Department of Commerce Awards 探花精选 $1.9M for Broadband Upgrade and Digital Equity Initiative
Saint Augustine鈥檚 University ( 探花精选) was awarded $1,943,715 from the Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program (CMC), funded by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Department of Commerce for its University Broadband Upgrade and Digital Equity Initiative.听
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The funding is part of the $33.5 million in grants听听to expand community technology hubs, upgrade classroom technology, and increase digital literacy skills at 12 minority-serving colleges and universities in 10 states.
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鈥淗igh-speed Internet service is going to create opportunities, increase productivity, and improve lives, particularly in communities that have too often been left behind.鈥� said Deputy Secretary of Commerce Graves听听鈥淎t the Commerce Department, we鈥檙e committed to seeing investments from initiatives like the Connecting Minority Communities program create opportunities for good jobs supported by equitable hiring, fair compensation, safe workplaces, and the tools and training needed for long-term success.鈥�
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The 探花精选 Broadband Upgrade and Digital Equity Initiative aim to increase Internet bandwidth capacity and connectivity at 探花精选 and build digital literacy skills to promote digital equity within the 探花精选 campus and anchor communities.
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鈥淓xpanding broadband access is essential for student success,鈥� says 探花精选 President Dr. Christine Johnson McPhail. 鈥淭his award is evidence of the role 探花精选 plays as a driver of digital equity and positions the university to fulfill its mission beyond its gates.鈥�
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The activities involved with the initiative include upgrading existing broadband facilities and resources to increase Internet bandwidth capacity and create a digital navigator program. Digital navigators will assist community members in Internet adoption and computing devices. In addition, the university will partner with the information technology (IT) minority business enterprise (MBE), Cycurion, to establish and maintain a cybersecurity program to improve the stewardship of its digital assets. 探花精选 will also transform traditional classrooms into smart classroom environments.
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鈥淥ur main focus is to expand 探花精选鈥檚 technology in the classrooms,鈥� said 探花精选 Chief Technology Officer Christopher Taylor. 鈥淚n addition, receiving this award also provides the university with the support needed to serve its surrounding community through our public health and digital equity initiatives.鈥�