Project Title:
Expanding Broadband Capacity at Red Lake Nation College
Funding Program:
Connecting Minority Communities Program
Project Purpose/Type:
The Red Lake Nation College (RLNC) Connecting Minority Communities project aims to upgrade broadband access, capacity, and skills for RLNC students, staff, and community members. The project has three main goals: (1) Support and expand RLNC broadband capacity and digital hardware and software to better facilitate educational instruction and learning; (2) Provide broadband access and digital devices to RLNC students to better facilitate learning; and (3) Enhance the digital and cybersecurity skills and capacity of RLNC IT staff, faculty, students, and community members.
City/Town/Service Area:
State(s):
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$1,924,280.00Funding Amount$1,924,280.00Total Project Cost0.00Non-Federal Cost Share
The Red Lake Nation College (RLNC) project will provide and upgrade on-site internet service and security, upgrade laptop and desktop computers, and increase learning software options at RLNC. The project will provide digital devices and broadband service plans for RLNC students to enable access on and off campus. The project will provide professional development and capacity building opportunities for RLNC IT staff, cybersecurity training for RLNC faculty, staff, and students, and drone training and certification for community members, including a youth drone camp.
Overall, this project will result in updates to the Red Lake Nation College campus buildings, devices, and software and staff and students better able to handle current digital and broadband educational needs. The college and its community will be better prepared for future innovations. Expected outcomes include uninterrupted online events, enhanced future-proof infrastructure, improved access to updated equipment, and ultimately improved delivery of courses and interactions with students.
RLNC students will have easier access to reliable devices for learning and assignments, and students will participate more in online components of learning. The IT staff professional development and RLNC staff cybersecurity training will result in more knowledgeable and skilled IT staff, better IT support and security for RLNC staff and students, and more secure personal and shared digital use and data at RLNC.
Participants in drone training and certification will become licensed drone pilots leading to a pool of local and regional community members with drone knowledge, certification, and contacts around the country.
Students, faculty, and staff of Red Lake Nation College will benefit from the broadband upgrades and improved access on campus, availability of devices and software, and professional development training. Community members on the Red Lake Nation Indian Reservation in Minnesota, where the college is located, will also benefit from the drone training opportunities.
The recipient does not intend to subaward funds.
The applicant does not fund a consortium. The applicant’s activities do not occur in the surrounding anchor communities. However, the project provides training to community members.