Grant to

aid rural

students

Money to help

online courses,

video conferences

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The ability for students to speak directly to college professors and to take online courses got a boost when the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced last week that a $482,791 Rural Development Distance Learning Grant will go to Minnesota Tele-Media.

Funds will be used for equipment and software to provide distance learning and telecommunications services for 11,136 students in 37 schools in southwestern and westcentral Minnesota.

Cities that will benefit from the grant include Sleepy Eye, Springfield, Comfrey, Hector, Brownton, Mountain Lake, and Lamberton.

Sleepy Eye Public School Superintendent Jay Haugen said the grant is good news for affected communities.

"We'll really get some good work done," Haugen said. "Communities can band together. I've been on this board for years and it's really good to work with."

Springfield Superintendent. Luther Heller said the grant will provide staff development opportunities for teachers to better utilize technology in the classroom and expand online classes.

"This will enable us to expand distance learning soon at a very reasonable cost," Heller said.

Minnesota Tele-Media includes Southwest Minnesota State University, Ridgewater College, Minnesota West Community and Technical College and the Southwest/West Central Service Cooperative.

Dan Baun, Minnesota Tele-Media Coordinator, said the grant will improve access to post-secondary education and adult basic education programming.

Money will be used to set up personal video conferences in K-12 schools.

The USDA Rural Development's mission is to deliver programs that will support increasing economic opportunity and improve the quality of life of rural residents.

As a venture capital entity, Rural Development provides equity and technical assistance to finance and foster growth in home ownership, business development, and critical community and technology infrastructure.

Further information on rural programs is available at a local USDA Rural Development office or by visiting USDA's web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov.

(Fritz Busch can be e-mailed at fbusch@nujournal.com).