Tag: $2.2 million grant

Classroom technology upgrades underway in Metz Hall 

Six classrooms in Metz Hall have been fitted with state-of-the-art technology upgrades in a campus project funded through a $2.2 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).

These rooms have been enhanced with LED projectors, ceiling speakers and microphones, along with wireless display adapters. The Connecting Minority Communities grant will fund technology upgrades for additional classrooms in Metz, Main, the Sueltenfuss Library, Pacelli Hall and the Fine Arts and Humanity Building.

The upgraded rooms in Metz feature 75-inch Secondary LCD Samsung displays, electric height adjustable teaching podiums, room cameras and document cameras.

“The new technology will allow remote and distance learning students to see and interact with classmates and instructors, creating a sense of inclusion and community,” said Vanessa Clark, PhD, Associate Professor of Computer Information Systems. “Reducing equity gaps that tend to exist between remote and in-person students.”

Project Manager and Director of User Experience at OLLU, Al Ramirez, says he hopes the project will be completed by the start of the spring semester. 

OLLU receives $2.2 million grant for technology upgrades, improvements

OLLU has received $2,246,173 through a Connecting Minority Communities grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Telecommunications and Information Administration.

OLLU will use grant funds to:

• Upgrade AV and videoconferencing capabilities in classrooms to enable remote and distance learning students to connect in a way that has never before been possible;

• Utilize lightboards and document cameras to facilitate remote education and improve the student learning experience;

• Leverage virtual machine technology to provide remote students with access to software and other resources typically provided to students via on-campus computer labs and;

• Evaluate and create engaging, online course content across disciplines to make courses available remotely while supporting student success;

• Provide mobile hotspots to facilitate student participation in education instruction and learning; and

• Provide technology support and training to faculty on how to make full use of upgraded software/technology.

“We are very excited to be recipients of this grant. It will allow OLLU to provide a state-of-the-art remote experience for students, faculty, and staff; and will allow us to leverage resources to further connect with our community,” said Dr. Vanessa Clark, Department Chair and Associate Professor of Computer Information Systems and Security and the grant project director.

The co-grant project director is Dr. Ahmad Al-Omari, Assistant Professor of Computer Information Systems and Security.

Through this project OLLU aims to improve and expand educational instruction and remote learning opportunities; build the digital capacity of the university, and increase broadband access, adoption, and digital skills of the university and community.