UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND ES

Award purpose

PROJECT PURPOSE: UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE (UMES)'S "REBUILDING OUR DIGITAL ROAD: DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE RE-IMAGINING" PROJECT AIMS TO EXPAND BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS AND CONNECTIVITY TO CONNECT UMES'S DYNAMIC AND INNOVATIVE EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS WITH THE BROADBAND CAPACITY THAT WILL SUPPORT THEIR VALUE AS ROADS FOR STUDENTS AND PATRONS TO EXPAND CAREER PATHWAYS, EDUCATION, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ECONOMIC MOBILITY. ACTIVITIES:THE REBUILDING OUR DIGITAL ROAD: DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE RE-IMAGINING PROJECT CONSISTS OF THREE MAIN ACTIVITIES: (1) REBUILD AND REIMAGINE BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE TO EXPAND BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS AND CONNECTIVITY TO UMES RESIDENCE HALLS, STUDENT CENTERS, AND KEY STEM ACADEMIC BUILDINGS; (2) CONNECT ITS MOST DYNAMIC AND INNOVATIVE EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS WITH THE BROADBAND CAPACITY TO INCREASE THEIR VALUE AS ACCESS POINTS FOR STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO EXPANDED CAREER PATHWAYS AND ECONOMIC MOBILITY; AND (3) CUMULATIVELY ASSESS UMES'S SERVICE TO ITS STUDENTS (ON AND OFF CAMPUS), AND POSITION IN THE MARYLAND UNIVERSITY SYSTEM AND ANCHOR COMMUNITY IN RELATION TO ITS BROADBAND CAPACITY AND DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE. OUTCOMES:AS A RESULT OF THE EXPANDED BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS AND CONNECTIVITY, UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE WILL BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THE INCREASING DEMANDS FOR DATA TRANSMISSION AND OFFER A MORE RESPONSIVE DATA INFRASTRUCTURE FOR CAMPUS OPERATIONS AND A MORE EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT OF CLOUD-BASED SYSTEMS AND DATA. THE UNIVERSITY WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE CONVENIENT, EFFECTIVE, AND USER-FRIENDLY ACCESS FOR STUDENTS, FACULTY, ADMINISTRATIVE AND OTHER STAFF. AS A RESULT OF CONNECTING COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS, THE UNIVERSITY WILL BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY KEY PROGRAMS THAT CAN BEST BENEFIT FROM THE INCREASE CAPACITY AND EFFICIENCY OF THE REIMAGINED AND REBUILT DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE LEADING TO TRAINING OPPORTUNITY FOR UMES STAFF FROM THESE PROGRAMS. FINALLY, THE CUMULATIVE ASSESSMENT WILL RESULT IN BETTER UNDERSTANDING AND SOLUTIONS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF UMES'S STUDENTS AND ANCHOR COMMUNITY. BENEFICIARIES:THE REBUILDING OUR DIGITAL ROAD: DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE RE-IMAGINING PROJECT WILL BENEFIT UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE'S STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF AS WELL AS THE SURROUNDING ANCHOR COMMUNITY IN PRINCESS ANNE, MARYLAND. UPGRADES TO THE UMES NETWORK WILL INCREASE THE QUALITY OF CONNECTION FOR USERS. THROUGH THIS NETWORK UPGRADE, UMES WILL BE ABLE TO CLOSE THE GAP FOR DIGITAL DIVIDE AND BUILD ECONOMIC MOBILITY IN THE ANCHOR COMMUNITY. SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES:THE RECIPIENT DOES NOT INTEND TO SUBAWARD FUNDS.