To find the “most wired” school in the state of Michigan, you’ll need to drive to the northern-most public university in the state, according to PC Magazine. Michigan Technological University (MTU), located in Houghton, was named on the magazine’s 2007 Top 20 Wired Colleges list.
MTU ranked seventh in the list compiled by PC Magazine and The Princeton Review, which surveyed close to 240 universities about such topics as the availability of online learning, faculty computer training, music downloading policies, and hardware and software provided to students. Villanova University topped the list, followed by Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Indiana University.
PC Magazine cited Michigan Tech’s IT programs, which allow undergraduates to gain experience in IT and system administration at the earliest stages of their careers.
Also, PC Magazine acknowledged MTU’s Blue Marble Security Group, part of the university’s Enterprise Program. Through the program, teams of students provide real-world solutions to industrial and governmental sponsors. Blue Marble clients include the state of Michigan and Rockwell Collins.
In addition to its leadership in information technology, Michigan Tech has established itself at the forefront of advanced research. In October 2006, Michigan Tech entered into an agreement with Altarum Institute of Ann Arbor to purchase its Environmental and Emerging Technologies Division.
The division’s strengths in sensors and signal processing and in earth sciences enhances some of the university’s most active research programs.
In 1999, Michigan Tech became an active member of the Internet2 community, connecting to Internet2 via Merit Network.
In 2000, MTU began participating in the Internet2 Early Adopters Project. In preparation for the project, MTU determined that its campus was ready to begin implementing directory services and campus-wide authentication services. They developed an LDAP-based directory service and person entry containing information, as well as, other IT solutions and strategies.
MTU also takes an active role in the Internet2 and National Science Foundation Middleware Initiative. MTU hosts an Internet2 LDAP Analyzer to help people deploy enterprise class directory services. Other Internet2 initiatives that Michigan Tech is currently involved with include multicast, distributed storage (I2-DSI), and digital video.
The university uses several Internet2 applications for research and collaboration, such as Remote Sensing, Remote Microscopy, Real Time Supercomputer Processing, and Many Body Perturbation Problem Analysis.
Michigan Tech provides students with a basis for careers in engineering, the sciences, forest resources, computing, arts and human sciences, technology, and business.
Approximately 6,500 students from around the United States and 70 nations attend the university while pursuing associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D degrees.