About Us

MIO was created in 1984 to provide computer services to the staff and students under the umbrella of Residence Life and the division of Student Affairs. In 1996, the ResNet network was created to provide Internet access to students in their own room. At first it was perceived as a communication tool for advanced computer users and hobbyist. It is now a network that connects 3000+ students, 4500+ devices and 95% of the rooms in the residence halls.

We are responsible for the MIO data center, 250 department-owned workstations throughout 10 buildings, 3000+ ResNet connections, 9 computer labs, 20 integrated databases, and miscellaneous computing needs for a year-round conference center. Our model allows students hands-on experience in the areas of desktop support, database, web, server administration, multimedia development, and management of campus networks. No other technical unit of the University has technical competencies in all of these areas. Our "residential computing" manages more aspects of IT than any other housing-based IT operation in the UW system. Our EBI stats in technology are above average. Our biggest challenge and source of innovation is the turnover rate caused by incoming and outgoing students. In spite of this challenge, we've managed to do quite well over the last 25 years.

Our successes include:

• A rapid registration and bandwidth management system for the residential network.
• A database-driven facilities management maintenance request system
• The first and only highly customized database-driven student portal (http://portal.housing.uwosh.edu).
• A very stable network management implementation and data center (20+ server farm).
• A consistent and professional student-based support model. Students enrolled in the MBA, MSIS, Computer Science, MIS, or Education degrees support our program.
• Our program is recognized by the College of Business Internship Program as well as the Computer Science Internship Program because it gives students real-world, long-term, and hands-on experience that an "off-campus, short-term internship" can't provide.
• The MIO's lead group is a student based advisory and planning team responsible for the implementation of policies, planning, purchasing and installation. No other IT team or department gives students this much say on their strategic planning.