Wireless Network Helps Community College Stay Competitive

Cisco Unified Wireless Network enables Irvine Valley College to attract students with wireless communication and educational innovations.

Education is a competitive business for the community colleges in academically oriented Orange County, California. Many of the students who apply to the nine community colleges in the county's four districts plan to transfer to the University of California, and they have exacting standards for selecting the school that will best prepare them for those coveted spots.

One of the most successful schools in preparing students to make this transition is Irvine Valley College (IVC). According to the California State Chancellor's Office, IVC has one of the highest transfer rates to the University of California among Orange County community colleges. The school, which is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, earned this competitive advantage by providing a high-quality, affordable education that emphasizes the overall student experience. An essential part of that experience is technology. "Staying at the forefront of technology is part of our mission statement, which is very progressive for a community college," says Tran Hong, director of technology for IVC.