Community College Link to the Arizona Learning System

Communityi College Based Telecommunication Linkages Arizona Learning System
Mike Emerson
January 16, 1996

Arizona Learning Systems (ALS) is an alliance of Arizona's urban and rural community colleges whose purpose is to provide learner-centered education environments that are supported by a strong technological backbone. ALS is asking for $2.7 million for FY 98 to implement telecommunications technology and develop content. The ALS business plan projects self-sufficiency within three years. ALS strives to design a framework where:

Arizona community colleges will be able to import and export courses, certificates, and degrees across current district boundaries, thereby allowing students access to a significantly greater array of learning options then currently available in any given district.

Arizona community colleges will partner work K-12, Arizona's universities, private business, and related government agencies to consolidate the number of high speed telephone circuits among sites, resulting in dramatically reduced costs to support a state-wide telecommunications infrastructure. Agreements for sharing information technology resources will be forged, regulatory barriers removed and operating costs shared.

Arizona community colleges will contribute to state-wide economic development through expansion of information highway services and facilities to allow Arizonans to compete in the knowledge-worker or digital economy.

Mike Emerson, ALS Support
Computer Commons
Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ 85287       (602) 965-2986
emerson@asu.edu