Just eight of the California State University system's 23 campuses are participating in the new CSUCCESS program, which was created to provide equitable technological access for all. The other seven participating CSU campuses are in Los Angeles, Bakersfield, Northridge, Channel Islands, Fresno, Humboldt and Vallejo (the Maritime Academy).
The program was developed in response to the pandemic, when the extended campus closures exposed how many students were not able to participate in online classes and programs because they had no access to mobile devices.
"The shift to virtual learning really highlighted the vast inequalities in home technology and connectivity," said Kevin Morningstar, CSUSM's dean of Instructional and Information Technology Services and chief information officer. "While CSUSM continues to loan out equipment to any student who doesn't have a device, the CSUCCESS program really builds beyond that, by ensuring that every incoming student has the opportunity to receive a high-quality and reliable personal computing device to support their academic achievement."
Seventy percent of Cal State San Marcos students receive financial aid and 54 percent are the first generation of their family to attend college. As of Monday, 1,883 new CSUSM students have picked up their free iPad and accessories. This represents about 45 percent of the incoming class, which includes 2,423 freshmen and 1,851 transfer students, according to university officials.
CSU Chancellor Joseph I. Castro was also a first-generation college student and he recognizes the challenges many students faced during the pandemic trying to stay connected with their professors and fellow students. Before being named chancellor in 2020, he served as president of Fresno State for seven years, where a program similar to CSUCCESS was launched in 2014 and 18,000 students enrolled in the program.
"I saw first-hand how it transformed the opportunities for our students and I think it will do the same thing for our students statewide," he said in a statement. As a first-generation college student myself, I struggled financially. I get it. And I want to make sure we remove barriers for our talented students."
In 2015, the CSU system created the Graduation Initiative 2025 to increase graduation rates for all CSU students while eliminating opportunity and achievement gaps. To date, CSUSM has become the only campus in the 23-school system to close the achievement gap. In the most recent point-in-time snapshot, traditionally underserved students graduated faster than the general student population.
Students will not own the devices, which comes with a smart keyboard, Apple pencil and information technology services, but they will be allowed to use them during their full undergraduate career. Upon graduation, students will be required to return the devices. And while the university will manage the devices, it says it will not monitor or collect information on students from the devices.
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