State-Wide Networking in New Jersey Higher Education

Joseph Sanders

University Director of Telecommunications - Rutgers, the State University of NJ

David F. Ullman

Associate Provost for Information Services and Technology - NJIT

Long History of Higher Education Technology Collaboration in NJThe 70’s and 80’s

New Jersey Educational Computer Network (NJECN)• Timesharing

• Group Licenses (e.g. IA Administrative software)

The 80’s and early 90’s New Jersey Inter-Campus Network (NJIN)

• Application Services, Training, all sectors of Higher Ed.

• Organized and funded partially by State Department of Higher Education

The 90’s1993 - Major Change in Higher Education Governance

“quasi - deregulation” of Higher Education Commission on Higher Education New Jersey Presidents’ Council Includes 45 Public and Private Institutions with public

mission:• 3 senior Public Research• 9 State colleges and universities• 19 2-year community colleges• 14 independents (with public mission)

State-wide Planning

1996 - CHE and Presidents’ Council adopt “New Jersey’s Plan for Higher Education” stressing importance of technology.

Establish Technology Advisory Committee, chaired by President of NJIT.

1997 - Governor and Legislature establish Higher Education Technology Infrastructure Fund (TIF)- $50 million, with institutional match.

State-wide Planning - contd.

TIF includes $5 million set-aside for inter-institutional connectivity.

Initial Project: 1998 - Funded NJ Vale (Virtual Academic

Library Environment).

State-wide Planning - contd

1997-98: Outside consultant surveyed all institutions on current state of “readiness” for state-wide network.

1998: Researched activities in other states.1998 - Released RFQ - pre-qualify vendorsMarch 1999 - RFPDecember 1999 - Amended RFP (BAFO)

The RFP/ARFP:Connect 45 institutions and “partners” today…. (the

future….).Connections distance/geography neutral.Base Services

Data transport - TCP/IP Video transport on varying degrees of QoS: broadcast (MPEG-2/DVB),

D/L or meeting (HX3xx), personal (Real, NetMeeting, etc.) Video MCU’s commodity Internet Network Security No Voice over IP

The RFP/ARFP (contd.):Optional Services

DNS, firewall, e-mail/web hosting, remote access, proxy services, Internet2

Members and Partners choose “link” connectivity at ranges:

OC-12 OC-3 DS-3 Fractional DS-3 N by DS-1 DS-1

The RFP/ARFP (contd.):Key considerations:

Connectivity to other networks Capacity Management

• vendor provides component upgrades at 70% of peak utilization of any components.

Economy of scale as overall # of links increases.

Basic Goal: Raise the bar for all participants.FYI - NJ has 3 distinct LATA’s

Where are we today?

30 - something vendors expressed interest at pre-qualification. Vendors encouraged to “partner”.

Nine vendors pre-qualified as Lead Vendors.Three submitted proposals, and amended

proposals.One has been selected to “develop” a “Master

Services Agreement”

Today….

Creating a Network Management Structure Network Board (13 members) Searching for Executive Director Incorporate Application Services into single

structure. Possible 501-3 (c)

Concurrently - working toward transferring New Jersey Virtual University under Presidents’ Council.

Today….

Hope to sign Master’ Services Agreement this spring.

Network is “alive” with 20 links.Current details available at:

http://www.njit.edu/Higher-Ed-Net/

Questions….