Grant Award Connects Five Additional Institutions to Oklahoma’s Research Network

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and OneNet a $232,275 Campus Cyberinfrastructure (CC*) grant to connect five more institutions to the OneOklahoma Friction Free Network (OFFN).

Administered by NSF’s Office of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure, the CC* grant program invests in campus-level cyberinfrastructure improvements for science applications and research projects.

The two-year grant award will connect Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology, Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City, Redlands Community College, Oklahoma Christian University and the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma to the OFFN network.

OFFN is a 10 Gbps network ring that provides higher education institutions with a dedicated internet route that is much faster than traditional internet highways. This alternate pathway allows researchers to bypass slower traditional networks and transmit data at higher speeds. Previous NSF grant awards connected 12 research and regional universities to OFFN. This new award specifically targeted smaller institutions to expand their research and education initiatives.

“The State Regents are pleased to see more Oklahoma institutions added to the OFFN network,” said Chancellor Glen D. Johnson. “These connections will enable new and diverse research collaborations for faculty at these institutions. The grant also has a significant educational impact for college students by expanding STEM and cyberinfrastructure educational opportunities.”

The award will be managed by OneNet, the comprehensive digital communications initiative of the state system of higher education. Vonley Royal, OneNet executive director and State Regents’ chief information officer, will serve as principal investigator. Dr. Dany Doughan of USAO will lead research and education application adoption, and Jon Fields of RCC will lead campus technology. Brian Burkhart and Sky Pettett of OneNet will manage network technology implementation and training.

The project will make advanced cyberinfrastructure tools and services available to the five participating campuses and support a wide range of scientific disciplines from chemistry and agriculture to health and nursing.

“OneNet is higher education’s partner in research and education, and ensures campuses have access to the networking and technology required to support scientific discovery and innovation,” said Royal. “Expanding access to networks like OFFN is vital to providing resources that enhance these initiatives for Oklahoma colleges and universities.”

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