October 17, 2007
For Immediate Release
For an interview:
Greg Jackson
(801) 863-8970
UVSC recently received two grants from the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program – totaling nearly $1 million – to go toward providing videoconferencing technology for Navajo Nation schools.
“These grants will provide much needed educational options to Navajo students and allow us to expand our growing Native American student enrollment programs,” said UVSC President William A. Sederburg.
Navajo Nation schools struggle to provide computer literacy skills to students and young adults due to low faculty populations, poverty, a lack of rural teleconferencing infrastructure and other educational barriers. The grants will provide Navajo Nation students with videoconferencing technology that will assist with computer literacy certification training, centralized health, concurrent enrollment, college preparatory courses and other governmental professional development offerings. These resources will be available to 81 chapter houses, schools and other prioritized training locations centers in 70 percent of the Navajo Nation communities, which cover more than 27,000 square miles in Utah, Ariz. and N.M.
“The number one priority of this administration is education,” said Joe Shirley Jr., president of the Navajo Nation. “If we can’t afford to send our children to the best schools, then we must bring the best education to our children. This program brings hope to our people and helps our children learn to stand on their own two feet without having to leave our sacred lands.”
UVSC is partnering with Navajo Nation governmental departments, OnSat Native American Services and Certiport Inc. – the world leader in standards-based computer certification training. The technology includes TANDBERG videoconferencing units which have wireless capability, portability and connect to a wide range of display devices. This technology will integrate with existing technology infrastructure to provide access to these distance-learning opportunities. TANDBERG is a leader in providing visual communication technology to support distance learning.
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College Marketing Contact:
Megan Laurie
(801) 863-7149
Written by:
Scotty Spjut
(801) 863-7205