Project Title:
Hiring Personnel to expand NICC's reach in tribal communities.
Funding Program:
Connecting Minority Communities Program
Project Purpose/Type:
Nebraska Indian Community College (NICC)’s Tribal Broadband Wireless Expansion project aims to bridge the digital divide for its students, the majority of whom are Native American. The emphasis of this project is to hire the professionals needed to facilitate the college’s major technology shift to online classes and remote coursework. NICC plans to provide laptops to all students and invest in equipment that augments the build-out of their 2.5Ghz network.
City/Town/Service Area:
State(s):
-
$2,938,816.00Funding Amount$2,938,816.00Total Project Cost0.00Non-Federal Cost Share
The Nebraska Indian Community College Tribal Broadband Wireless Expansion project has four main components: (1) hiring four key staff (Project Director, Technology Educator, Data Consultant, and IT personnel) to significantly expand the school Information Technology department (2) increasing cybersecurity on campus; (3) obtaining and distributing laptops and hotspots for students and for select in-need community stakeholders; and (4) purchasing software for improved distance learning. This includes building a One Button Studio (OBS) for each campus - a simplified recording studio that gives users the ability to create a high-quality video recording.
The implementation of the project with help bring distance learning to more NICC students will get them closer to higher education, better paying jobs, and better quality of life. Anchor community services will bring broadband to residents that have very little access to high-quality broadband, giving them access to NICC programs and other capabilities available through broadband.
Students, faculty, and staff at Nebraska Indian Community College's four campuses in Macy, Santee, and South Sioux City, Nebraska and Pawnee Nation College, Oklahoma will benefit from improved technology and additional professional support. Additionally, students will be provided broadband access through laptops and wireless hotspots. Teachers and faculty will benefit from training in cybersecurity and distance learning software. Dual-enrollment high-school students in area schools will also benefit from the program.
The recipient does not intend to subaward funds.
The applicant does not fund a consortia. The applicant’s activities do occur in the surrounding anchor communities.