Mohawk takes up residence in Second Life
HAMILTON - Mohawk College has bought an island and built a state-of-the-art home in four months to connect with prospective students from around the world.
Mohawk is set to open its virtual campus in Second Life next week. Second Life is a 3-D online digital world that is imagined, created and owned by more than 500,000 "residents". Mohawk joins a rapidly growing number of more than 17,000 "landowners" who have set up shop in Second Life, including IBM, Sears, Nike, Toyota and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Reuter's has a Second Life news bureau and Sweden has announced plans to open a virtual embassy.
Mohawk's virtual home is modeled after the i-Wing at its Fennell campus in Hamilton and features two interactive photo galleries. One gallery profiles students and the second gallery is a Mohawk College 40th anniversary exhibition. The facility also has links to online versions of Mohawk's full-time and continuing education program calendars.
"At Mohawk, we are always looking for innovative ways to stay connected with current students and to reach out to prospective students," says Mohawk President MaryLynn West-Moynes. "Mohawk is taking our conversations to a new dimension by creating a virtual world where anyone and everyone can socialize and learn more about what Mohawk has to offer." Mohawk's web design team have created online characters, or avatars, to talk with visitors at the facility.
Mohawk built its virtual facility in partnership with Wayne MacPhail, a part-time college professor and president of new media company w8nc Inc. Construction on the 65,500 square metre island began last October. Mohawk's island (coordinates 147,201,30) is located on Second Life's InfoIsland Archipelago.
 
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