All new incoming full-time undergraduate students, including first-time freshmen and transfer students enrolled in at least 12 hours, will be eligible to claim a Chromebook that they can use for the duration of their UCCS academic career. This program begins with new students who are starting in the fall 2020 semester.
Aligning with the university vision to broaden access to higher education, the Chromebooks will allow students to achieve greater success in the classroom with the additional path to applications and tools. Students will have immediate support for an in-classroom or out of classroom learning experience.
“Access and affordability are at the heart of our mission at UCCS,” said Chancellor Venkat Reddy. “Many of our students and their families are experiencing unexpected financial challenges. Providing technology to these students not only removes a heavy financial burden – it gives them the tools they need to succeed, in on-campus classes as well as remote classes. This new initiative is just one demonstration of our commitment to making a university education possible for every student.”
The HP Chomebook x360 devices feature touchscreens, cameras and microphones for remote and online courses, with applications to access remote computers on campus normally only available in person in computer labs. The Chrome operating system works with apps from the Google Play Store and integrates with the Microsoft Office 365 applications that students have access to with their UCCS credentials.
“We’re thrilled that UCCS is providing Chromebooks to students to enable anytime, anywhere learning and collaboration, ” said Drew Sidel, Head of North America for G Suite for Higher Education. “Secure, simple, powerful devices that update automatically, Chromebooks are easy to set up and manage, and come with accessibility features and security built in. We look forward to working closely with the UCCS community as we strive together to connect teachers and students and empower learning from anywhere.”
New students do not need to claim a Chromebook if they already have a device they prefer. Chromebooks must be claimed before the Census Day of Sept. 10 if they want to use one during their academic career. Students need to be enrolled in at least 12 credit hours before they claim a Chromebook.
Returning students can request to be placed on a waiting list for Chomebooks, and after the Sept. 10 deadline, any remaining devices will be distributed based on when a student applies.
Students will be able to start claiming their Chromebooks July 1. The Office of Information Technology has partnered with the UCCS Bookstore to begin distributing the Chromebooks beginning this fall. OIT will handle all request for service past distribution.
All eligible students may obtain a Chromebook by following these steps:
- Visit the Chromebook homepage and reserve the Chromebook through the reservation website. Eligibility is based on current enrollment status. It will take up to one business day to verify if a student is enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours and are a first-year or transfer student.
- Select a pick-up window. Students will receive an email confirmation. Bring this confirmation email to pick up the Chromebook at the UCCS Bookstore starting July 27, 2020.
- Turn on the Chromebook and log in with existing UCCS credentials. A helpful guide will also be included with the Chromebook.
- If a student happens to no longer need their Chromebook for their UCCS learning experience or need help with it, it can be returned to the OIT Helpdesk.
Additional information, including the user agreement, maintenance and repair procedures, and policies regarding student privacy and security, is available at laptop.uccs.edu/. Funding is through the CARES Act, meaning students will not be charged to claim a Chromebook.