(Rohnert Park, CA) — Sonoma State University (SSU) will be participating in a pilot of the second phase of CSUCCESS (California State University Connectivity Contributing to Equity and Student Success) to enhance student achievement and create more equitable opportunities. More than half of CSU’s campuses are now participating in this groundbreaking technology distribution program, bridging digital equity for students across California.
Incoming new first-year and transfer students who are joining SSU for the Spring 2022 term will be eligible to receive a technology bundle that includes a new iPad Air, Apple Pencil, and Apple Smart Keyboard. Students will be provided with this iPad bundle for the entirety of their undergraduate experience at Sonoma State.
“I’m excited to expand this important program to even more incoming students this spring to help bridge the digital divide and establish a technological foundation for achievement from day one of their college journey,” said CSU Chancellor Joseph I. Castro. “The program shows tremendous promise in advancing our goals of student success and educational equity.”
CSUCCESS is the largest device distribution program of its kind in the nation coming from the largest and most diverse system of four-year higher education in the U.S. Nearly half of all CSU undergraduates receive Pell Grants — demonstrating financial need — and nearly one-third are the first in their family to pursue a bachelor’s degree.
Throughout the state, students reported difficulties accessing quality devices and reliable internet during the pandemic. CSU campuses stepped up by offering mobile hotspots and short-term loaner laptops to help overcome some of these obstacles. The CSUCCESS initiative builds on these efforts to address the issue at scale and over the whole span of the undergraduate degree, making more high-quality devices available to more students, while leveraging the size of the CSU to secure strong partnerships with major national vendors like Apple.
Sonoma State’s CSUCCESS pilot is currently for Spring 2022. Continuing SSU students who need a computer may borrow a laptop through the university library’s Laptop Loan program. The laptop loan program serves as an alternative in concert with CSUCCESS to ensure that students have the tools they need to succeed.
“CSUCCESS is a revolutionary effort to increase student access to the digital tools they need to succeed in college and move forward into careers that meet the workforce needs of California. Sonoma State is proud to be part of this program in support of our students. These devices will help undergraduates make progress towards graduation and offer new opportunities for teaching and learning in the classroom,” said University Provost Karen Moranski.
“The CSUCCESS program is one way for us to remove barriers to success for our diverse and talented students so they feel supported and empowered to focus on their academics,” said Chancellor Castro. “Reliable, modern technology builds a foundation for achievement and can transform opportunities for our students statewide.”
The program is an important component in the CSU’s efforts to recover from the pandemic and improve student success while eliminating opportunity and achievement gaps as part of Graduation Initiative 2025.
Visit the CSUCCESS website for additional information about the program.