Designing scalable network architectures for state universities and colleges (SUCS): A longitudinal case study of Sorsogon State College Bulan campus (2018–2025)

Introduction: The modernization of infrastructure within State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) in the Philippines is a critical mandate for national development, yet it is frequently hampered by budgetary constraints and the rapid rate of technological obsolescence. As noted by Abaidulla (2022), the post-pandemic landscape has forced SUCs to pivot toward digital-first priorities, though rural campuses still struggle with a widening "digital divide". In the Bicol region, this divide is exacerbated by geographical and socio-economic hurdles that limit broadband penetration (Bongalos-Perez, 2021). The Sorsogon State University (formerly SSC) Bulan Campus represents a critical ICT education hub, yet its physical expansion historically outpaced its technological backbone. This study treats the 2018 proposal as a baseline to determine how architecture can remain relevant despite hardware obsolescence, aligning with the CHED (2024) Strategic Framework for Smart Campus Development.
Objective: This study presents a longitudinal analysis of the network infrastructure planning process for the Sorsogon State College (SSC) Bulan Campus. It utilizes a baseline network design proposal developed in 2018 as a historical case study, re-validating its architectural principles against the evolved "Smart Campus" standards of 2025. 
Methods: The research employed a descriptive-developmental approach. Phase one involved a rigorous 2018 baseline assessment via ocular inspections and stakeholder interviews, which revealed a fragmented, "island-based" topology with no centralized connectivity. Phase two involved the design of a Three-Layer Hierarchical Network Model (Core, Distribution, Access) to unify the campus. Phase three, conducted in the present day, applied a comparative gap analysis to assess the design’s longevity. 
Results: The 2018 proposed architecture successfully consolidated independent workstations into a unified Campus Area Network (CAN), utilizing VLAN segmentation to secure administrative data and centralized server architecture to eliminate peer-to-peer inefficiencies. However, the retrospective analysis indicates that while the hierarchical topology remains valid, the specific hardware specifications (Cisco 4500x/3560x) and reliance on wired connectivity are insufficient for the high-bandwidth, mobile-first demands of 2025. 
Limitations: The study delineates the boundaries between logical simulation and physical throughput, acknowledging the constraints of the Packet Tracer environment used for the topological validation. 
Conclusion: The study concludes that sustainable IT planning in SUCs must shift from purely hardware-centric procurement to modular, framework-based designs. While hardware reaches end-of-life status within 5-7 years, a robust hierarchical framework provides the necessary agility to integrate emerging technologies such as Wi-Fi 6 and Zero Trust security without requiring complete infrastructural overhaul.