Adelphi Awarded Kajeet 2021 Digital Inclusion Grant
Garden City, NY (08/04/2021) — Adelphi University has been awarded the 2021 Digital Inclusion Grant from internet and software services provider Kajeet. The grant comes with the provision of free internet connectivity hardware and managed service on Kajeet's platform Sentinel.
"Due to the pandemic, there has been a significant increase in the reliance on technology for the average student," said Avery Bourgeois, Adelphi's director of budget and IT operations who applied for the grant on behalf of the University.
Bourgeois said he was encouraged to pursue the grant by Diann Cameron-Kelly, associate provost for Student Success, who was concerned that "students without access to technology are more likely to drop out" of their programs.
"Access to technology tools should not be the limiting factor to the success of our students," Bourgeois said. "Students in need of access to technology do not always feel comfortable approaching their advisors about their needs. These students will now be able to discreetly borrow an internet hotspot to have a reliable internet connection at home."
Adelphi was among 85 organizations selected by an independent panel of judges to receive support from Kajeet in providing the communities they serve with access to remote learning, telehealth services and other vital online resources.
"Kajeet's aim with the 2021 Digital Inclusion Grant program is to support equity-focused organizations in their efforts to close the digital divide in the communities they serve," said Daniel J.W. Neal, chairman, CEO and founder of Kajeet, in announcing the winners.
Adelphi will receive 20 Kajeet internet Smartspot devices that will be available at the University's IT Helpdesk on the second floor of the Swirbul Library early in the fall semester.
The Kajeet grant is for a year, but Bourgeois said the service will be evaluated and possibly continued beyond that time. Adelphi is the only institution of higher education in New York to receive the grant.
About Adelphi: A modern metropolitan university with a personalized approach to higher learning
Adelphi University, New York, is a highly awarded, nationally ranked, powerfully connected doctoral research university dedicated to transforming students' lives through small classes with world-class faculty, hands-on learning and innovative ways to support academic and career success. Adelphi offers exceptional liberal arts and sciences programs and professional training, with particular strength in our Core Four-Arts and Humanities, STEM and Social Sciences, the Business and Education Professions, and Health and Wellness.
Recognized as a Best College by U.S. News & World Report, Adelphi is Long Island's oldest private coeducational university. It serves more than 7,500 students at its beautiful main campus in Garden City, New York-just 23 miles from New York City's cultural and internship opportunities-and at dynamic learning hubs in Manhattan, the Hudson Valley and Suffolk County, as well as online.
More than 118,000 Adelphi graduates have gained the skills to thrive professionally as active, engaged citizens, making their mark on the University, their communities and the world.
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