Benefits of The Learning Network

The Learning Network has many advantages for Minnesota's college students and campuses.

• The Learning Network's primary application is the offering of credit courses via web-based instruction and interactive video.
  Over 1000 college courses are offered over the Learning Network each year. Distance education gives college students the opportunity to take course offered by other campuses and enables more high school students to take advantage of post-secondary enrollment options. In addition, colleges and universities rely on the Network to collaborate on degree programs in areas such as nursing, criminal justice, business, social work, education and agriculture.

• The Learning Network gives campuses access to Internet2.
  Internet2 is a consortium of 200 universities working in partnership with industry and government to develop and deploy advanced network applications and technologies. Internet2 enables students, faculty, and other researchers to collaborate nationally and internationally at a much higher level than is possible with the current Internet. An increasing number of research grants are predicated in part on access to Internet2.

• The Learning Network also serves as the infrastructure that supports administrative applications. This includes registration, fiscal services, and e-mail.

• In addition to their support for web-based learning and interactive video, the higher education telecommunications region provides value-added services.
  This includes faculty training, streaming media storage and distribution, and voice-over IP support - local and long distance telephone service via the Internet - that has resulted in significant cost savings for many campuses.

• Regions serve as places to introduce and implement innovative appplications, enabling adoption of these technologies statewide.

More Information

Accomplishments
and Outlook

Blueprint for Higher Education (PDF)

Map of Learning Network Regions (PDF)