CSU-East Bay Left Out Of Free iPad Plan

HAYWARD, CA — California State University students at 14 campuses will receive iPads upon enrollment as part of a program to eliminate "equity gaps" in diverse student bodies. CSU-East Bay was left off the list.

The program — dubbed CSUCCESS — began this fall on eight CSU campuses: Northridge, Bakersfield, Channel Islands, Fresno, Humboldt, Maritime Academy and San Marcos. The expansion announced Wednesday will include Dominguez Hills, Fullerton, Long Beach, Pomona, San Bernardino and Sonoma, according to CSU.

Every incoming first-year and transfer student for the spring semester receives a new iPad Air, Apple Pencil and Apple Smart Keyboard Folio.

"I'm excited to expand 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," CSU Chancellor Joseph I. Castro said in a statement. "Phase One of CSUCCESS was well-received by our students and the program shows tremendous promise in advancing our goals of student success and educational equity."

The program was created because many students said they lacked access to the appropriate technology needed to keep up with school during the pandemic, CSU said.

In addition to the iPad initiative, CSU also spent $18 million on laptops and Wi-Fi hotspots for students throughout the pandemic.

"There's a lot of students that don't have access to the technology that they need to complete their classes, especially in this pandemic environment now. If they don't have those tools they need it's really hard to be successful," campus store manager Amy Berger said in a video on the CSUCCESS website.

Visit the CSUCCESS website for details on how to register for your iPad.

City News Service and Emily Rahhal contributed to this story.