Internet 2 at Lewis and Clark
LC Press Release

 Nicole Warren Surfs the internet in the Reid Memorial Library Computer Lab.

LC students and faculty will soon have access to some of the most advanced research from more than 190 U.S. universities as a new participant of Internet2.
  As a member of the Illinois Century Network, Lewis and Clark Community College has become a Sponsored Education Group Participant (SEGP), earning approval to connect to the Internet2 Abilene Research Network. Internet2 is a not-for-profit consortium, led by more than 190 U.S. universities, working in partnership with industry and government to develop and deploy advanced network applications and technology, accelerating the creation of the next generation of the Internet.
  The overall goal of the SEGP program is to bring Internet2 member institutions, primary and secondary schools, colleges and universities, libraries and museums together to collaborate on new technologies for advancing education, and to provide these technologies to innovators, across all educational sectors in the U.S., as quickly and connectedly as possible.
  “Access to Internet2 will provide Lewis and Clark faculty members and their students with educational and research opportunities previously available only to larger research institutions,” LC Chief Technology Officer Mike Mueller said. “Theoretically, this access to research information from more than 190 colleges and universities will help to enhance the curricula of Lewis and Clark.”
  Internet2 is not a separate network and will not replace the Internet. Instead, Internet2 is being utilized to unite institutions and resources from academia, industry and government to develop new technologies and capabilities that can then be deployed in the global Internet. Close collaboration with Internet2 corporate members will ensure that new applications and technologies are rapidly deployed throughout the Internet.
  The primary goals of Internet2 are to create a leading edge network capability for the national research community, enable revolutionary Internet applications, and ensure the rapid transfer of new network services and applications to the broader Internet community.
  The Illinois Century Network, or ICN, is a telecommunications backbone providing high-speed access to data, video, and audio communication in schools and libraries, at colleges and universities, to public libraries and museums, and for local government and state agencies.)
  For more information about Internet2, log on to www.Internet2.edu.

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SBC Awards
Tech Grant to LC
LC Press Release

LC Associate Professor Bill Fink, Dean of Applied Technology and Business Mary Hales, SBC Ameritech Director of External Affairs Walter Hickey and Congressman John Shimkus work with LC student Sharyn Janssen of Bunker Hill

 The SBC Foundation has awarded Lewis and Clark
Community College a grant of $40,000 through its SBC Excelerator competitive grants program. The SBC program is designed to help community-based organizations committed to building digital connections to underserved populations.
Lewis and Clark will use the grant money to offer free, non-credit courses on essential computer skills to those underserved by digital technology through its five Community Education Centers in White Hall, Carlinville, Bethalto, Jerseyville and Edwardsville. All CEC’s are supported with the computer labs and necessary equipment to provide these free classes to residents of the college’s district.
   Courses that will be offered include keyboarding, basic word processing, Power Point, an introduction to the Internet, essentials of electronic mail, and how to e-mail photos and cards. College faculty from the Academic Information Technology Department will develop and teach these courses, which will be announced through college publications.
   “Lewis and Clark has taken action to help eliminate the digital divide, which exists in rural areas and areas that are stricken with low incomes,” Lewis and Clark President Dale Chapman said. “Our initiative to bridge that divide started last year when we established community technology centers throughout the college’s district to provide similar programs to underserved residents, which include the elderly, rural and low-income populations throughout the district. This grant will help us further our initiative to introduce those individuals to basic computer training at no charge, so that no one is left behind when it comes to technology.”
   The SBC Excelerator has awarded $1.7 million to regional grant recipients throughout Illinois to support programs that use technology to improve education and community development. Almost 90 community-based organizations throughout the state were awarded SBC Excelerator grants to improve technology access, education and workforce development.
   “We have developed SBC Excelerator to assist organizations like Lewis and Clark and its Community Education Centers in building thriving, connected communities,” Walter Hickey, director of external affairs for SBC Ameritech Illinois, said. “With these funds, we know Lewis and Clark can help increase technology capacity, joining people and communities to each other now and well into the future.”
   Congressman John Shimkus, who has taken a special interest in the continued development of education programs involved in closing the digital divide, expressed his elation over SBC’s award to Lewis and Clark.
   “Lewis and Clark has always been a leader in providing services and programs for underprivileged and underserved residents, so it is fitting that SBC select Lewis and Clark to help further carry out this mission,” Shimkus said. “Both the college and SBC are leaders in their field, and it is great to see them partnered in this venture to help provide education and communication throughout the community.”
   Associate Professor Bill Fink, who will design and coordinate the class offerings, said the courses will be designed with the new computer user in mind. “These classes will move at a very slow pace, and should not be intimidating even to the most novice computer user,” Fink said. “We want to help those who have little or no experience with computers overcome their fears and nervousness when it comes to dealing with new technology, and to help them realize the important role that computers play in our daily lives.” 

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