GOVERNMENT FUNDING BOOSTS INTERNET CAPABILITY FOR ST. PETER'S COLLEGE

The Government of Saskatchewan has provided $200,000 to upgrade the Internet connectivity at St. Peter's College to increase the bandwidth available to the college and provide better and faster service to students, faculty and staff.

"The improvement in Internet connectivity will support Campus Saskatchewan at the college and will increase flexible learning opportunities by expanding online education and providing enhanced services for students and faculty," Advanced Education and Employment Minister Pat Atkinson said. "It signals our commitment to work with the province's post-secondary institutions to increase access and quality in post-secondary education and training by using technology."

The funding will provide:

• $120,000 to provide a 10 Mg line into the college; and

• $80,000 to provide for installation and additional equipment.

The college identified the need to upgrade from two existing high speed lines that they share with the St. Peter's community, to a 10 Mg line directly into the college that will more than double its available bandwidth.

This upgrade will enhance the capabilities of two units within the college, the Information Technology Unit and the Creativity in Technology Unit. The additional equipment included in the project will also allow the college to establish an Intranet, or internal network, for the campus.

"This contribution clearly recognizes the importance of connectivity in rural Saskatchewan and provides St. Peter's College with the increased capacity to enhance our academic program offerings in the years to come," college president Rob Harasymchuk said. "It will go a long way to equipping our students, faculty and the surrounding community with the necessary tools required to succeed in an increasingly 'wired' marketplace."

St. Peter's College is affiliated with the University of Saskatchewan, and is located in Muenster, Saskatchewan, approximately 118 km east of Saskatoon.

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For More Information, Contact:

Nelson Wagner Saskatchewan Learning Regina Phone: (306) 787-6040

Rob Harasymchuk St. Peter's College Muenster Phone: (306) 682-7850