In a previous article, The Communicator provided resources for accessing technology during SFCC’s all-online spring quarter. This article mentioned how to gain access to WiFi while campus is closed. Recently, though, SFCC’s IT department has installed WiFi hotspots within four of the campus parking lots for students to use within their cars, maintaining proper social distancing. These same WiFi hotspots are also available on SCC’s campus.

Installation was complete on May 20, and the hotspots were installed specifically for student use during COVID-19. According to Rick Sparks, IT’s chief information officer, both SFCC and SCC’s presidents, Drs. Kimberlee Messina and Kevin Brockbank, “requested expanded WiFi coverage” for students who “may not have adequate WiFi at home.” The WiFi is available for faculty and staff usage as well, said Sparks.

The WiFi hotspots are currently located within SFCC parking lots one, four, six, and nine (P9, P6, P1, and P4). Though the hotspots don’t encompass the entire lots, the zones where coverage is available offer plenty of room for those needing to use it, as shown on the campus maps provided by Sparks. SCC parking lots one and two have WiFi hotspots with lot two being entirely encompassed by the WiFi hotspot, according to the map of SCC’s campus.

Students, faculty and staff are able to access the WiFi by logging in with their Bigfoot email and ID number as if they were using a school computer.

Thanks to the efforts of the IT department, as well as the requesting of the implementation from the CCS presidents, students are able to have reliable access to WiFi during this all-online quarter, provided they have access to individual transportation.