NSU Receives Grant To Improve Education For Tribal, Low-Income Students

Northeastern State University in Tahlequah is one step closer to closing the digital divide for its students, thanks to a federal grant.

NSU-Tahlequah is one of 61 minority-serving colleges and universities to receive a grant through the Connecting Minority Communities pilot program. NSU president Steve Turner says 36% of its students are Native American and 66% live in rural areas.

"To be able to receive $2.9 million for an effort like this is a game changer," said Turner. "It will allow us to do things much quicker than we would have ever dreamed without this federal support."

He said the grant will help the university expand internet access to improve remote learning, train its IT staff, replace old technology in the library with 20 mobile zoom carts, provide internships to students, and train faculty in digital skills to increase online course availability.

Turner said the need for expanded broadband access became even more apparent during the pandemic. He said the university made its parking lots WIFI accessible, to give students a place to do their work without having to go inside a building.

"We live in a world now where everybody is connected, and they want to be connected in real-time and you should not be left out because of where you live with the advancements in technology," Turner added.

The expanded WIFI access points on campus will be focused in areas like the dorms and library.

The "Connecting Minority Communities" pilot program is part of the Biden administration's "Internet for All" initiative.