The Power of Virtual Communities

Dear NCREN Community:

Welcome to MCNC's annual NCREN Community Day 2008 website - our theme this year is
"The Power of Virtual Communities". Our long term constituents in the NCREN Community have experienced the benefits of service excellence through NCREN, and we at MCNC value this relationship. This year, our focus is on the network providing a virtual platform for collaboration. The potential for the network to convene researchers, educators and students has never been greater.

This past year, we were excited to welcome North Carolina's K-12 public school districts to our existing community. In keeping with our virtual communities theme, several exciting stories of work among and between all levels of private and public education are emerging. For example:

The Mebane Masters Program in Davie County is enabling 16 teachers to pursue their Masters Degree from Appalachian State entirely over the network.




Thousands of students are engaged in "Learn and Earn" curriculum; North Carolina students, teachers and administrators are benefiting greatly from the power of the network.

Community Day is also our chance to say thank you to our community. Whether you have been a constituent for 24 years or 24 days, please accept our sincerest gratitude. Know that every day we strive to be reliable, innovative and community focused to serve you. This event is designed for you. We intend to provide many opportunities for innovative thinking in support of leading edge research and academic growth for all levels of education through "The Power of Virtual Communities".