University of Missouri system prez Gary Forsee may be known as “the Sprint guy,” but he doesn’t appear to be too stuck on customer loyalty. After all, the former Sprint CEO is digging into his own pockets to help foot a $2 million bill to install a new high-definition Cisco TelePresence system that will be linked to AT&T’s global network.

Forsee, and his wife, Sherry, have donated $1 million to the project at the university’s four campuses. A university spokeswoman said AT&T and Cisco are covering the rest of the costs.

The new “virtual” meeting rooms will allow professors, researchers, administrators, and students at the different campuses to collaborate with one another by creating an “in-person” experience. The university notes that it will also help reduce travel time, travel expenses and carbon emissions.

“I believe this network will help transform the way we communicate and pursue our historic land-grant mission of teaching, research, statewide service and economic development,” Forsee said in a statement. “We are among the first universities in the country to have this high-definition videoconferencing capability.”

Forsee also noted that this new technology will help bolster the university’s plans to broaden and expand its distance learning programs.

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