Southwestern one of 10 colleges nationwide to secure 'Distributed Learning' grant

SYLVA - A distance learning network that was ahead of its time back in 1993 is beginning a new era, thanks in part to a prestigious grant that was awarded to Southwestern Community College last month.

SCC and its Community Link partners throughout Jackson, Macon and Swain Counties and the Qualla Boundary were awarded one of only 10 "Distributed Learning" grants from Datatel, a Virginia-based company dedicated exclusively to providing advanced information management solutions for higher education. This is the first year that Datatel has ever awarded these types of grants, which were established to help colleges and universities enhance their distance learning networks.

The Community Link partnership, which brought Interactive Television (ITV) to SCC's service area eight years ago, is undergoing an upgrade that will allow all 13 of its sites to better serve the region. This new grant of $2,500 will help supplement the upgrade.

"We feel honored to be among the first in the nation to secure this grant funding," said SCC President Dr. Cecil Groves. "Our Community Link partnership and the Smoky Mountain Knowledge Network are playing a critical role in this region's future, and we're excited that sources like Datatel from outside our area are recognizing the importance of what we are doing."

Community Link is one part of the Smoky Mountain Knowledge Network (SMKN) - a larger initiative also being spearheaded by the College. The SMKN envisions bringing the latest in voice, data and video technologies to the region that will give network partners access to an integrated menu of services that no single partner could afford on its own.