With over 28,379 students enrolled in 124 undergraduate and graduate degree programs, UTSA is the second largest component in The University of Texas System and one of the state's fastest-growing public universities for the past decade with a twelve percent increase in enrollment in recent years, making it the fifth largest enrollment in the state of Texas. With eight new doctoral programs and seven more master's programs in the planning stages, UTSA is rapidly moving toward classification as a doctoral/research intensive institution. UTSA serves the San Antonio metropolitan area and the broader region of South Texas. UTSA entered into a contract to purchase an additional 125 acres of land, about half a mile west of campus which will become the university's new $60 million sports park.
The primary campus is situated on 600 acres near the northern edge of San Antonio with three campus locations. There are four housing complexes on the UTSA campus with on-campus housing accommodating up to 3,200 students. To provide student, faculty and visitor security at these multiple building sites, UTSA installed a STENTOFON® AlphaCom 138 and six AlphcaCom M’s which creates a seven node AlphaNet. There are seven masters and 83 substations on the AlphaCom System. The installation has increased student’s safety and security with the utilization of STENTOFON Emergency/Security Stanchions located around dorms and other buildings. All stanchions and substations located throughout the university provide emergency/security communications to designated master stations.
Making the Change to VoIP
With the unfortunate events of the Virginia Tech tragedy, UTSA has taken a proactive approach and has pushed the importance of audio communications to ensure they are doing everything possible to be prepared if such an event should occur. When a crisis happens a campus security system must allow communications to the appropriate parties when it’s critical and time is of the essence.
At UTSA all AlphaCom exchanges are in the process of being upgraded to the latest VoIP technology – STENTOFON® AlphaCom. The AlphaCom will connect to the university’s IP network and allow for future expansion possibilities. The STENTOFON IP communication solution is an integrated audio platform that provides voice, image and data links by using standard Ethernet network architecture allowing integration of all streams into one cohesive solution. The system employs standard VoIP protocols for audio encoding and control, and utilizes standard TCP/IP protocols for video and data transmissions, providing an area-wide network or broadcast and communication system. It is possible for external data systems to provide ASCII data commands or contact closures to the AlphaCom to start the same sequence of events as explained above. Additional features such as standard intercom calls, archive logging of events and real time audio announcements are just a few of the many standard features offered in the AlphaCom intercom system.