Digital Equity and Access at City Colleges

Thanks to two unique initiatives offered through City Colleges of Chicago, qualifying students across the city have access to the tools and information they need to succeed in their classes.

Chicago Connected is an initiative between City Colleges of Chicago, Chicago Public Schools, and the City of Chicago to provide free, high-speed internet service to students and their families throughout the city. This innovative program eliminates a barrier to digital learning that disproportionately hurts the city’s low-income families and students of color.

City Colleges’ Learn to Own Laptop Program provides qualifying credit students with an additional benefit offered with access in mind: a free laptop for students who enroll across two semesters.

Harold Washington College student Giovanny Reyes was so excited to hear about the Chicago Connected program that he traveled to Wright College Humboldt Park on a cold, snowy Saturday to sign up.

Giovanny Reyes, Harold Washington College student

Reyes was used to spending ample amounts of time on the computers at the library, having no home internet access. Once the library closed each night, he was left without internet access to complete his assignments. To his relief, he was approved for free internet service through Chicago Connected. Today, Reyes can access the internet from the comfort of his own home.

“Chicago Connected is a wonderful service being offered to students to help students with the digital divide,” he said.

Additionally, through the Learn to Own Laptop program, Giovanny now has a laptop that he can use both at home and at school. The program gives students the opportunity to borrow a laptop for a semester and keep it the following semester.

Eligible credit students enrolled in classes at City Colleges of Chicago will see applications for one or both programs in their student portal within the “announcements” section if they meet certain qualifying criteria. Students who enroll at City Colleges after graduating from Chicago Public Schools can also transfer their Chicago Connected internet service.

You can learn more about Chicago Connected by visiting www.ccc.edu/chicagoconnected.