The information and technology demands of modern college make access to electronics as essential as a pen and paper. And yet, amazingly, many students come to the university without the tools they need to succeed.
Never was this more evident than in the past two years when the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered classrooms and forced the advent of a new mobile learning environment that was heavily steeped in technology.
This dependence on technology also laid bare many of the equity gaps certain students faced when they found themselves on the wrong side of the digital divide.
“Students who do not have laptops, iPads or other devices are at a significant disadvantage in the academic world,” said Rommel Hidalgo, associate vice president for IT/innovation officer, at Cal State Fullerton.
At CSUF, and across the Cal State University system, the call to address students’ technology needs was heard. In conjunction with the state system, the Fullerton Division of Information Technology has launched a couple of initiatives to assist students who only lack the needed tools to succeed and thrive.
C-SUCCESS, a systemwide project, and TitanWare, the campus’ student laptop program, are designed to advance student success and are filling the need.
Beginning in spring semester 2022, every new transfer student at CSUF has an opportunity to request an iPad bundle, as part of California State University Connectivity Contributing to Equity and Student Success, or C-SUCCESS, or a Microsoft Surface Go Laptop, as part of CSUF TitanWare, to support their academic success.
“It’s another gesture of showing you were brought here because of your talents, so let us put tools in your hands, ” said Elizabeth Boretz, assistant vice president of Student Success and director of the Academic Advising Center. “It’s like showing we care, so let’s get you the equipment you need.”
For some Cal State Fullerton students, many of whom are commuters, still living at home, working their way through college, short on time and money, or all of these, just keeping up with the morphing world of technology can be its own obstacle. Not every incoming student arrives with a brand-new MacBook.
Last year, there were tales of students circling campus in their cars just looking for a signal to listen in on lectures.
“Before the pandemic, students without devices could get by with visiting the campus and using the various computer labs to get their work done,” Hidalgo said. “When the pandemic forced campuses to shut down, we knew right away that we would have to figure a way to get devices into the hands of students, faculty, and staff in need in as quick and painless a process as possible.”
Even as school returns to in-person instruction, many professors require students to attend class with laptops.
To some, this might sound like standard procedure, but not necessarily so.
In January, the Division of Information Technology conducted a laptop survey of all students, with 90% responding.
Hidalgo said the survey found 10% of the students did not have a laptop to use for school, and 4% did not have internet access at home. Of those with laptops, almost 40% had laptops three years or older and 34% had laptops between two to three years old.
“Machines that are two or three years old may do OK. But older machines may not be able to install the latest updated software, or, if the software can be installed, it may lag and perform slowly,” Hidalgo said
Boretz notes, “Many incoming students may have devices, but they have to share with siblings.” And even if their homes have internet access, they often lack the bandwidth to handle multiple devices.
The university laptop survey also underscored the need for computers. According to Hidalgo, the survey found “84% of students said they used their laptop to do at least 75% of their school work.”
C-SUCCESS will equip students with bundles, including personal Wi-Fi hot spots.
“For our C-SUCCESS implementation, Cal State Fullerton will purchase an initial batch of 1,000 iPad Air bundles (iPad, keyboard folio, Apple pencil),” Hidalgo said. “Each iPad bundle costs about $873 after taxes.”
For students in need of laptops, Hidalgo said, “We will also purchase Microsoft Surface Laptop Go devices for our TitanWare laptop program. Both programs will be offered to all incoming Spring 2022 students.”
TitanWare was created as the university’s early response to the pandemic and described as “Cal State Fullerton’s comprehensive technology ecosystem designed to advance student success.”
According to the university, “TitanWare and laptops were essential to the transition to a virtual environment during the pandemic. In addition, they are vital for the return to campus.”
Through TitanWare, students can buy discounted machines on payment plans with free access to software programs worth $10,000 annually. The IT department will even recommend the best devices based on major or field of study.
For students who cannot afford computers, the school also has loaners for as long as a semester, based on financial need, or as short as 48 hours.
There is an IT Helpdesk open 24 hours every day to assist with tech issues or help loading software.
The IT department also plans “additional evolution of the program being developed, specifically designed to bridge the digital divide,” according to Hidalgo. Details, he said, are being worked out.
With the new programs and future developments, Hidalgo hopes to “to remove the lack of access to a computing device as an obstacle in the way of (students’) persistence and academic achievement.”
To Boretz, it’s all about closing equity gaps.
“Many students come in with preconceived ceilings,” she said. “When we place this equipment in their hands, it solidifies how committed we are to them. We’re saying, ‘Now we want you to make that same kind of commitment.”
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