ITS Provides Loaner Computers, Free of Charge, to Help Students Transition Online

Difficult times call for smart solutions, and CNM’s Information Technology Services department is leading the way.

As the entire college transitioned online to help stop the spread of COVID-19, it became clear that some students did not have access to a computer at home and would be unable to finish their classes online. So, ITS got together and found a batch of computers that still worked fine but were slated for retirement. A group updated all the software to make them current and a message was drafted and sent out to students by the Marketing and Communications Office. Almost immediately, requests started rolling in. 

“It was a huge team effort,” says Candi Borrecco, the Senior Director of IT Enterprise Service Management and Operations.

Students who request the computers—which come with a monitor, keyboard, and mouse—are verified as current students by the IT Service Desk and the Contact Center team at CNM and then scheduled to pick up computers at a distribution center on the south side of the Student Resource Center on Main Campus. 

When students pick up the computers, Alex Silage, ITS’ Director of Customer Support Services, and Lawrence Chavez, the ITS Desktop Support Team Supervisor, are answering all and any questions as well as providing a packet that tells students how to set everything up at home and where to access WiFi, including free internet access options being offered in the community.

Only 20 computers are handed out each day as a way to maintain social distancing and safety guidelines, but over 100 had been given to students by Thursday. More than 100 more computers have already been requested and will be given out over the coming days. 

“This effort is really going to help a lot of people and I can’t thank everyone enough for doing the work,” says Candi.