Brandon, MB — This morning, the new Information Technology Server Room was officially unveiled. On hand for the occasion was Brandon University President, Dr. Deborah Poff, Vice President, Administration and Finance, Scott Lamont as well as Merv Tweed, Member of Parliament for Brandon-Souris. The MLA for Brandon East, Drew Caldwell was in Winnipeg and unable to attend due to the road conditions.
This project had received a Government of Canada investment of $281,260 through the Knowledge Infrastructure Program, a job creation program launched in 2009 to help respond to the global economic recession, under Canada’s Economic Action Plan.
“Our government is investing in research and training facilities at campuses across the country to create jobs, help our economy recover quickly and improve the quality of life of Canadians,” said Tweed. “This investment is promoting local employment now and will provide the research infrastructure Brandon University needs for years to come.”
The federal funding was matched by the Province of Manitoba, to bring the total government investment in the Information Technology Server Room at Brandon University to $562,520.
“The Province of Manitoba was pleased to partner with the Government of Canada for this IT investment” added Caldwell. “Our government has invested in Brandon University at levels unprecedented in the history of the institution, increasing the annual operating grant by 75% since 1999, from a total of just under $18 million then to (more than) $31 million today. It is indeed a privilege to work for the growth and prosperity of our university.”
This project included the relocation of Brandon University’s IT Server Room within the Brodie Building. Moving this critical IT infrastructure from the basement to the top floor was necessary to protect it from flooding. As well, this enabled the design of a more efficient and effective cooling system to ensure 100 per cent reliability.
“This infrastructure support is critically important in keeping Brandon University’s information technology and infrastructure functional for a 21st-century campus,” said Dr. Poff, President and Vice-Chancellor of Brandon University. “We greatly appreciate this support through the Knowledge Infrastructure Program.”
Approximately 200 professors and professional librarians rely on this system for teaching and research, in addition to administrative and student-related activity. The new server space will ensure continuity of service and reduced chance of catastrophic failure affecting all academic and administrative systems on campus. This new space has been designed to be more energy efficient, with consequent reductions in emissions.
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For more information, please contact:
Joanne F. Villeneuve
Communications
Brandon University
270 – 18th Street
Brandon, MB R7A 6A9
Tel. 204-727-9762
Contact
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- communications@brandonu.ca
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