The MnSCU Office of Instructional Technology consulted with the Academic Software Systems Steering Committee and members of the Office of the Chancellor to establish a system-wide site license for the unlimited use of Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (ESRI) Geographical Information Systems (GIS). This license was established in October 2002 and provides access to all first-party ESRI products. These products can be used for research, instruction and administration by all faculty, registered students and administrative staff.
The ESRI site license grants unlimited use of these programs for internal use at every MnSCU institution.
Geography Matters to Higher Education:
"GIS technology is one of the hottest new research tools in academia today and one of the fastest growing high-tech careers for students. GIS technology provides powerful tools for geographic analysis for almost any academic discipline. A GIS allows students and researchers to ask and answer geographic questions by designing and analyzing maps using user-selected criteria."
Conclusions:
The Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) Geographical Information Systems (GIS) site license provides invaluable tools for students, faculty, staff, and administrators throughout Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.
These flexible technology tools can be used in unlimited applications and have the potential to enrich the education of all MnSCU students. These tools will provide students with geo-spatial awareness and the ability to map, analyze, and solve real-world problems. This site license can also be employed to facilitate new and unimagined partnerships with business, industry and government.
Successfully integrating these technology tools into academics and strategic planning will to demonstrate future-oriented technology vision and leadership and will help to shape Minnesota's future.
MnSCU Contact:
Scott Wojtanowski, System Director of Academic Technology
Minnesota State Colleges & Universities
Phone: 651-201-1812
e-mail: Scott.Wojtanowski@minnstate.edu
Last update 3/25/2016 KB
