We are very excited to announce that Humber has partnered with Renewed Computer Technology (RCT) to offer a low-income computer purchasing program for Humber students and community clients this semester (Winter 2020).
Humber is the first higher education institution in Ontario to partner with RCT in this way and offer a purchasing program that aims to make technology affordable and accessible to our learners with financial need. To date, RCT has only worked with non-profit organizations and K-12 school boards. Up to 300 computers will be available during the winter semester. We intend to pilot this program in winter 2020 and then scale up the number of available computers for purchase in the 2020-21 academic year.
Detailed information about the purchasing program will be circulated with stakeholders across Humber’s academic and student service departments, including Ignite. Students will need to apply online using a special code specific to their campus locations.
Computers must be purchased by mid-February and will be delivered to specified North and Lakeshore Campus pick-up locations by mid-March. The purchase cost is $161 for a laptop is and $71 for a desktop package. All computers come pre-loaded with Windows, MS Office, other learning software as well as a two-year warranty. Desktop packages also include monitor, keyboard and mouse.
Low-income eligibility requirements for the purchasing program are noted on the flyer.
In keeping with Humber’s commitment to sustainability, we are also pleased to share that Community Outreach & Workforce Development will be working with Information Technology Services as well as the Office of Sustainability to ensure that this partnership with RCT is connected to initiatives that encourage the Humber community to recycle technology over the next year. ITS has generously supported the collection of computers for RCT’s low-income program in the past and we are pleased that this will continue as part of a collective strategy. Please stay tuned for more updates!
Please find a copy of Humber’s Sustainability Plan here.
Questions can be directed to Nivedita Lane, Manager, Community & Partnership Development, COWD (nivedita.lane@humber.ca).
