The University of Arkansas at Monticello Homepage

The University of Arkansas at Monticello College of Technology–McGehee (UAM-CTM) and the UAM Adult Education Center will launch the UAM Digital Literacy Program in January as part of the “3 Southern States Connected Communities Program,” a regional effort led by Digitunity and AT&T to expand computer access and digital skills training.

The program launch will be held on January 21 at 11 a.m. on the UAM-CTM campus. Several special guests will be in attendance, including representatives from Digitunity, AT&T and Congressman Bruce Westerman’s office, local mayors, Chamber of Commerce directors and other dignitaries. The event is free and open to the public.

Through the program, students who complete WAGE I and WAGE II employability courses will receive a refurbished laptop, and students in the Business Office Technology and Health Information Technology programs at UAM-CTM may check out laptops for use during their studies and keep them after graduation. All participants will complete a digital literacy workshop on basic computer use, online safety and internet skills.

The laptops are refurbished and supplied through Digitunity, a national nonprofit that distributes donated technology to communities in need.

“We are profoundly privileged to advance this transformative initiative to expand technology access across southeast Arkansas,” Steven Jossell, vice chancellor of UAM-CTM, said. “For far too long, communities in our region have confronted persistent technological barriers and limited access to computers and dependable, high-quality internet. Our charge is to dismantle those barriers so we can meaningfully elevate educational attainment and propel long-term economic vitality.”

For more information, contact Jason Henry, director of Student Services at UAM-CTM, at henryj@uamont.edu or 870-460-2130.

 

###

 

About Digitunity

Digitunity is a national nonprofit organization making computer ownership possible for everyone. For more than 40 years, Digitunity has worked to close the digital divide in the United States by shaping and strengthening systems that make computer ownership possible. With 1 in 7 U.S. households lacking a computer at home, this national-local approach mobilizes resources, influences policy, and builds durable solutions that expand opportunity, participation, and economic mobility. Learn more at www.digitunity.org. 

About Philanthropy at AT&T
At AT&T, our corporate responsibility work is dedicated to bridging the digital divide across the country. We are committed to providing people of all ages and from every community with the essential resources they need to thrive in the digital era. For generations, we have supported programs that impact millions of individuals nationwide, and since 2021, we have committed $5 billion to initiatives that enhance connectivity, promote digital literacy, and improve access to high-speed internet. Our efforts particularly focus on uplifting underserved communities, including students, older adults, and un- or underemployed individuals, ensuring everyone can participate in the digital world and benefit from its opportunities.

About UAM
The University of Arkansas at Monticello was established in 1909 and was formally known as the Fourth District Agricultural School, the Agricultural and Mechanical College of the Fourth District and Arkansas Agricultural and Mechanical College. The four-year institution is located in Monticello, Arkansas. In 2003, UAM expanded its mission to include vocational and technical education when the UAM College of Technology-Crossett and the UAM College of Technology-McGehee became part of UAM to create a comprehensive system of postsecondary education in southeast Arkansas.