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U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois visited �ؿ�ζSM on Monday to discuss the $2.5 million in federal funding the university received through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program that has helped enhance information technology capabilities and close the digital divide for students.

Durbin visited one of seven classrooms that, thanks to a portion of the grant proceeds, received technological upgrades to support a hybrid of in-person and remote learning. There, he met with a group of students, most of them digital navigator interns. Their work, which is funded through the grant, has included cybersecurity awareness for students and surveying the student body for guidance in identifying IT priorities on campus.

Durbin also spoke with IT personnel and university leaders.

Additional projects funded by the grant include upgrades to portions of the university’s network infrastructure campus-wide, new computer lab equipment, the hiring of four IT personnel and a technology education coordinator, and the creation of free digital literacy courses, allowing students, faculty and staff to sit for professional certification in various software. 

Durbin noted that the projects undertaken through the grant will be “life-changing” for students who will reap the benefits. 

“�ؿ�ζSM has long been a champion of diversity and inclusion, and this federal funding will further enhance its ability to support students from all walks of life,” Durbin said. “By providing access to quality technology and internet connection, �ؿ�ζSM is not only investing in the future of its students’ education and career development, but also in the future of our nation.”

“�ؿ�ζSM is extremely grateful for the federal funding we have received through the Connecting Minority Communities grant program,” said Dr. Todd Kleine, Chief Information Officer of �ؿ�ζSM. “We are also thankful to Senator Durbin for visiting our campus, meeting with our students, and learning about all we have been able to achieve with the grant funding. Through upgrades in information technology infrastructure and the creation of educational programming, this grant is helping to dismantle the digital divide that exists for our students, faculty and staff. It also ensures that our university community can benefit from state-of-the-art technology without the cost being passed along to our students and their families.”

Johnny Lott, a junior computer science major and digital navigator, shared with Durbin how the internship program has helped accommodate the needs of �ؿ�ζSM’s student body.

“It’s a great experience to see how everyone can have a learning experience with each other,” he said. 

�ؿ�ζSM, with an undergraduate enrollment that is more than 60% Hispanic, is one of only 12 minority-serving institutions of higher learning in the country selected to receive the Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program grant.