FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 12, 2002
CONTACT: Ginger Hall Carnes, Palo Alto College Dir. of Community and Public Relations
gcarnes@accd.edu
Palo Alto College Distance Learning Grant To Benefit Rural Communities
Palo Alto College has been awarded a $257,760 federal grant that will provide distance learning to three rural high
schools and their communities.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Office of Rural Utilities Service awarded the grant
under its Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant and Loan program. The grant was officially presented to PAC President
Ana M. "Cha" Guzman by Bryan Daniel, state director of USDA Rural Development at a press conference.
"This award creates
a tremendous opportunity for us to reach hundreds of rural residents and improve their quality of life," Guzman said.
"The long-term benefits will be substantive to the community because everybody wins when colleges commit to serving all
residents in every community."
The grant will help close the technological gap in rural communities in South Central
Texas and help address literacy and educational attainment.
The three participating rural high schools are Falls City
High School in Karnes County, Marion High School in Guadalupe County and McMullen County High School in McMullen County.
Each site will receive a technology package totaling $51,920, which includes a network server, interactive video unit,
desktop computers, web cams, flatbed scanner, laser printer, data projector Smart Board and other hardware and software,
according to Gary Shelman, director of information and communication technology at PAC.
PAC will serve as a hub. Each
high school will have full access to the college's resources, including tutoring, academic advising, financial aid,
counseling and transfer advisement. The grant will also allow high school students to receive college credit and community
members to access continuing education opportunities.
"This equipment will enhance the capabilities of courses between
the colleges and schools," said Frank Franklin, McMullen County ISD superintendent. It will also allow high school teachers
in the rural areas to instruct students at other high schools through interactive video.
Pat Startz, technology director
for Falls City ISD, said the high school students are taking the classes simultaneously with PAC students through distance
learning and earning high school and college credit at the same time. "This will give us more up-to-date telecommunications
technology and better feeds so we can possibly offer more classes," she said. Some students are graduating from high school
with 15 to 21 college credit hours, Startz added.
John Snowdy, Marion High School principal, said all dual credit courses
are currently taught by their teachers or those sent by PAC. "This will give us distance learning capabilities and will
greatly enhance dual credit opportunities," he said. Instead of requiring 15 students sitting in a classroom, Marion
students can join others through an interactive video classroom to earn college credit.
PAC will be able to support
approximately 275 dual credit students and community members per year from rural high schools. The project is expected
to begin in early 2003.