JSU receives grant

Jacksonville State University learned Tuesday that it will receive a $3.18 million federal grant to develop new teaching techniques and expand the use of technology at the university.

Nearly 500 colleges and universities applied for the funding, but U.S. Department of Education divided a total of $75 million among 24 institutions from across the nation, . JSU is the only Alabama institution to receive what’s called a “First in the World” grant. The money was made available to support colleges and universities that are making college degrees more attainable by making them more affordable.

the First in the World Grant is part of President Obama’s agenda to get more students into the nation’s colleges and to have more of them leave with a degree.

JSU will use its portion of the money to expand a JSU program called Fast Forward, designed to help professors and students integrate technology into the classroom.  JSU will buy some iPads for students, equip classroom spaces with a wider range of technology, and fund a study to measure the effectiveness of Fast Forward.