Sonoma State University is one of the many California State Universities chosen to pilot the second phase of California State University’s Connectivity Contributing to Equality and Student Success (CSUCCESS) plan to distribute iPads to incoming students of the Spring 2022 semester. 

SSU and over half of the CSU schools are participating in CSUCCESS’s program to create more equitable opportunities for students. Sonoma State, along with the other universities participating, will be distributing upwards of 29,000 iPads for incoming freshmen and transfer students new to the school for the Spring of 2022.

Currently, incoming freshman and transfer students for the Spring of 2022 have the opportunity to receive a “technology bundle” which includes a new iPad, Apple Pencil, and Apple Smart Keyboard.  Students throughout the CSU who receive this bundle will be able to use this technology for school related tasks for the entirety of their undergraduate degree. 

The CSU Chancellor, Joseph I. Castro, is excited to see Sonoma State join over half of the CSU schools in “expanding this important program to even more incoming students this spring to help bridge the digital divide and establish a technological foundation for achievement from day one of their college journey.” He hopes that this foundation will lead students and universities alike to advance education and how students learn as a result. 

CSUCCESS plans on continuing and expanding to more campuses every year and possibly adding different or more technology in future phases of the project. The CSU chancellor is constantly looking for more ways to expand funding efforts and offer more opportunities to students under the program. These funds will be used to provide newer technology and opportunities to more incoming students in future CSUCCESS programs. 

According to Hazel Kelly, the Public Affairs Manager for the office of the Chancellor, “Throughout the course of the pandemic,  access to computing equipment and connectivity was identified as an obstacle for some CSU students. It was clear that the digital divide was one of the greatest obstacles to creating a more equitable student journey at the CSU. CSUCCESS builds on campus-based efforts to address digital equity at scale, leveraging the size of the CSU to secure strong partnerships with major national vendors.

CSUCCESS is an important component in the CSU’s efforts to recover from the pandemic and improve student success while eliminating equity gaps as part of Graduation Initiative 2025.” 

SSU students who are not eligible for this plan still have the opportunity to use the laptop loan system offered through the Sonoma State Library. The library will provide students with a laptop for the course of the semester which further allows ineligible students access to technology they might not have had access to prior to coming to Sonoma State.

 The iPad rollout will be planned through the use of the 2025 Graduation Initiative. Which is an initiative to help increase graduation rates for incoming freshman or transfer students who’s graduation goal is set for that year. 

 As part of that initiative the technology bundle is one incentive to help incoming students get a leg up over college and really hit the ground running as soon as they start. So far CSU’s have seen an improvement in overall learning environment as well as a boost in students’ morale who are hopping into college for the first time this semester. 

Students can receive this bundle through the CSU website by going to Calstate.edu/SUCCESS and clicking on Sonoma State through the drop-down menu.