To support the growing technology needs of the campus community, the College of Staten Island’s Office of Information Technology (OIT) is continuing a broad range of improvements designed to make CSI more connected, reliable, accessible, and ready for the future.

The latest improvement is CSI-Wireless, a new campus-wide Wi-Fi network that launched on September 8, replacing the former CSI-Student and CSI-Staff networks with a single, streamlined connection for students, faculty, and staff.

With CSI-Wireless, members of the campus community can connect using their CUNY login credentials and enjoy a simpler wireless experience across campus. The new network also provides improved wireless management and security while making it easier for users to stay connected as they move throughout the College’s 204-acre campus.

Students, faculty, and staff should connect their laptops, mobile devices, tablets, and other wireless-enabled devices to CSI-Wireless. Users may need to “forget” the former CSI-Student or CSI-Staff network before connecting to the new system.

For connection instructions, including information for Android devices, visit the CSI-Wireless guide. Anyone experiencing difficulty connecting can contact the ITS Help Desk at 718.982.HELP (4357) or Helpdesk@csi.cuny.edu.

A Connected, Modern Campus

While the new wireless system is one of the most visible improvements for the campus community, it is just one part of a much larger effort to modernize CSI’s technology infrastructure.

Network switches have been replaced throughout the College’s 26 academic and administrative buildings with modern, high-performance equipment designed to support today’s technology needs while providing capacity for the future.

The College is also upgrading the vertical fiber optic infrastructure within campus buildings. Replacing aging backbone fiber between floors with new, high-capacity fiber will enable connectivity of 20 Gbps or greater between network devices, increasing available bandwidth and strengthening network resiliency.

OIT’s work extends beyond the network itself. As CSI continues to look for ways technology can make campus life easier, the College has installed a wayfinding kiosk with interactive location mapping to help students and visitors navigate the expansive campus and find facilities more easily. The kiosk is located outside of the Center for the Arts (facing the Great Lawn).

In classrooms and computer labs, technology upgrades are also underway. OIT has completed the lifecycle replacement of 258 computers in campus computer labs and is upgrading 10 smart classrooms with enhanced device connectivity. Faculty and staff computer replacements have also begun as part of the ongoing effort to keep campus technology current and reliable.

The College is also moving toward a more modern telecommunications system. In collaboration with CUNY Central, CSI is undertaking a campus-wide transition from legacy telephone systems to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phones. The new system will improve call reliability and functionality while giving faculty and staff greater flexibility and providing a more secure, efficient communications infrastructure aligned with CUNY’s enterprise standards.

Expanding AI Learning Opportunities for Faculty

Technology is also playing an increasingly important role in how CSI approaches teaching, learning, and innovation.

The College recently completed its first pilot of AI Course (Module 0) with a cohort of faculty. The program introduced participants to generative AI and its ethical use while exploring AI-supported teaching and learning, course redesign, AI policy development, assignment redesign, faculty research applications, and student engagement strategies.

Following the successful pilot, Module 0 will be made available to all CSI faculty this fall as an Open Educational Resource through LinkedIn Learning, giving faculty across the College an opportunity to build their understanding of artificial intelligence and explore its potential applications in their teaching and research.

From the Wi-Fi network students use every day to the fiber infrastructure beneath the campus, from updated computers and smart classrooms to wayfinding, telecommunications, and emerging AI technologies, OIT’s work is helping CSI build a technology environment that is more connected today and better prepared for what comes next.