As of late, Internet connection problems have been among the most popular complaints across campus.

Simply scrolling through Yik Yak, one can identify several posts explaining that Wilkes students are constantly unable to “Netflix and Chill” after a long day of classes. However, the issues with the broadband and wifi Internet connection do not come as a surprise to the IT department.

Over the summer, many changes and upgrades were made regarding Internet accessibility campus-wide, along with other major projects such as the new Gateway. However, these upgrades could not be made until the IT Department identified and carefully picked through the major problems.

Beacuse a number of years had passed without upgrades, it took a year to identify all of the system problems and organize a master plan. Beginning in June 2015, IT began making the necessary changes.

Compared to last year’s 1,800, there are on average 2,300 devices online at any given time on campus, including phones, iPods, laptops, desktop computers and tablets.

In addition, during the 2014-2015 school year, there were 243 Wifi Internet access points in residence halls across campus. Now, there are approximately 560 access points, including huge upgrades in Evans Hall, Roth Hall, Fortinsky Hall and University Towers.

In the past week, Wilkes University students should have received an email from the IT Department explaining that there will not be any internet access between the hours of 5 and 6 p.m. on  Sept. 29. During this time, the entire broadband will be expanded by ⅓ of what it currently is.

In summary, this will help more devices be able to connect and flow through the web faster and more efficiently.

Dean John Stachacz, a librarian and one of the individuals behind these changes, concurred that the entire project cost equals more than $1 million dollars. In addition, switching to the newer, more efficient tools of Internet access also saved the entire university almost $300,000.

Although some may think that the IT Department would be tiresome of complaints, they are surprisingly and humbly happy to accept any and all comments about the problems and kinks regarding Internet connection.

In the words of Dean Stachacz, “The only way we can find out if there is a problem is if students call in and report it.”