Arkansas Northeastern College in Blytheville has joined the Arkansas Research and Education Optical Network, the state’s research and education network. The addition of ANC means that for the first time, every public higher education institution in Arkansas is a part of the network.
ARE-ON services will apply to the college’s main campus in Blytheville and to satellite campuses in Osceola and Leachville.
Founded to advance research, education and health care across Arkansas, ARE-ON provides member institutions with high-capacity network connectivity, access to Internet2 and other national research networks and collaborative community resources.
“For nearly 20 years, ARE-ON has been an important ally to educators in the Natural State,” said Elon Turner, executive director of ARE-ON. “Uniting every public institution of higher learning under one high-capacity network is not only a milestone for us, but also a win for education and research in Arkansas.”
ARE-ON serves as an extension of its member institutions’ IT teams, providing network services tailored to the needs of higher education and research rather than the commercial market.
The connection of ANC’s three campuses to ARE-ON’s statewide optical network gives the college access to the bandwidth and reliability required to support modern instructional technology, distance learning and shared resources with peer institutions. Through ARE-ON, ANC gains connectivity to Internet2, the national research and education network, as well as direct cloud connectivity to top-tier internet and AI service providers – the same infrastructure that Arkansas’ research universities depend on.
“Arkansas Northeastern College is committed to providing students, faculty, and staff with the reliable technology infrastructure necessary to support modern teaching, learning, and workforce development,” said Dr. Christopher Heigle, president of ANC. “Our partnership with Arkansas Research and Education Optical Network strengthens that commitment and helps ensure ANC remains positioned to meet the growing connectivity and data demands of higher education and industry. We appreciate the opportunity to partner with ARE-ON on this important initiative.”
The milestone of serving all public higher education institutions in Arkansas reflects a decade-plus effort by ARE-ON and its members to invest in technology capabilities that keep Arkansas institutions competitive nationally. ARE-ON now counts 45 member institutions across the state, a community that spans the University of Arkansas System, Arkansas State University System, independent state universities, community colleges and affiliated health care organizations.
Interested institutions and organizations can learn more about ARE-ON membership at www.areon.net.
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