The network should never be the bottleneck: Lessons from Butler University

Butler University's lessons on preparing campus infrastructure for the future

Campus networks are under more pressure than ever. Universities are supporting video collaboration, cloud applications, AI-driven tools, and thousands of connected devices, often with infrastructure that was never designed for those demands.

As institutions plan for the future, simply replacing aging equipment is no longer enough. We spoke with Nick Northcutt, Network and Security Engineer at Butler University, about lessons learned from Butler's network modernization journey and what higher education IT teams should consider when building a future-ready campus network.

Many universities are grappling with aging infrastructure and growing technology demands. What prompted Butler University to think beyond simply replacing existing equipment and take a more strategic approach to network modernization?

The video meeting boom during the pandemic dramatically raised expectations for our wireless network. Suddenly, people were noticing roaming issues, poor signal quality, and other performance challenges that weren't as obvious when most users were simply using email and web browsing. We had a clear problem to solve, so we started by identifying our biggest trouble spots and understanding where the wireless design was falling short.

We found outdated designs in residential and academic buildings, including access points placed in hallways instead of the spaces where people live, study, and gather. We also identified dead spots and density issues in classrooms.

By redesigning these environments, increasing access point coverage, and improving support for high-density spaces, we saw a significant drop in support cases. That work marked the beginning of a broader effort to re-evaluate wireless across campus.

It also prompted us to look ahead at how emerging wireless technologies could further improve the campus experience. We applied the same thinking to Hinkle Fieldhouse’s basketball arena, where a new wireless design is helping lay the foundation for future fan engagement initiatives.

When you think about a "future-ready" campus network, what does that look like, and what capabilities are most important for supporting the university's long-term needs?

To me, a future-ready campus network is one that can scale to meet growing traffic demands, move beyond an over-reliance on wired connections, and deliver highly reliable wireless connectivity while still protecting users and data. Ideally, it should accomplish all of this while operating invisibly in the background, so the experience feels seamless for teaching staff, students, etc.

Looking back on Butler's network modernization journey, what lessons or insights were most valuable, and were there any outcomes that surprised the team?

The sudden, exponential increase in video calls over Wi-Fi during the pandemic caught us by surprise. Knowing what we know now, being able to respond to that new demand right at the onset would have been very beneficial. We’ve also learned that Wi-Fi design is never a one-time exercise; it is an iterative process because there are so many variables, including the campus environment, changing user behavior, and budget constraints. Even today, we're continually looking for ways to improve performance and deliver better experience for teaching staff, students and others.

I think making Wi-Fi design and troubleshooting professional development a priority for staff would be high on the list—and something to do sooner rather than later. It would help take a lot of the guesswork out of Wi-Fi troubleshooting and support.

On the operational side, I was pleasantly surprised by how seamless the access point (AP) replacement process proved to be. Our facilities team began installations at 3:00 a.m. and could finish an entire building before classes started. We repeated this process across campus, replacing more than 1,700 access points with virtually no disruption to students, faculty, or staff before the 8:00am classes start. The ability to deploy at that scale with virtually no user disruption was extremely impressive.

For higher education IT teams planning a similar transformation, what advice would you offer based on your experience?

The best Wi-Fi hardware in the world won't fix poor AP placement and design. Find the problem areas on your campus and invest in industry best-practice standards. Survey and build simulations using wireless planning and design tools to support redesigns and new builds. Invest in wireless professional development for your staff (CWNA, ECSE, etc.).

A great way to improve Wi-Fi case resolution is to invest in historical wireless troubleshooting and analytics tools, and establish a standard process for the Help Desk to gather useful information for escalation, such as the date and time of the incident, the device's Wi-Fi MAC address, room location, and a brief description of the issue.

When it is time to consider your AP replacement cycle, think holistically about what your campus will need to support in the future. Consider technologies such as 6 GHz, WPA3 device compatibility, and emerging Wi-Fi 7 capabilities. Also think about AI-assisted operational tools and flexible network access designs that can accommodate the growing number of IoT and consumer devices connecting to campus networks, particularly in residential environments. Finally, evaluate how different vendors approach performance, manageability, security, and future scalability when making long-term infrastructure decisions.

How can universities balance meeting current needs while ensuring their network infrastructure remains adaptable for future technologies and demands?

I think the key is making sure your network can support increased traffic over the next five years. Beyond that, it’s about designing the network with enough flexibility to handle the things we can’t predict yet. That means investing in products that support multi-gigabit switching, automation, AI workflows, cloud integration, and strong analytics.

How do you see the technology requirements of higher education institutions evolving over the next five years?

I expect network throughput requirements to keep climbing, especially as AI, streaming, video conferencing, gaming, and research demands continue to grow. Wi-Fi is now the primary way most users connect, so expectations for wireless performance will only increase. At the same time, the growth of wireless IoT on campus means we have to keep finding ways to make these devices work as easily as they do at home, while still keeping them secure. Ultimately, the network should never be the bottleneck.

As universities prepare for AI-enabled applications and other emerging technologies, what infrastructure investments and foundational capabilities should institutions prioritize today to support innovation over the next decade?

As adoption grows, universities should focus on building a network infrastructure that can support significantly higher data volumes, lower latency requirements, and increasingly distributed workloads. Security should also be a major consideration.

I would prioritize connectivity, security, and visibility. That means investing in infrastructure that can support future wireless and multi-gig needs, along with strong monitoring, analytics, and security capabilities. As cloud services continue to grow, universities need networks that can scale, adapt, and support a Zero Trust mindset while enabling long-term growth, flexibility, and innovation.

Based on Butler University's modernization journey, what's the single most important piece of advice you'd share with university IT leaders looking to build a future-ready campus network?

My advice would be to think beyond simply replacing aging equipment. Understand where your problem areas are, invest in good design, and make sure the infrastructure you choose can grow with the needs of your institution. Technology will continue to change, but a strong foundation, skilled staff, and a clear understanding of your users' needs will always matter.

If you're attending EDUCAUSE, I'd welcome the opportunity to continue the conversation and share more details during our poster session.

About the author

Nick Northcutt is the Network and Security Engineer at Butler University where he serves as the technical lead for network infrastructure replacement projects, new implementations, and future-state planning. In addition to guiding long-term network architecture, Nick provides operational support and leads key network security initiatives to help ensure a secure, high-performing network across campus.

About Butler's Modernization Journey

Discover how Butler University worked with RUCKUS to refresh its campus-wide network, enhance the user experience, and prepare for future innovation. Read more in the case study: Butler University Case Study