University Center of Greenville joins Clemson in virtual world

Published: November 11, 2009

CLEMSON — The University Center of Greenville has joined the Carolinas Virtual Worlds Consortium, which investigates how three-dimensional virtual worlds can enhance teaching, training and learning at all educational levels.

Bruce Rafert, chairman of the consortium’s board of directors and Clemson’s vice provost and dean of the Graduate School, said the seven universities and 130 faculty members located at the University Center “bring a lot of capability, strength and growth potential for weaving immersive technologies into the fabric of the Upstate.

“This partnership positions this region to become a core hub of activity related to research and development in immersive technologies as we bring the combined resources of the consortium and the University Center to bear on the possibilities of virtual worlds,” he said. 

Fred Baus, University Center president and chief executive officer, said joining the consortium will “allow the center to remain at the cutting edge of technologies for teaching and learning, and advance new models for immersive learning in virtual environments.”

Steve Bronack, a professor in Clemson’s Human Resource Development graduate program located at the University Center, conducts research into the role of three-dimensional virtual worlds in teaching and training and also expressed his excitement about the prospects of the new partnership.

“The relationship will enable us to leverage the multiple online, three-dimensional environments managed by the consortium, and the expertise present across the partner institutions will enable us to develop and answer important questions regarding the potential of 3-D worlds used for supporting learners in formal and informal educational spaces,” said Bronack.

The University Center of Greenville is a consortium of higher education institutions dedicated to increasing access to educational opportunities for the citizens of the Upstate of South Carolina. The center offers more than 75 undergraduate and graduate degrees through Clemson, Furman University, Lander University, the Medical University of South Carolina, South Carolina State University, the University of South Carolina and the University of South Carolina Upstate.

The Carolinas Virtual Worlds Consortium was founded in 2007 to explore the role of three-dimensional virtual worlds and immersive technologies for teaching, training and learning. The founding institutions, Clemson and Appalachian State University, have been joined by the North Carolina Virtual Public School District and now the University Center. In 2008 the consortium received $1.5 million in federal funding from the National Science Foundation’s Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers program to help fund research and outreach activities.

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