Source: LSU Department of Communications & University Relations
BATON ROUGE – LSU joined with the 11 other Southeastern Conference institutions in the launch of the SEC Academic Network, a Web site designed to promote academic endeavors of SEC universities using ESPN360.com technology.
“The SEC, through its relationship with ESPN, has provided LSU and its sister institutions with a powerful vehicle for telling the great stories of our universities,” said Michael Martin, LSU chancellor. “This new endeavor opens exposure opportunities for us that can reach parents and alumni across the nation and throughout the world.”
“The SEC Academic Network offers each of our member institutions the opportunity to gain exposure for academic programs through a partnership that has grown out of a traditionally athletics-related endeavor,” said LSU Director of Athletics Joe Alleva. “We are excited that the Academic Network will give us an opportunity to grow the LSU brand in a new and dynamic manner.”
The Academic Network, established by the SEC in partnership with ESPN and the member universities, will feature content from every institution ranging from research, innovation and economic development to community partnerships, civic engagement and service.
The Academic Network launch will include five videos from each SEC institution, and the schools will update and add more videos throughout the year. For the launch, the LSU page features videos on the following areas:
- The Center for Computation and Technology, or CCT, which uses high-speed networks and high-performance computing to benefit both industry and academia;
- The Louisiana Business & Technology Center, or LBTC, which supports existing small businesses and the development of new businesses, further expanding Louisiana’s economic development;
- A partnership between LSU students and China’s Hunan University to design a hotel within a cultural park in Hunan Province;
- INSPIRE, an LSU summer camp in robotics for students in Grades 6-12, encouraging an interest in computer science and technology;
- LSU’s Marybeth Lima and biological engineering students designing and building school and community playgrounds.
“The commitment to highlight the accomplishments of SEC member institution academic programs was a key component of our new television agreements,” said SEC Commissioner Mike Slive. “We are grateful to ESPN for providing our institutions this technology, which had previously been utilized exclusively for athletic events.”
The Web site is available at www.secacademicnetwork.com.
“This network will provide our 12 institutions with the ability to create and distribute academic and other non-athletic programming throughout the world on a regular and full-time basis,” said Slive.
On the Web site, each institution has its own page that includes videos categorized by topic. Alumni, fans and students worldwide now have the ability in one place to learn more about SEC academics through video features that are posted by the league institutions.
The Academic Network is a component of the SEC’s 15-year television package with ESPN, which is the most comprehensive in the history of intercollegiate athletics. Also part of ESPN’s commitment to SEC academic programs will be the production of an annual Campus Connection telecast at each SEC institution, in which students take part in the production; telecasts of two programs annually dedicated to the academic accomplishments of SEC student-athletes; a weekly academic feature segment on ESPNU’s SEC show; and selection of one undergraduate student from every SEC institution to participate in ESPN’s summer internship program.
Publish Date:
08-28-2009
