UAF awarded USDA grant for technology updates

March 15, 2021

University Relations

UAF's Office of Information Technology was awarded a $733,518 grant from the USDA Rural Utilities Distant Learning and Telemedicine program. The program provides much-needed infrastructure or infrastructure improvements to rural communities, which helps to expand economic opportunities and seeks to improve the quality of life for rural residents. This competitive award  will fund technology upgrades to better support distance education between UAF's rural campuses, the Community and Technical College and the Troth Yeddha’ campus in Fairbanks.

The OIT learning spaces team, led by principal investigator Kel Gitter, developed the proposal in partnership with CRCD, CTC and Troth Yeddha’ leadership, and was supported by the OIT Business Office and Office of Grants and Contracts.

Over the next three years, the grant will fund the replacement of outdated technology that enables distance delivery including new displays, webcams, microphones and computers for classrooms. This investment will help modernize the student learning  experience between the Chukchi, Kuskokwim, Northwest, Bristol Bay, CTC and Troth Yeddha’ campuses.

For more information, contact Kel Gitter at klgitter@alaska.edu.