CC* Regional: LEARN Extending & Accelerating Participation in Science (Texas LEAPS)

Learn: Lonestar Education And Research Network, Mckinney TX

Investigators

Abstract

This award is funded in whole or in part under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117-2). Higher education institutions at all levels rely on Cyberinfrastructure (CI) to provide environments for teaching and learning. For smaller institutions, having access to advanced CI can enrich the opportunities for teaching and learning, while presenting new opportunities for programs that rely on external information and service resources. The counterpoint is that sophisticated technology and the expertise to manage that technology are challenges for small colleges; however, these challenges in part can be met by state, regional and national organizations specializing in these technologies that can assist small colleges to access state-of-the-art technology and expertise. Lonestar Education and Research Network (LEARN) is further developing and expanding its model program (LEARN Smaller Institution CI Program) for regional network connectivity for small campuses in Texas. A set of three campuses – Texarkana College, Trinity Valley Community College, and Texas Lutheran University - are taking part in this project to receive: • Advanced network services and gigabit connectivity, • Expertise to manage these technologies, • Training and assistance to effectively adopt and use the technologies, and • A community of similarly engaged scholars and administrators. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.