The Esri Site License Program

Enhancing Geospatial Education at North Carolina Central University

Abstract

North Carolina Central University, as one of the seventeen constituent educational institutions of the University of North Carolina system, participates in the annual system wide Esri Site License Program (SLP). This program is jointly funded by participating universities. Students, staff and faculty gain access to cutting edge geospatial software and allied benefits such as online courses and conference participation. The availability of these programs helps students from a variety of disciplines such as Geography, Environmental Science, Public Administration and Social Work, to name a few. This article describes the impact of participating in this program on the curriculum and learning of geospatial techniques as well as on the future employability of our graduates. Specific examples of benefits of SLP are provided, including student testimonials and course development ideas. The popularity of the Esri SLP is also discussed with the emphasis on the presence of the SLP at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Institutional benefits of the SLP are weighted against the cost of deployment and suggestions for lobbying for the SLP at other HBCUs are provided.