Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) has received $2,246,173 through a Connecting Minority Communities grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Telecommunications and Information Administration.

OLLU will use grant funds to:

• Upgrade AV and videoconferencing capabilities in classrooms to enable remote and distance learning students to connect in a way that has never before been possible;
• Utilize lightboards and document cameras to facilitate remote education and improve the student learning experience;
• Leverage virtual machine technology to provide remote students with access to software and other resources typically provided to students via on-campus computer labs and;
• Evaluate and create engaging, online course content across disciplines to make courses available remotely while supporting student success;
• Provide mobile hotspots to facilitate student participation in education instruction and learning; and
• Provide technology support and training to faculty on how to make full use of upgraded software/technology. 

“We are very excited to be recipients of this grant. It will allow OLLU to provide a state-of-the-art remote experience for students, faculty, and staff; and will allow us to leverage resources to further connect with our community,” said Dr. Vanessa Clark, Department Chair and Associate Professor of Computer Information Systems and Security and the grant project director.

The co-grant project director is Dr. Ahmad Al-Omari, Assistant Professor of Computer Information Systems and Security.

Through this project OLLU aims to improve and expand educational instruction and remote learning opportunities; build the digital capacity of the university, and increase broadband access, adoption, and digital skills of the university and community.

“Investments in digital infrastructure are life-changing for our students and our West Side San Antonio community. The 78207 zip code, where OLLU sits, has the city’s lowest access to computers and broadband. This grant will help bridge that gap,” said President Abel A. Chávez, MBA, PhD.