September 25, 2008 — The University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law announced today that it has received a $1.1 million grant from the Reece C. Anderson Trust to support the creation of the College’s new Reece C. Anderson Technology Facility.
“This very generous grant will allow the College of Law to further capture the power of technology as we strive to improve the human condition,” said Hiram E. Chodosh, dean of the College of Law. “This funding will enhance the College’s ability to solve problems, communicate, and share ideas.”
A portion of the $1.1 million grant will be used to develop hardware prototypes, including advanced teaching podiums, flatscreen displays and alert systems, and laptop networking systems. The funding will also be used to develop a prototype that integrates technology in student study carrels, as well as for prototyping a distributed library and state-of-the-art faculty labs that integrate both office and teaching functions. The College’s existing Display Alert Network (DAN) is currently being commercialized through a license from the University of Utah to a company called Akadi that the College of Law helped create. Chodosh anticipates that the grant will enable the College to develop and commercialize additional hard- and software.
The remainder of the grant will be used to advance the College of Law’s software development. Software will be designed to build community by connecting the College’s students, faculty, and staff with alumni, friends, and other audiences locally, nationally, and globally. In addition, the funding will be used to integrate the College’s existing software into a series of virtual learning services that include new content development, Socratic instruction, student engagement, outcome assessment, and professional development through student portfolios.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Reece C. Anderson Trust for this exciting and generous gift,” Chodosh said. “The funding will allow us to further our goal of advancing students’ learning objectives through innovative learning and classroom technologies.”