When Ugur Akgun told his students to log online and Tweet questions during his lecture last week, he was disappointed to discover Van Allen Hall didn’t have wireless.

Frustrated, the assistant research scientist in physics went to Information Technology Services, asking officials to install wireless capability in the building.

Now, students should be tweeting by October.

The UI provides wireless service in 86 campus buildings, including 221 general-assignment classrooms. But that still leaves out Van Allen Hall and 70 other sites.

Officials say funding is the biggest reason the university isn’t fully connected. More than 1,200 access points are spread throughout the dozens of buildings with wireless, with each access point costing $1,600, including labor, maintenance, and installation fees.

In addition to student computing fees and departmental capital, the UI Telecommunication & Network Services funds the service’s installation in the general-assignment classrooms and common student areas, including lobbies and lounges in all residence halls.

“We focus our ITS funding on areas used by the largest population of students,” said Steve Troester, the UI manager of network services.

Aside from what Telecommunication & Network Services is required to fund, all university departments can pay to have service installed in their classrooms, administrative offices, laboratories, and faculty offices.

ITS has slowly expanded wireless access since the first Wi-Fi connection in 1999 in the English-Philosophy Building. A priority for this semester is trying to install access points throughout the Pentacrest lawn and Hubbard Park, as well as in Van Allen and Becker Communication Studies Building.

Some students said they find limited Internet access in outside areas inconvenient — particularly on the Pentacrest.

“I am frustrated that we can only get connections inside buildings,” said UI senior Andrea King. “I think it would be nice to have access on the Pentacrest because people sometimes like to do work outside.”

But it’s not so simple to install the service.

ITS staff members first examine floor plans to get an estimate of what access points are needed for installation. They then test each point with specialized equipment to find how much coverage is picked up within a certain amount of square feet.

While many students and faculty said they find the extensive process and funding worth having an Internet connection, some see Wi-Fi as a distraction to learning.

“Some students make great use of their laptops by taking notes, but unfortunately, some students get tempted and start using Facebook during class,” said Ken Brown, an associate professor of management and organization.

Universities across the nation are also spreading their Wi-Fi capabilities.

Michigan State University has wireless connections in 83 of its 132 buildings on campus, said communications manager Katherine Ball. And despite the $1 million annual fee the university pays to provide the service, officials still find it necessary.

“We should provide [wireless] access to students to the best of our ability to further education and learning,” Ball said.

Wireless access is primarily installed to ensure students and faculty at the UI receive good coverage in common and public spaces, Troester said.

“Our goal is to install wireless across campus wherever it is needed,” he said. “Placement and aesthetics of the access point are often concerns of the building occupants, but most are happy to have the service installed.”