University couch potatoes may be surprised at what they find while channel surfing.
SCOLA, a new television service, will use University cable services to broadcast news, documentaries and entertainment programming from 40 countries, including Spain, Portugal, the Ukraine and China.
SCOLA is brought to Grounds by the International Activities Planning Commission, a branch of the Virginia 2020 project charged with creating a more diverse international environment at the University.
The programming is available to on-Grounds residence areas and University language labs. SCOLA is a non-profit, educational organization transmitting international television programs for educational use via satellite. SCOLA digitally transmits three channels from the Telstar V satellite to the University, where they run as channels 5, 66 and 67.
"This program will hopefully help to create a more international environment here at the University," said Rachel Saury, the director of the Arts and Sciences Center for Instructional Technologies and a member of the International Activities Planning Commission.
In addition to promoting diversity, SCOLA is designed to help students learn to speak foreign languages and become familiar with foreign cultures.
"The programming will be used for listening activities, compositions and, ultimately, we hope the program is used in the instruction of foreign history, government and affairs," Saury said.
Eventually, SCOLA may spread outward into the Charlottesville community.
"We hope to get support of the program on a larger scale by getting into the community through Adelphia. I believe a lot of Charlottesville would want the access to this great asset," said William Quandt, vice provost for international affairs and International Activities Planning Commission member.
SCOLA administrators, in turn, hope the program will encourage students to participate in international activities.
"Through language, government and foreign affairs issues from 40 countries, we know there is something for everyone," Saury said.
According to its Web site, SCOLA's mission statement is to help people of the world learn about one another, their cultures, their languages and their ideologies.
The program emphasizes the use of modern information technology.
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