9521747 Courter MCNC requests support from NSF for connection of North Carolina Center for Independent Higher Education to the Internet through the NC-REN regional network. NC-REN is the midlevel network located in the state of North Carolina that will provide operations and network information services. It will provide the North Carolina Center for Independent Higher Education with a connection to the Internet, a collection of interoperable networks that connect most research and education organizations in the United States The college needs the Internet connection to be able to access information resources throughout the state, the nation and the world. The connection will benefit the faculty, staff students of the North Carolina Center for Independent Higher Education.