What is KanREN?
KanREN is a non-profit consortium of colleges, universities, school districts and other organizations in Kansas, organized for the purpose of facilitating communication among them, and providing themselves with connectivity to the Internet via a statewide TCP/IP network.
KanREN's Mission
The purpose of the Kansas Research and Education network (KanREN, Inc.)is to provide innovative, cost-effective network technology and attention to individual member needs.
KanREN's Vision
Kansas educators, learners and researchers will be aided in attaining their goals through the Kansas Research and Education Network, (KanREN, Inc.), an innovator and provider of premier netowrk and technology services.
KanREN's Values
- Integrity - We practice fiscal,t echnical and professional integrity at all times.
- Community - The KanREN membership is an interconnected community that has created, and continues to support KanREN, and we will assist our members first, then other organizations.
- Respect - We treat members, one another and others with respect and consideration.
- Solutions - We provide sustainable and equitable technology solutions for members.
- Partnerships - We seek collaboration that furthers our vision.
- Standards - We adhere to industry standards and practices.
Important Facts
- KanREN is an independent, not-for-profit Kansas corporation, Bylaws
- KanREN is not primarily a network--KanREN is an educational consortium. KanREN operates a state-wide TCP/IP network on behalf of its member institutions.
- Membership in KanREN is open to any college, university, library, or school district in the state of Kansas. Other non-profit organizations may join the consortium subject to the approval of the KanREN executive committee.
- KanREN is not a commercial Internet Service Provider (ISP), though we do provide dedicated Internet connectivity for most of our member sites.
- KanREN is not supported with any funding from the state or federal government. Though begun with funding from the National Science Foundation in 1993, today KanREN is completely supported by membership fees paid by its member institutions.
- KanREN is not an agency of the government of the state of Kansas.
- KanREN is an Internet2 Sponsored Education Group Participant (SEGP)
- KanREN is a Kan-Ed peering partner
- KanREN is affiliated with the Great Plains Network
- KanREN is a member of Net@EDU The policy making division of Educause.
- KanREN provides E-rate discounts (SPIN: 143005645)
History of KanREN
In the early 1990's, Kansas' three largest state universities were the only educational institutions with access to the Internet. Jerry Niebaum, then Director of Academic Computing Services at the University of Kansas, headed up an effort to create a statewide education and research network that would distribute Internet connectivity to all of the state's institutions of higher learning.
Through the National Science Foundation's "Connections" program, grant funding was obtained to create the Kansas Research and Education Network (KanREN) in 1993. Thirty-five institutions were connected during the first year, including the Board of Regents universities, most of the state's community colleges, and several private colleges and universities.
KanREN was originally organized as a service unit of the KU Center for Research, Inc. (CRINC). KanREN's NSF funding ended in 1995, at which time the member institutions took responsibility for costs through membership and connectivity fees. KanREN remained affiliated with the Center for Research until 2002, when KanREN became a not-for-profit corporation (KanREN, Inc.).
KanREN has grown over the years, both in number of member institutions and in capacity and sophistication of its statewide backbone network, and continues to be the premier education network in the state.