A Learning Network for the 21st Century
All members of the campus community now have access to computer accounts for email and electronic conferencing. Students are able to electronically communicate with professors and turn in assignments without ever leaving their dorm rooms. The network supports the use of Lotus Notes for intranet communications and classroom materials support. In addition, Guilford's computing systems and computer labs provide students and faculty with ready connections to the college's on-line card catalog of 220,000 titles as well as to the Internet. Guilford also shares a cooperative electronic catalog known as PALS with five other independent colleges in the area. Additionally, the campus network integrates a new administrative software system supporting admission, business operations, financial aid, institutional advancement and student registration resulting in improved services and lower costs. "Guilford effectively illustrates how 3Com networking solutions can revolutionize campus ope!
rations," said David Katz, 3Com's global education industry manager. "By providing students with global communication tools and high-speed access to multimedia learning resources the college truly prepares students for the future by creating an environment that mirrors the high-technology world."
ATM Network Provides Scalability
A CoreBuilder(TM) 7000HD high function switch populated with thirty-two 155 Mbps ATM ports forms the core of Guilford's new ATM network. Fifteen SuperStack(R) II Switch 3000 switches, supported by 5 SuperStack II Switch 1000 Ethernet switches, connect all academic buildings and residence halls and fiber feeds 79 SuperStack II desktop switches into the SuperStack II Switch 3000 switches. A CoreBuilder 2500 switch connected to the CoreBuilder 7000HD high function switch routes network traffic in between the school's Emulated LANs. The network accurately reflects Guilford's mission to provide information technology in support of the college's collaborative, interdisciplinary and cooperative learning process. The scalability of the network will allow the school to easily transition to the latest education applications and technology without replacing hardware. 3Com's Transcend(R) network management software allows Guilford to manage its network for optimal performance and growt!
h.
About Guilford College
Founded in 1837 by the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), Guilford College is the third oldest coeducational college in the country. Recognized by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching as one of the top four-year, liberal arts colleges in the nation, Guilford offers 29 academic majors and eight interdisciplinary concentrations. The 340-acre campus, located in Greensboro, N.C., is home to 1,500 full- and part-time students. For further information, visit Guilford's Word Wide Web sit at guilford.edu.
About 3Com
3Com Corp. enables individuals and organizations worldwide to communicate and share information and resources at anytime from anywhere. As one of the world's preeminent suppliers of data, voice and video communications technology, 3Com has delivered networking solutions to more than 100 million customers worldwide. With global reach and local touch, the company provides enterprises, network service providers and carriers, small businesses and consumers with comprehensive, innovative information access products and system solutions for building intelligent, reliable and high performance local and wide area networks. 3Com has worldwide revenues of approximately $6.0 billion and employs about 13,200 employees in 45 countries. For further information, visit 3Com's World Wide Web site at 3com.com, or the press site at 3com.com.
Note to Editors: 3Com, SuperStack and Transcend are registered trademarks and CoreBuilder is a trademark of 3Com Corp. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
CONTACT: 3Com Corporate Communications
Laura Thurman, 408/326-1279
Laura_Thurman@3Com.com
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