SOUTH BRONX — A South Bronx college leaped into action to get students access to technology after campus doors were closed two months ago.
More than 90 percent of students receive some form of financial aid at Hostos Community College; many students did not have the equipment they needed to continue their education at home. College President Dr. David Gomez said phones started ringing in his office right after the closure was announced.
“Our student population is not only the poorest in the city, but also among the universities,” he said. “Almost immediately, we got calls from students saying ‘how are we going to access to the computers?’ Some were in homeless shelters. It was difficult to reach them.”
Gomez estimates more than 3,000 of the college’s 7,000 student live in homeless shelters. About 70 percent of the student body’s family income is under $30,000 dollars a year. The digital divide here is real and overwhelming.
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With only 200 computers at the school to loan out, Gomez needed more right away. The state stepped in last month and provided funding for over 700 additional laptops.
Student Yanira Arias says her classmates needed computers right away.
“I have a friend new to this country and she has nobody to help her, no computer,” Arias said.
After getting the laptops, the school needed to figure out how to get them to the students who need them. Gomez created a team to do curbside delivery. A team of students, military veterans, and eight public safety officers sprung into action.
Hostos Chief of Public Safety Arnaldo Bernabe helped with deliveries.
“This is what community policing is all about,” he said. We met some students at their workplace and some at shelters. We got a lot of smiles and tears.”
The team of officers and students delivered more than 560 computers in just three weeks. They still have two hundred computers available to give away. Another 700 students need devices, according to Hostos Assistant Vice President of Internet Technology Varun Sekgal.
Access to WiFi is also an issue. The homeless shelters where many students live don’t have service.
The Hostos Foundation gave $20 thousand to help deliver 50 mobile hot spots.
“Many don’t have access to reliable internet. Sometimes they would come to the campus when it was open,” Sekga said.
Hostos wants to hear from students if they need computers right now. A hotline was set up and they are still delivering.
Important Numbers to call for IT Help:
itjobrequest@hostos.cuny.edu
718-518-6646
8 a.m. to 8 p.m., M – F
Educational Support:
edtechsupport@hostos.cuny.edu
718-319-7915
9 a.m. to 8 p.m., M – Th
9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Fri
To give to the student relief fund, click here.
