MERC

What is MERC?

The Missouri Education and Research Consortium (MERC), comprised of eligible Missouri higher education institutions, partners with MOREnet to provide its members with Internet and networking services.

Purpose

The purpose of MERC is to advance the collaborative use of networked technology and applications in higher education, research, public service and work together to share resources for the benefit of all consortium members.

History

With support of National Science Foundation grants, nine Missouri universities and colleges formed a consortium in 1991 to gain access to Internet connectivity and support resources for their students, faculty and communities.

As a result of the formation of the MOREnet Consortium, the MOREnet organization was formed to link the Consortium member institutions to one another and the Internet. On July 1, 2000, the MOREnet Consortium was renamed the Missouri Education and Research Consortium (MERC) to reflect the unique identity of the Consortium and to lessen confusion with MOREnet the organization.