USDA Rural Development South Dakota Acting State Director Bruce Jones announced today that Mount Marty College, Inc. has been selected to receive grant funds for the purchase of video conferencing equipment that will enhance the Master in Education curriculum provided to tribal colleges. USDA Rural Development Community Programs Director Tim Potts and Rural Utilities Service General Field Representative Patrick Hemen were on-site to present the award.
Jones shared that Mount Marty College, Inc. will receive $116,445 through USDA’s Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Program.
The DLT program is designed specifically to meet the educational and health care needs of Rural America. Through loans, grants and loan/grant combinations, advanced telecommunications technologies provide enhanced learning and health care opportunities for rural residents.
“This program delivers educational and medical opportunities that are needed in rural areas,” said Jones. “These funds will ensure that adequate resources are available to train future teachers or to provide professional development and training to current teachers on two South Dakota reservations including Pine Ridge and Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate.
The funding will be used to train current and future teachers, as well as provide professional development through distance learning instruction and assistance. The need for this project is underscored by the geographic location of the tribal schools as well as the need for qualified teachers in the region and state. Mount Marty College is working to develop partnerships that would connect Oglala Lakota, Roberts, and Yankton Counties in South Dakota.
“We are excited for the opportunity to partner with tribal schools in South Dakota,” said Dr. Debbi McCuin, Director of the Masters of Education program. “By providing resources and tools to teachers in these rural and high need areas, we hope to help meet the demand of highly qualified teachers in our state.”
Funding for this award is contingent upon the recipient meeting the terms of their grant agreement.
Since 2009, USDA Rural Development (@USDARD) has invested nearly $13 billion to start or expand nearly 112,000 rural businesses; helped 1.1 million rural residents buy homes; funded nearly 9,200 community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care facilities; and helped bring high-speed Internet access to nearly 6 million rural residents and businesses. USDA also has invested $31.3 billion in 963 electric projects that have financed more than 185,000 miles of transmission and distribution lines serving 4.6 million rural residents. For more information, visit www.usda.gov/results.