Project Title:
Increased broadband and IT careers for low-income rural Alaska Native and minority students
Funding Program:
Connecting Minority Communities Program
Project Purpose/Type:
The University of Alaska Fairbanks "Increased broadband and IT careers for low-income rural Alaska Native and minority students" project will address unreliable internet issues at rural Alaska campuses and benefit rural low-income minority students. The proposed project will impact postsecondary success by strengthening the educational capacity of the rural campuses, supporting new technical programs for rural low-income minority students, and supporting faculty and staff by the increased broadband capacity. The resulting investments will strengthen the entire University of Alaska as an institution.
City/Town/Service Area:
State(s):
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$2,976,837.00Funding Amount$2,976,837.00Total Project Cost0.00Non-Federal Cost Share
The University of Alaska Fairbanks proposes three projects which include: (1) broadband improvements at rural campuses, (2) increased capacity to manage rural networks, and (3) create an intern program for rural low-income minorities to enter IT careers. The first project will increase the broadband bandwidth at five rural Alaska campuses and two rural centers. New endpoint hardware will be installed, and capacity upgrades purchased from existing service providers. The second activity will increase the number of personnel to help manage the rural campus networks. A technology support technician will be hired to increase the capacity to manage the rural networks and a program coordinator will be hired to support the project. Finally, the third project will place four interns into entry-level paid IT positions to support local businesses.
As a result of implementing the proposed project activities, the following impacts and benefits will be realized: Build broadband and information technology (IT) capacity by doubling broadband capacity to each rural university; Support and enhance the existing remote learning programs offered by the University – programs that are currently inhibited by the lack of broadband; Build digital skills and IT workforce capacity by creating IT internships in rural communities that also support demands in local businesses.
The beneficiaries of this project will be the communities and low-income minority students in six rural campuses across Alaska. The following rural campuses will receive broadband upgrades, additional technical network management technical assistance, and an IT intern: Bristol Bay Campus, Chukchi Campus, Interior Alaska Campus, Kuskokwim Campus, Northwest Campus, and the Troth Yeddha’ Campus. This project will also conduct the same activities in the applicants surrounding anchor communities in Fairbanks, AK. These communities are both located in the Fairbanks North Star Borough. Broadband upgrades to each campus will double upload/download capacity for each connection.
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. Details of community involvement are described below.