Tech Equity Program

The Tech Equity program is an effort to create more equitable access to technology and tech skills for City Colleges of Chicago students, preparing them to enroll, complete a college credential (certificate or degree), launch, or advance their careers, and contribute to an inclusive Chicago economy.

The Tech Equity program provides qualifying students with internet connectivity through the Chicago Connected program, laptops through the Learn to Own Laptop program, and digital literacy courses needed to thrive in learning environments and workplaces that require a familiarity with technology to be successful.

Learn more about the eligibility and application process for our programs today!

Free Internet – Chicago Connected

Free Laptop – Learn to Own Laptop program

Digital Literacy

Questions? Contact us using the following emails:

Read about our Tech Equity program success stories!

“Chicago Connected has really been a godsend—it has taken pressure off my budget.” Read Their Story Chicago Connected scholar SARAH CHOY Read Their Story “Chicago Connected has helped me stay connected to the world in a demanding society that requires access to the internet and a computer. I strongly recommend students meeting the criteria apply for the Tech Equity programs as a second financial aid because it can help tremendously,” Read Their Story Learn to Own Laptop and Chicago Connected scholar AMADOU DIA Read Their Story “I was paying home bills like the water bill, electricity bill, and gas bill by myself, so being accepted into the Chicago Connected program and getting my WiFi sponsored lifted a load off my shoulders,” Read Their Story Chicago Connected scholar MELISSA ROMUALDO Read Their Story “I saw that my school was offering something to me, and I decided not to fight alone. This was something that would assist in the quality of my education, and I am deserving of that,” Read Their Story Learn to Own Laptop and Chicago Connected scholar TINA CASTILLO Read Their Story “Looking back on the moment she got her laptop, Claretha said, “I held it all the way back to my car, and I sat in my car for about 20 minutes. I thought to myself, ‘I didn’t have to give up a bill, I didn’t have to cut back on groceries, I didn’t have to apply for a credit card and get denied, and I didn’t have to pay for it [a laptop]. I didn’t have to give up anything.” Read Their Story Learn to Own Laptop scholar CLARETHA MORRELL Read Their Story “I would certainly recommend [the Chicago Connected and Learn to Own programs]. Internet and a device are necessary in our technical world as a scholar pursuing a degree. It is a burden lifted off students when they don’t have to concern themselves with the financial aspect of affording internet or equipment,” she said. Read Their Story Chicago Connected and Learn to Own scholar TRACEY THOMPSON
Read Their Story Mia Jacobs “I knew I needed a way to do my coursework,” Mia said. “I wasn’t able to stay on campus every single day to do my homework, so [Learn to Own] was a great way for me to use a computer.” Read Their Story Chicago Connected and Learn to Own scholar MIA JACOBS Read Their Story “The Chicago Connected team was responsive,” she said. “I have not had any issues and would recommend the program to any other student.” Read Their Story Chicago Connected scholar ANGELIKA SZYMANOWSKA Read Their Story “Chicago Connected is a wonderful service being offered to students to help students with the digital divide.” Read Their Story Chicago Connected and Learn to Own scholar GIOVANNY REYES Read Their Story

CHICAGO CONNECTED PROGRAM

About

A Groundbreaking Program that Provides City Colleges Students with Free Internet Access

Chicago Connected is an initiative between City Colleges of Chicago, Chicago Public Schools, and the City of Chicago to provide free, high-speed internet service to students and their families throughout the city. This innovative program eliminates a barrier to learning – access to technology – that disproportionately hurts the city’s low-income families and students of color.

Qualifying City Colleges students are eligible to receive internet at no cost through the Chicago Connected Program, whether or not they are graduates of Chicago Public Schools. To see if you are eligible, please see the Eligibility Criteria below or submit your application today. The Chicago Connected Program provides students with free internet service with download speeds of at least 50 Mbps (and upload speeds of at least 10 Mbps). Selected participants in the program should ensure that these internet speeds meet their household’s service requirements.

Students who successfully enroll in the City Colleges’ Chicago Connected Program in the 2024-25 academic year will receive free internet service through either Comcast or Astound (RCN) until at least July 31, 2025, and can remain eligible for continued service beyond that date for up to three years in total should they remain enrolled at City Colleges in future terms.

“There is no better time than now and no better place than community colleges to prepare for careers in a post-pandemic economy. City Colleges is committed to eliminating barriers, such as a lack of technology access, that prevent Chicagoans from starting and finishing college.”

– Juan Salgado, Chancellor of City Colleges of Chicago

The Extension: Continuing free internet service for CPS graduates who attend City Colleges of Chicago

CPS graduating seniors from the Classes of 2022, 2023, and 2024 formerly enrolled in Chicago Connected through their CPS high school and who choose to attend City Colleges of Chicago in the fall immediately following their CPS graduation will be provided with free extended internet service for up to three years with consecutive annual enrollment at City Colleges or upon completion of a CCC degree, whichever happens first.

How To Apply

How to take advantage of Chicago Connected

Due to meeting the program’s capacity, the Chicago Connected Program application is closed.

If you are a graduating senior of CPS (Chicago Public Schools) who enrolled in Chicago Connected during high school, or a City Colleges student who lives within the City of Chicago interested in receiving free internet service, follow these steps to apply:

  • Step 1: Apply to participate in the Chicago Connected Program by completing the Chicago Connected Application under the “Announcements” section on your student portal.
  • Step 2: Enroll in an academic program for at least 3 credit hours for Fall 2024. Chicago Connected Program will remain open for students until program capacity allows. Students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible to secure their space.

  • Step 3: Complete CCC’s financial requirements for your classes by fulfilling at least one of the following:

    • Complete a current FAFSA or RISE application
    • Setup a payment plan
    • Pay in full

  • Step 4: Remain enrolled in the course session through the 10th day of classes to secure your participation in the Chicago Connected Program.

    • Students who drop from their class(es) on or before the 10th day of the session will no longer be eligible for the Chicago Connected Program and will be removed from the program.

To enroll at City Colleges of Chicago for in-person or online classes, go to: www.ccc.edu/apply.

City Colleges Tech Equity team is here to support students interested or enrolled in the Chicago Connected Program. If you have any questions or want to request help on applying to Chicago Connected and completing its requirements, email ChicagoConnected@CCC.edu to connect with a Tech Equity staff member today!

Eligibility

Full Eligibility Criteria: Chicago Connected

Students who graduate from Chicago Public School as well as non-CPS graduates who attend City Colleges of Chicago can receive up to three years of free connectivity service through this program.

To be eligible for the program, students must be:

  • Enrolled in the Fall or Spring term (on first come, first served basis)
  • Enrolled in a credit program
  • Enrolled in at least 3 credit hours
  • Complete CCC’s financial requirements by fulfilling at least one of the following:
    • Complete a current FAFSA or RISE application
    • Setup a payment plan
    • Pay in full
  • Enrolled past the 10thday of the session to maintain their eligibility
  • Live at (or receive internet service to) a primary address within the City of Chicago city limits
  • Meet at least one of the following criteria: live within a high-poverty and/or low-connectivity-access zip code; qualify for federal assistance programs; be a recipient of the Federal Pell Grant
  • Does not have current internet service with Comcast or Astound that exceeds the Internet Essentials or Affordable Connectivity Plan

  • 60608
  • 60609
  • 60612
  • 60615
  • 60616
  • 60617
  • 60619
  • 60620
  • 60621
  • 60623
  • 60624
  • 60626
  • 60628
  • 60629
  • 60632
  • 60636
  • 60637
  • 60639
  • 60644
  • 60649
  • 60651
  • 60653
  • 60659
  • 60161 – if address located within Chicago
  • 60406 – if address located within Chicago
  • 60409 – if address located within Chicago
  • 60415 – if address located within Chicago
  • 60419 – if address located within Chicago
  • 60469 – if address located within Chicago
  • 60472 – if address located within Chicago
  • 60501 – if address located within Chicago
  • 60827 – if address located within Chicago

Additional Information

Additional Resources and Information

Applicants and interested students should review the Additional Program Information to see answers to commonly asked questions, and learn more about being assigned a service provider, the maximum internet speeds provided through the program, and when to contact CCC regarding their service.

You are also encouraged to reach out to City Colleges’ Tech Equity staff with any additional questions you have surrounding the Chicago Connected Program at ChicagoConnected@CCC.edu.

Households who are not eligible for Chicago Connected can ask their preferred internet provider for the lowest-cost plan, which may cost as low as $9.95/month.

Video Overview of the Chicago Connected Program

LEARN TO OWN LAPTOP PROGRAM

About

As part of City Colleges of Chicago’s Tech Equity programs, the Learn to Own Laptop program provides eligible students the opportunity to earn a free laptop if they enroll as credit students across two consecutive Fall and Spring terms. If students do not complete the requirements to earn their laptop, it converts back to a loaner laptop and students are expected to return the laptop to their IT department when requested.

How To Apply

The Learn to Own Laptop Application is available in the CCC student portal (my.ccc.edu).

The Learn to Own Laptop program is offered on a first come, first served basis to eligible students.

Once a student successfully completes Fall semester and stays enrolled in Spring semester, a participating student will be offered the laptop to own.

Additional Information

Additional Resources and Information

Please review programmatic information and procedures below regarding City Colleges of Chicago’s Learn to Own Laptop Program for the 2024-2025 school year.

To be eligible for the Chicago Connected Program, applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

  • Be a current credit student at City Colleges of Chicago
  • Enroll in and earn at least 6 credit hours during the Fall 2024 term AND enroll in at least 6 credit hours for the Spring 2025 term until at least April 1, 2025. OR
  • Enroll in at least 6 credit hours and will complete their credit program by the end of the Fall 2024 term

If a selected participant does not meet the eligibility during the duration of the program, they will be required to return the Learn to Own laptop.

As a reminder, if selected participants in the program no longer meet the program’s eligibility criteria, they may no longer qualify for the program and will be required to return the Learn to Own laptop. If a participant intends to drop or change their class(es), they should reach out to Tech Equity staff at TechEquity@ccc.edu to ensure that they do not lose their eligibility under the program.

Learn to Own laptops are distributed by the IT campus at the requested campus. Pick-up hours will vary from campus to campus. Kennedy-King is the only campus that accepts walk-ins during the scheduled hours. All other campuses require an appointment.

NOTE: Some campus use lockers to distribute laptops. An email from Smiota Lockers with a code will be emailed to a participant’s student email for retrieval.

Eligibility for laptop ownership is reviewed during the spring term and ownership will be granted after April 1, 2025. All participants will receive an email to their CCC email regarding their laptop status. Participants who did not meet the program’s eligibility and were not granted ownership of the laptop must return it to the IT campus that it was picked up from. Until ownership of the laptop is granted by the Tech Equity team, all laptops are considered loaned and subject to CCC’s Laptop Policy.

The following list provides common circumstances in which program participants should contact the Tech Equity Staff at CCC, should they arise:

  • You have questions regarding your program eligibility

    • If at any point during the program duration, a participant has a question regarding their program eligibility, they should email the Tech Equity team at TechEquity@ccc.edu with their question(s). Program staff are available Monday through Friday from 8am – 3pm.

  • You were deemed eligible and have not successfully retrieved a laptop

    • If participants in the program have yet to receive a Learn to Own laptop two weeks after being deemed eligible and have already contacted the campus IT department, please contact the Tech Equity staff at TechEquity@ccc.edu. Tech Equity staff will need to verify participant eligibility and coordinate a pick-up if necessary.

    • NOTE: Peak distribution takes place at the beginning of each semester, stay attentive to your student email for communication from Tech Equity, the IT campus or Smiota Lockers.

The following list provides common circumstances in which program participants should contact the IT Staff at CCC, should they arise:

  • You were deemed eligible and are arranging a laptop pick-up

    • To arrange an appointment for a laptop pick up after being deemed eligibile, contact your IT office using the contact information below. NOTE: Only Kennedy-King College allows walk-ins during the scheduled days and times outlined below.

  • You experience technical issues with the laptop

    • If you experience technical issues such as, your mouse not working, software needs updating, and similar issues, please contact your IT office for support.

 

Video Overview of the Learn to Own Laptop Program

Loaner Laptops

If you need a laptop and don’t qualify for Learn to Own, you can still borrow a laptop through City Colleges’ Loaner Laptop program.  Click here to learn more about how to borrow a laptop computer from City Colleges. 

DIGITAL LITERACY

City Colleges of Chicago offers credit and non-credit courses that prepare students with digital skills.

Find a credit program in the City Colleges’ academic catalog here.

Find a continuing education (non-credit) course here.

Other digital supports and resources:

Through the Chicago Connected Program partnership, anyone can access the tools and resources that they need to build their skills with computers. Check out a variety of guides, toolkits, and practice testing materials that cover a suite of digital programs and skills at https://www.cps.edu/strategic-initiatives/chicago-connected/digital-learning-resources/.

Have Questions? Contact Us!

Contact the City Colleges Tech Equity Team:

  • Chicago Connected | chicagoconnected@ccc.edu
  • Learn to Own Laptop | techequity@ccc.edu
  • Digital Literacy | techequity@ccc.edu