OAKLAND COUNTY, MI — Oakland Community College announced Wednesday it will offer up to 3,500 Dell laptops to students who register for 12 or more credit hours this fall to help them with the increased technology needs they will face due to a remote learning format.
To qualify for a computer, the college said full time students can submit an application for the laptop program by Sept. 16.
“We wanted to make sure our students have the technology needed to be successful in a remote learning environment, and we are one of the only community colleges in Michigan to provide direct technology assistance to full-time students,” Chancellor Peter Provenzano, Jr. said in a statement.
According to Provenzano, Jr., OCC is using $1 million from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, passed by Congress in March 2020 to fund the laptop program.
In addition to the laptops, Provenzano said the college will provide all students with access to necessary software programs specific to their Fall term course needs through the college’s online software system, part of OCC’s Virtual Desktop Infrastructure.
Additional information regarding the program:
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Students will be notified if they qualify for the laptop after Sept. 16, 2020.
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Laptops will be sent direct to qualifying students from Dell beginning the week of September 21, 2020.
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Students may keep the laptop after the Fall 2020 semester for use in future OCC and other college courses or for personal use.
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OCC’s VDI system will have data on each student’s Fall-term class schedule and automatically allow access to the appropriate virtual software needed for those particular classes.
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Students who require internet access will be provided a designated area on each OCC campus for Fall 2020 term to use the college’s Wi-Fi network.
“We understand how difficult this COVID-19 pandemic has been on our students, and we wanted to make sure they would be able to stay home, stay safe and continue their college education by offering the technology they need to be successful this Fall term,” Provenzano said.
Students who have registered for 12 or more credits for Fall Term and are interested in receiving a Dell laptop can link to OCC Cares Laptop Program to complete the Laptop application.
Students who have any additional questions regarding this Dell Laptop program are asked to email [email protected].
This article originally appeared on the Royal Oak Patch
