Guest post by Ashley Endriss, Office of Information Technology
In today’s academic landscape more than half of higher education students are enrolled in at least one distance education course. At our institution a whopping 31% of our available course offerings are online! To state the truth plainly, a laptop is no longer a luxury. It is a fundamental requirement for academic survival; the central tool for research, collaboration, and success. However, many of our students continue to face a significant “digital divide” that can hinder their academic progress from day one.
To help bridge this gap, the Office of Information Technology (OIT) supports a free Student Device Checkout service. The Library Media Center (LMC) also offers a grant-funded Hotspot service. Together these services provide a powerful, one-two punch to dismantle the digital divide GCC’s students are facing, ensuring they have both the hardware and the connectivity they need to stay enrolled. We invite all faculty and staff to join us for an upcoming Lunch & Learn to see how these programs work hand-in-hand behind the scenes and how we can partner together to ensure our students are tech-ready on Day 1.
Why Your Support Matters
While the primary goal is ensuring students have functional tools, the impact of the program extends far into student success metrics. A semester-to-semester analysis revealed that students who borrowed technology were retained at a rate at least 8.6 percentage points higher than the general student population. In some semesters, this retention rate was over 20 percentage points higher. Providing a student with a laptop isn’t just about giving them a device; it’s about providing them with a clear path to completing their education.
Event Details
Join us for the next sessions to learn how to navigate these essential programs:
- May Session: Thursday, May 7th, 2026 | 11:00 AM
- Location: CTLE Robinson Room, HT2-154
- Note: Please bring your lunch and your questions!
Partnering for Success
As faculty and student facing staff, you are the first line of support for many students. By guiding them to apply early and including program links in your syllabus or student resources, you help ensure they are “Tech-Ready” by the first day of class.
We look forward to seeing you at the CTLE Robinson Room to discuss how we can continue to support our students together.
Ready to help your students succeed? Register here for the Lunch & Learn