KCC: Free laptops available to digital readiness students
PUHI — Kaua‘i Community College and three other University of Hawai‘i community colleges are offering those will little or no computer experience the opportunity to complete a free, digital-readiness course for the chance to receive a refurbished laptop, while supplies last.
Hawai‘i CC, Kapi‘olani CC, Kaua‘i CC and Windward CC are offering introductory, hands-on classes for adults this month.
To register for digital-readiness classes at participating UH community colleges and for class times, call 808-235-7334. Students who complete this course will also receive a year-long subscription to NorthStar’s online courses in order to increase their digital literacy or acquire other workforce skills.
UH community colleges began offering the digital-readiness program in May 2021 in partnership with the Workforce Development Council and the Hawai‘i State Public Library System.
More than 520 Hawai‘i residents took the course in 2021.
The state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism and UH signed a memorandum of agreement for the laptops in January.
Under the agreement, DBEDT is providing 100 refurbished laptop computers for distribution to students who complete the digital-readiness course. In return, UH will, among other things:
• Assist program participants in registering for the NorthStar Digital Literacy Assessment;
• Provide program participants with technical hardware and software support through referrals to Hawaiian Hope.