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Posted: 11/07/02

TAMIU Receives Federal DLT Grant of $497,000

 

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Texas A&M International University has been notified of its selection to receive a $497,000 grant from the Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Grant and Loan Program of the United States Department of Agriculture, Rural Development.

The TAMIU proposal was among 166 that competed for $27.1 million in awards. Selected proposals are intended to provide rural America with the advanced telecommunications services needed to increase educational opportunities in the underserved areas of South Texas.

Tiffany Ornes, distance education program manager, said the grants will help the University to offer live college courses to people in eight counties through an interactive video network.

"This is important for people that don't have the ability to attend college because of lack of funds or driving distance issues. Our program seeks to offer people all of South Texas the opportunity to obtain an advanced degree for which they would otherwise not have access," Ornes said.

She said the grant will make available specialized video conferencing equipment.

"Specifically, this grant will provide video conferencing equipment to high schools throughout South Texas so they will be able to receive live University courses. In addition, we are attempting to obtain course enhancers that will enable instructors to build highly intereactive classes that are accompanied with electronic examples and strong visual aids," she added.

The University's distance education program has recently been the recipient of multiple awards including a shared Discovery 5 award with Texas A&M University-Kingsville for $500,000 from the state's Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund (TIF) Board, and an additional $815,490 TIF Discovery Grant to expand services with an Enhanced Video Network.

For more information, please contact Ornes at the TAMIU Office of Distance Education at 326.2791, visit offices in the Western Hemispheric Trade Center 215B or email distance@tamiu.edu.

University office hours are 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

 


Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Affairs and Information Services at pais@tamiu.edu