Digital Fairness
U Kentucky Hits Commencement and Retention Targets by Giving iPads to Each Pupil
In 2019, the College of Kentucky (UK) the Good Campus iPad Initiative: a plan to provide each incoming, degree-seeking, first-time undergraduate scholar an iPad Air, loaded with UK apps; a Good Keyboard; and an Apple Pencil to help digital fairness, within the hopes of accelerating commencement and retention charges and lowering prices.
It labored. With this system now in its fifth 12 months, the college has a 70% commencement charge, a 90% retention charge for college students between their first and second years, and has saved 60% in IT prices. It’s acknowledged as an Apple Distinguished College for 2021-2024 for this initiative.
College president Eli Capilouto mentioned in a video on the Apple web site that 25% of UK’s college students come from households with a mean revenue of $25,000 a 12 months. So the aim, because the state’s unique land grant college serving Kentuckians, was to make training inexpensive and accessible.
“When everybody has easy accessibility to the know-how, it ranges the enjoying subject,” he mentioned.
On its iPad Initiative FAQ web page, the college defined its causes for partnering with Apple on this initiative had been to:
- “Enhance psychological, bodily, and monetary wellness amongst college students;
- “Jumpstart and ease the transition from highschool to varsity earlier than college students step on campus;
- “Create a digital profession portfolio and resumé that can serve them all through their 4 years and past;
- “Shrink the boundaries of the digital divide inside and outdoors the classroom;
- “Develop proficiencies in coding and app growth; and
- “Construct communities and hyperlink college students to one another.”
“When a 3rd of our college students are first technology, we wish to be laser targeted in making an attempt to eradicate that preparation hole in order that they have the most effective likelihood to go on to steer lives of which means and objective.”
Eric Monday, govt VP of finance and administration, referred to as it “a really good monetary resolution.”
He mentioned 87% of their college students with iPads “repeatedly use their units for exams, coursework, finding out, be aware taking, and analysis.” He added that school need the power to decide on the know-how “to supply a greater consequence for his or her college students,” and this initiative fosters that.
The iPads proceed to belong to the college till college students graduate, at which period possession transfers to them, the college mentioned on its Good Campus FAQ web page. In the event that they go away earlier than commencement, they both should return them or buy them on the present depreciation worth.
Go to the college’s iPad Initiative web page to study extra.