Dec 11, 2014 06:07 PM EST By J Baulkman, UniversityHerald Reporter

Fresno State in California received at $50,000 donation from AT&T to assist in the expansion of its tablet program, school officials announced.

The DISCOVERe tablet consists program consists of approximately 30 course sections that will be offered as tablet only courses. Fresno State plans to expand the program from 1,200 to 5,000 students through 2015. The contribution from AT&T will support that expansion by increasing student training and providing enhanced support to students with disabilities.

"The DISCOVERe program is transforming the way our students learn and the way our faculty teach," Fresno State President Joseph Castro said in accepting the grant from AT&T officials in the DISCOVERe Hub in the Henry Madden Library. "As our students prepare for careers that are increasingly dependent on technology, it is critical that they have access to technology in the classroom. The University appreciates AT&T's commitment to supporting our students and helping to provide them with tools they need to succeed."

The DISCOVERe program launched in August with an initial cohort of 1,200 students and 33 faculty members. Tablets are used as a primary teaching and learning tool, and participating faculty specifically reshaped their curriculum to make the courses more tablet-compatible.

"Employers like AT&T want to hire recent graduates who are innovative, tech-savvy and adept at using these devices," Julie Tone, director of AT&T External Affairs, said in a statement. "That's why we seek out forward-thinking higher education partners like President Castro to bring that same innovative spirit to the classroom. We're very excited to partner with Fresno State to expand this program-DISCOVERe has the potential to become a model for how to run a tablet program in higher education."

This contribution is part of AT&T Aspire, the company's signature education initiative focused on school success and career readiness. With an unwavering commitment to data-driven education outcomes, AT&T Aspire has impacted more than 1 million students since its launch in 2008.

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