CC* CIRA: Improving Cyberinfrastructure to Advance Research and Education (ICARE+) Addressing Montana's Digital Equity Gap

该规划项目支持蒙大拿大学、蒙大拿州部落学院和大学(TCU)和美国印第安人高等教育联盟共同努力，确定每个合作伙伴的具体网络基础设施需求，并确定受益于改善连接的科学研究项目。强大的高速网络连接提供对在线资源的访问、协作机会以及远程教学和学习的能力。来自蒙大拿大学系统、行业合作伙伴和其他基础设施专家的代表将参加一个研讨会，旨在确定改善TCU互联网连接的技术解决方案和成本。该项目将为蒙大拿州的部落学院和大学制定一项计划，以实现数字平等，即每个人都可以访问相同的在线资源，而不受地点或社会经济状况的影响。改进的互联网连接将使蒙大拿州的TCU能够扩大他们的研究和学术活动，同时加强他们作为首选机构的地位，吸引希望获得先进资源和服务的学生、教育工作者和研究人员。此外，规划过程有助于确定和促进机构和研究人员之间的合作机会，同时促进蒙大拿州制定全面的区域高等教育网络基础设施计划的能力。这一努力的结果是一个经过深思熟虑和设计的计划，用于确保资金，以解决蒙大拿州的数字股权差距。这项由高级网络基础设施办公室颁发的奖项由既定的激励竞争研究计划(EPSCoR)联合支持。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This planning project supports the University of Montana, Montana’s Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCU), and the American Indian Higher Education Consortium to work together to identify each partner’s specific cyberinfrastructure need and to identify the scientific research projects that benefit from improved connectivity. Robust, high-speed network connections provide access to online resources, opportunities for collaboration, and the ability to teach and learn at a distance. Representatives from the Montana University System, industry partners, and other infrastructure experts will join the effort by attending a workshop aimed at identifying technical solutions and costs for improving TCU Internet connectivity. The project will create a plan for Montana’s Tribal Colleges and Universities to achieve digital equity in which everyone has access to the same online resources regardless of location or socioeconomic situation. The improved Internet connectivity will enable Montana's TCUs to expand their research and academic activities while strengthening their position as institutions of choice, attracting students, educators, and researchers expecting access to advanced resources and services. In addition, the planning process is helping to identify and facilitate opportunities for collaborations between institutions and researchers while furthering Montana’s ability to develop a comprehensive regional higher-education Cyberinfrastructure Plan. The outcome of this effort is a well thought-out and designed plan to be used for securing funding to address Montana’s digital equity gap.This award by the Office of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure is jointly supported by the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR).This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.