(CENTREVILLE) – Glen Oaks Community College has received federal money to do updates to their distance learning model.

During a special ceremony Tuesday morning, Glen Oaks President Dr. David Devier announced that the school received a $900,000 grant that will be used to implement a safe, effective and cost-efficient distance learning model for all Glen Oaks students, with an emphasis on high school dual-enrolled students.

Over the years, Glen Oaks has done updates in cabling and fiber, but much of that was aging. Robert Kuhlman, Glen Oaks Director of Institutional Innovation, spoke during the ceremony saying when the school found out they were receiving this grant, where they started looking first to see what needed to be done. ...... {LISTEN}.

Kuhlman shares what kind of equipment will be purchased for use at Glen Oaks for distance learning classes. ...... {LISTEN}.

Each school district in St. Joseph County, along with Bronson Schools and Union City Schools in Branch County, will also have classrooms set up with equipment purchased by Glen Oaks. That way students will not have to drive to Glen Oaks for dual enrollment classes.

Kuhlman says many years ago fiber was laid between Glen Oaks and the St. Joseph County ISD, but it’s been dark because there was no use for it at that time. Kuhlman says that fiber will be connected and activated which will enhance the streaming to the local school districts.

There will be training for instructors at Glen Oaks and the local school districts to show them how to use the equipment.

The plan is to start bidding on the project this fall with installation beginning in early 2023. The hope is to offer the first set of synchronous dual enrollment courses in the Fall Semester of 2023.