These technologies expand the ability of students, faculty, staff, and administrators to collaborate regionally and globally at significantly lower costs than traditional travel.

Collaboration through connection

In partnership with Cisco Systems, Inc., telepresence technology was installed at each 4-VA university to support the 4 initiatives with seamless videoconferencing. Telepresence provides an immersive experience where everyone feels like they’re in the same room. Using this technology, collaborators discuss research, departments share best practices and universities across Virginia share classes.

At a minimum, each university has two rooms equipped with Cisco telepresence technology. A one-screen Cisco-1300 classroom with six to eight seats and a three-screen Cisco-3210 classroom with 18 seats provide state-of-the-art videoconferencing and cutting edge learning technologies for students.

Distance technologies help advance the commonwealth  

4-VA also uses Cisco WebEx to support is 4 initiatives by connecting course sharing students during inclement weather.  Both the telepresence and WebEx technology have improved access and flexibility to the shared courses supported by 4-VA.

The STEMx-Lab at JMU has an integrated makerspace and innovation studio that hosts numerous technologies and prototyping machines. Classes use Beam® technology to share remote expertise while working at the STEMx-Lab.