ALBUQUERQUE, NM, December 10, 2015 – USDA Rural Development State Director Terry Brunner was in Las Vegas, New Mexico earlier today to present a certificate of obligation to the president of New Mexico Highlands University. The funding received by Highlands will expand educational opportunities for Navajo Nation residents through the installation of a distance learning system at six of Diné College's locations in Arizona and New Mexico. Diné College is a two-year, tribally controlled community college, serving the Navajo Nation.
While making the presentation, Brunner said, "This funding will help pay for the technology to allow students on the Navajo Nation to access advanced classes offered by Highlands University hundreds of miles away." He added, "Because of the partnership between the two colleges and our financial support students on the Navajo Nation will have the opportunity to expand their education."
USDA Rural Development is providing $438,715 through the Distance Learning Telemedicine (DLT) program to help pay for the installation of telecommunication equipment. After the equipment is installed it will allow students on the Navajo Reservation access to both Bachelors and Masters level coursework in Fine Arts in Media Arts/Cultural Technology. Students will also be able to access classes in Media Arts and Computer Science.
The courses will be accessed at Dine College's main campus in Tsaile, Arizona and five other hub/end-users sites in Arizona and New Mexico. The program will be delivered via custom integrated interactive video conferencing classrooms at the hub sites and at each end user site. A capture server for recording and archiving video content will also be placed at Diné College.
The Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Program provides both educational and healthcare opportunities in rural communities through grants. The focus of the program is on using the unique capabilities of telecommunications technology to connect rural areas to each other and to the world, thus overcoming the effects of remoteness and low population density.
