Satellite Dish and Solar Panels Installed at Campuses

(From left) Chris Gilmente , COM-FSM IT, Bruce Best, UOG, MackRonald Nedlic, COM-FSM IT and VPCRE Jim Currie installing the satellite dish on the roof of the Administration Bldg. at National Campus.

(Kolonia, Pohnpei) - Two projects under a Distance Education grant were completed the week of August 5-9, 2013 at the National and Pohnpei campuses. The projects were made possible through a Caribbean and Pacific Consortium (CARIPAC) grant managed by the Office of Cooperative Research and Extension.

The installation of satellite dishes at each campus will connect each campus to the Rural Internet Connectivity System (RICS satellite system). This link will serve as a supplement to existing campus internet connectivity as well as potentially a backup connection in the event of a disaster or disconnection to the primary connection for each state.   

The installed solar panels will serve as charging stations for student devices at each campus. Both initiatives are in support of developing distance education options for the college.

Kosrae campus saw the completion of the install the week of August 12-16, 2013. Prior to the installations on the island of Pohnpei, installation at Chuuk campus were completed. Installations at Yap campus will follow shortly.

The installations were spearheaded by Bruce Best of the University of Guam, VPCRE Jim Currie with the assistance of IT and maintenance personnel from the college and volunteer Robert Currie.