Community Colleges With Foremost Use of Digital Technology Announced

SACRAMENTO, CA--(Marketwire - October 8, 2009) - e.Republic's Center for Digital Education and Converge magazine have announced the winners of their fifth annual Digital Community Colleges Survey. Those named are leading community colleges across the U.S. that offer exceptional technology support to students and educators. The survey addressed multiple areas in digital technology, including online registration, distance learning, tutoring and advisory services; technology training for students and faculty; and Web 2.0 social and collaborative capabilities.

Community colleges were placed in three categories based on size of enrollment for the 2008-09 academic year. College officials supplied answers to survey questions and the top colleges in each of the enrollment categories were named.

First place winners in each category:

--  Montgomery County Community College, Blue Bell, Pa. -- (7,500 or more
    students)
    
--  Laramie County Community College, Cheyenne, Wyo. -- (3,000 - 7,500
    students)
    
--  Panola College, Carthage, Texas -- (less than 3,000 students)
    

View the full list of winners at www.centerdigitaled.com and www.convergemag.com.

Marina Leight, vice president of the Center, said, "Community colleges, year after year, impress us as forward thinking and quick to adapt. Our survey results show overwhelmingly that community colleges are fast embracing cyber technologies used by 'First Digitals,' fostering collaboration in learning by using tools students are familiar with. Those institutions chosen as this year's top community colleges are exceptional examples of this investment in learning."

The Center and Converge magazine thank the survey underwriters for their support of community colleges across the nation:

HP ProCurve -- With a comprehensive portfolio of award-winning products and solutions and over 20 years of networking experience, HP ProCurve is the network of choice for colleges worldwide. See www.procurve.com.

Oracle Corporation is the world's largest business software company. For more information about Oracle, visit our Web site at www.oracle.com.

The Center for Digital Education is a national research and advisory institute providing education and industry leaders with decision support, research and educational services to help them effectively incorporate new technologies in the 21st century. The Center is a division of eRepublic, Inc., a national publishing, event and research company focused on information technology in the public sector. For more information on e.Republic visit www.erepublic.com.

Contact Information: For more information on the Digital Community Colleges Survey, please contact: Janet Grenslitt jgrenslitt@centerdigitaled.com (916) 932-1363