University Communications
St. Mary's University
One Camino Santa Maria
San Antonio, Texas 78228

Lucha Ramey
Media Relations Director
ph: (210) 436-3327
fx: (210) 436-3711
lramey@stmarytx.edu

Print Version

AT&T Foundation Grants St. Mary´s $250,000 for Technology and Modernization

Date: 2006-09-26     Author: Gina Farrell

The AT&T Foundation has awarded St. Mary’s University a $250,000 grant that will be used to update classroom and distance-learning technology, as well as assist with efforts to modernize historic St. Louis Hall.

Of the grant, $150,000 will purchase an upgrade of the university’s web-based software system, which is used to facilitate and enhance both classroom and distance learning. The remainder will be directed to St. Louis Hall renovations and modernizations.

“The mission of St. Mary’s is to educate and develop the next generation of outstanding civic and business leaders. To do that, we must be at the cutting edge of educational technology,” said Charles L. Cotrell, Ph.D., president of St. Mary’s University. “This grant from the AT&T Foundation will allow us to help do that by updating our current system in order to place the most advanced educational tools possible into the hands of our faculty, staff and students. We appreciate the Foundation’s support for both of these vital projects.”

“We at AT&T know that it is very important to be on top of the latest technological advances in order to stay competitive in both the academic and business environments today,” said Jim Callaway, AT&T senior executive vice president, business development. “These enhancements will help to ensure a better learning environment for students and give St. Mary’s University the tools it needs to maintain its reputation as one of the premier institutions in the state.”

The Blackboard system offers faculty online course management, communication and collaboration. It is the foundation of all online and distance learning efforts at St. Mary’s, as well as a majority of on-campus courses. Faculty use Blackboard to post announcements, course information and documents, assignments, online tests and surveys and to create active learning communities before and after classes. Because it is web-based, students are able to access the system any time of day from any Internet connection.