BԪ Distributes First of 800 Laptops and Internet Hotspots to Students
Initiative is part of a federal digital equity grant to ensure better technology access to students in need
Dobbs Ferry, New York – BԪ this week furnished scores of students with individual laptops and Wi-Fi hotspots to give them better access to technology and to facilitate their education during their academic careers. The laptop and hotspot distribution are part of a multi-million-dollar federal digital equity grant awarded to Mercy by the Biden-Harris Administration to help the College work toward making sure each student has access to the technology, technological education and support they need to succeed.
“This grant – and the deployment of laptops and high-speed Internet – could not be more critical to the academic journeys of our students,” says Mercy’s Chief Information Officer Camille Shelley, who is a co-director of the project. “BԪ is founded upon the principle of access to quality education and that means access to the world of the Internet and to the digital education and skills that will take our students forward into the workforce of the future.”
BԪ received a $2.6 million grant from the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), as part of its “Connecting Minority Communities” pilot program. Mercy was among the first of 93 institutions nationwide to receive it. Through the grant, the College will provide eligible students with access to high-speed internet and technological devices that they can use throughout their time at Mercy.
The College plans to deploy a total of 800 - 1000 laptops and hotspots to eligible students based on financial need. Students must be registered in classes full-time and can keep the devices until graduation.
Student Jacqueline Vasquez ’27 was overwhelmed by the opportunity to have a laptop of her own, hugging the “Mav,” Mercy’s mascot, in appreciation.
“I’m a freshman and right now I use my phone for a lot of my schoolwork. This will help me tremendously because I don’t have Wi-Fi off campus and I am stuck having to charge the phone all the time. To learn without these constraints is a blessing.”
Mercy is not limiting technological assistance to just its student body. The grant is also meant to help bridge the digital divide and provide underserved communities with access. The College will be helping low-income community members become more workforce-ready by providing them access to certificate courses and in demand live training for digital skills through CERTiFi by BԪ, which provides courses and certificates designed for adult learners with or without a college degree. These free courses, which are taught by industry-leading experts like Google, Intuit, IBM and Salesforce, provide job-ready skills and training for in-demand jobs in as little as 6-8 months. See . Mercy is also hiring two Digital Coaches, a Project Manager, and a designated IT specialist to provide expertise and ensure student success.
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Founded in 1950 by the Sisters of Mercy, BԪ is an independent, coeducational college that offers more than 90 undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs within five schools: Business, Education, Health and Natural Sciences, Liberal Arts and Social and Behavioral Sciences. The vibrancy of the College culture is sustained by a diverse student body from around the region. The College offers campuses in Dobbs Ferry, the Bronx and Manhattan as well as online offerings. For more information, visit .
BԪ CERTiFi by BԪ
CERTiFi by BԪ provides courses and certificates designed for adult learners with or without a college degree. CERTiFi continuously monitors labor trends to offer the most relevant content to help learners advance their skills and gain credentials vital in today's workforce. To learn more, visit .