KNOXVILLE and NASHVILLE — The University of Tennessee and Vanderbilt University have joined with the 10 other Southeastern Conference institutions to launch the SEC Academic Network, a Web site designed to promote academic endeavors of SEC universities in partnership with ESPN and the member universities.
The site’s address is: http://www.secacademicnetwork.com.
“This new Web site will help UT Knoxville take advantage of our national athletic prominence to enhance our academic reputation,” said UT Knoxville Chancellor Jimmy G. Cheek. “It is a great addition to the array of methods we use to reach out to those beyond our campus to share our successes in research, teaching and service to the community.”
“Vanderbilt is looking forward to this new opportunity to partner with our SEC colleagues to showcase the excellence that exists within the classrooms, laboratories and service organizations on each of our campuses,” said Chancellor Nicholas S. Zeppos. “The SEC’s dominance as an athletic conference is well established; this new Web site will help make as clear the rigor, diversity and creativity driving each institution’s academic programs.”
The Academic Network, developed using technology and coordination from ESPN Digital Media and Origin Digital, features content from every institution ranging from research, innovation and economic development to community partnerships, civic engagement and service.
“The commitment to highlight the accomplishments of SEC member institutions’ academic programs was a key component of our new television agreements,” said SEC Commissioner Mike Slive. “We are grateful to ESPN for providing our institutions this technology, which had previously been utilized exclusively for athletic events.”
“This network will provide our 12 institutions with the ability to create and distribute academic and other non-athletic programming throughout the world on a regular and full-time basis,” said Slive.
Each institution has its own page that includes videos categorized by topic on the site. Alumni, fans and students worldwide now have the ability in one place to learn more about SEC academics through video features that are posted by the league institutions.
The Academic Network is a component of the SEC’s 15-year television package with ESPN, which is the most comprehensive in the history of intercollegiate athletics. Also part of ESPN’s commitment to SEC academic programs is the production of an annual Campus Connection telecast at each SEC institution, in which students take part in the production; telecasts of two programs annually dedicated to the academic accomplishments of SEC student-athletes; a weekly academic feature segment on ESPNU’s SEC show; and selection of one undergraduate student from every SEC institution to participate in ESPN’s summer internship program.