Project purpose:simmons college of kentucky, INC.'s project aims to build a digital teaching and learning center that will be a hub for providing comprehensive digital training and technology…

The Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration awarded Simmons College of Kentucky, Inc. a $5.52 million Project Grant under the Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program (CFDA 11.028) to establish a Digital Teaching and Learning Center and expand broadband access in two low-income communities in Louisville, Kentucky. The Center will provide digital skills training, technology resources, and remote support services to Simmons students and faculty. Simmons will also partner with the Family Life Center and Louisville Central Community Center, providing them with instructional design services, broadband support, and computer coordinators to expand digital offerings for local residents through onsite computer labs and an in-home training program. The award period is from January 2023 to January 2025.

Project purpose:simmons college of kentucky, INC.'s project aims to build a digital teaching and learning center that will be a hub for providing comprehensive digital training and technology resources for simmons' students and faculty. The project will also extend broadband and digital access to two neighboring low-income communities through partnerships with two community centers: the family life center and the louisville central community center.activities:simmons college will develop and implement a 5-year strategic plan for the digital teaching and learning center and establish a center on campus where students and faculty will come to acquire hardware, mobile hotspots, training, in-person help with digital learning and technology, and remote access support. Simmons will prepare and launch a digital teaching and learning center landing page on its website. Next, simmons will enable students, regardless of their academic major, to earn microsoft badges and demonstrate data analytics competency to prepare them for the world of work. Simmons will plan and provide faculty professional development courses and training to ensure distance learning faculty are proficient in using digital program technologies, applying standards, and developing a class community supportive environment. The college will establish a holistic student support services helpdesk for online and partially online students. In the community, simmons will implement an outreach service programs whereby student interns can help the elderly access digital resources. The program will begin on a small scale with the family life center. Simmons will also provide instructional design services to integrate computer skills and data analytics into all areas of its curriculum, and provide technology planning, guidance, and improved broadband support to the college, the family life center, and the louisville central community center. Simmons will develop a computer information curriculum and applied data science program, and will provide digital training skills for its students, who can then provide tutoring at the two community center partners and in-home training visits. Outcomes:this project will bring improved broadband and computer skills technology to simmons college. IT will provide broadband to distressed areas of west louisville creating greater connectivity and better educational outcomes for students and the community. IT will enable greater connectivity for students and their families, minimize the digital divide between west louisville and other communities, and create stronger economic advancement for community members by focusing on the needs and what can be attainable in communities of color. IT will enable simmons to serve as a hub for students and communities who are typically victims of the digital divide that impacts communities of color.beneficiaries:simmons college students, their families, and the anchor community in west louisville, kentucky will benefit from this project. Beneficiaries will receive increase broadband connectivity and will have better educational outcomes. Subrecipient activities:subrecipients for this project are the family life center, INC. And louisville central community center. A computer coordinator will share time between simmons college and the family life center to set up a state of the art computer lab for local residents to use free of charge and to oversee the in-home computer services delivery program. This person will pre-screen and select elderly participants for the digital device and mobile hotspot lending and in-home services training. Project activities for the louisville central community center will focus on increasing broadband support and to provide a computer skills training coordinator to expand computer hours and services. The coordinator will review the training and curriculum to explore building transition programs where participants can receive college credit.