EASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY RECEIVES FUNDS FOR TECHNOLOGY IMPROVEMENTS

SPRINGFIELD -- Governor George H. Ryan today announced that Eastern Illinois University will receive $441,400 for technology enhancements that will provide support for an updated curriculum.

"The technology improvements at Eastern Illinois University will help to make the Illinois Century Network a reality," Ryan said. "By linking education and training resources between universities, colleges, schools and libraries throughout the state, we can ensure the education our children receive is second to none."

Governor Ryan first proposed the Illinois Century Network last year to provide universal access to education and information resources in schools, homes, libraries and workplace. The network will enable businesses to engage in state-of-the-art training, allow schools to share faculty, and permit students to hear lectures and use materials housed at distant institutions. A wide range of information resources would be made available throughout the state.

Ryan said the funds made available today will be used to upgrade Eastern's network, including the construction of a communications backbone between administrative and classroom buildings. "The network is an integrated system that will provide improvements in network output rates for years to come," he said.