Staff Senate increases digital access, inclusion among staff through computer loan program

Abigail Ali News Editor

Staff Senate addresses a lack of access to digital technology among staff members through its Computer Loan Program and Digital Access and Inclusion Project.

According to a survey conducted by Staff Senate with a sample of housekeeping and dining employees, 80% of staff members reported having difficulty accessing digital technology. Through the Digital Access and Inclusion Project and Computer Loan Program, Staff Senate plans to ensure staff members at NC State have access to digital technology and have opportunities to develop their technology skills.

To be eligible to participate in the Computer Loan Program, participants must be an NC State staff member making less than $40,000 a year, a permanent employee and work at least 35 hours a week.

Joe Sutton, an integration and solutions information technology professional for Industry Expansion and Solutions and vice chair of Staff Senate, said this usually applies to staff like housekeepers, groundskeepers and any other staff member who don’t usually use a computer in their day-to-day jobs.

Sutton said the Computer Loan Program mirrors Staff Senate’s Digital Access and Inclusion Project by giving staff members who face barriers in using digital technology the resources they need to improve their skills.

Jill Phipps, accounting assistant for the Office of Information, Technology and Business Services and chair of Staff Senate, said by improving their computer skills, some employees have been able to improve their job level and get hired for more advanced positions.

“This will help develop them to build their confidence to apply for jobs down the road that may come up, so if they can’t afford to buy [a computer], at least they have this route that they can go and use it as a tool to help them grow,” Phipps said.

Phipps said when people sign up to get a computer loan, they have the option of getting a quick tutorial on how to use the basic functions of the computer like logging in and using web browsers. Sutton said they can also refer participants to other places for free classes.