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General FAQs

Bradley University will leverage T-Mobile 5G Advanced Network Solutions (ANS) and Apple Higher Education to create a Digitally Connected Campus.

Bradley University Digitally Connected Campus Goals:

  • Improve digital equity for Bradley University students and advance student success
  • Enrich Bradley’s learning environment and create an ecosystem supportive of academic innovation
  • Improve the university’s infrastructure and operations

Q: What is the Digitally Connected Campus initiative?

  • The 5G Digitally Connected Campus is an initiative to:
    • Improve digital equity for Bradley University students and advance student success
    • Enrich Bradley’s learning environment and create an ecosystem supportive of academic innovation
    • Improve the university’s infrastructure and operations
  • Through a partnership with T-Mobile, Bradley is bringing T-Mobile’s 5G Advanced Network Solutions (ANS) to campus. 5G ANS provides the university faster speeds, lower latency and dedicated reliability through a 5G hybrid mobile network.
  • In order to enhance the offerings of 5G ANS, Bradley and T-Mobile teamed up with Apple to provide 5G-enabled 10th Generation iPads with unlimited T-Mobile data plans. The deployment of these Apple iPads will be scaled during the 2023-2024 academic year, culminating in August 2024 with full deployment that will include students, full-time faculty, and certain student-facing staff.

Q:  What is the initiative’s overall timeline?

  • Initially, the partnership extends for six years. The first year encompasses a limited or staged rollout, faculty workshops and training, faculty-led “discovery cohorts” of students associated with particular academic use cases, and laying administrative groundwork for a successful full launch. The full launch will run from fall 2024 through spring 2029.

Q: Why did Bradley choose to implement the Digitally Connected Campus initiative?

  • Bradley chose to implement the Digitally Connected Campus initiative for several reasons, many of which align directly with the University Strategic Plan.
    • Bradley aims to enhance the overall learning experience for students by leveraging technology to create a more interactive and engaging learning environment.
    • Providing students with 10th Generation iPads with unlimited 5G data plans improves digital equity for Bradley students and advances student success.
    • Bradley recognizes the Digitally Connected Campus initiative can improve accessibility and inclusivity. The program provides a digital platform that will provide the opportunity for new online learning options and assistive technologies.
    • The Digitally Connected Campus initiative provides an updated IT infrastructure that will allow for implementation of improvements in campus operations and safety.
    • The initiative aligns with the university's boundary-breaking vision to stay at the forefront of educational innovation. By embracing digital technologies, Bradley aims to equip students with the skills and competencies necessary for success in a rapidly evolving digital world. 
    • The Digitally Connected Campus initiative presents opportunities for research and collaboration. By leveraging advanced digital tools and connectivity, the university envisions increased interdisciplinary collaborations, community partnerships, and research advancements. 
  • Overall, Bradley's decision to implement the Digitally Connected Campus initiative was driven by a desire to advance digital equity for our students, enrich Bradley's learning environment, foster academic innovation, support student success, and improve the university's infrastructure and operations.

Q: What is digital equity and why is it important?

  • Digital equity refers to ensuring equal access and opportunities for individuals and communities to participate fully in the digital world, including access to technology, internet connectivity, and digital skills.
  • Digital equity is essential for education as it ensures equal access to educational resources, online learning opportunities, digital tools, and connectivity. It helps eliminate disparities in educational outcomes, and promotes more inclusive and engaging learning environments.
  • Achieving digital equity leads to numerous benefits, such as increased educational opportunities, improved job prospects, enhanced access to information and services, strengthened civic participation, and overall social and economic empowerment.
  • Digital equity is crucial because it ensures everyone has equal opportunities to benefit from the advantages of the digital age. It helps bridge the digital divide, promotes inclusivity, and allows individuals to thrive in a technology-driven society.
  • Although Bradley’s Digitally Connected Campus initiative does not achieve full digital equity for students, this effort with T-Mobile and Apple represents a significant step toward addressing digital equity challenges encountered by Bradley students while they pursue their academic endeavors.
  • More than half of college students experience stress from unreliable internet or device problems.1
  • The number of students who lack adequate technology to do coursework can range from 20% in four-year colleges to 50% at community colleges.2
  • Three in five college students face housing or food insecurity, which makes paying for technology/connectivity a struggle.3

Q: What technology is being provided?

  • Included with the program are the following:
    • Apple iPad 10th Generation, 5G-enabled, 64GB, A14 Bionic chip, 10.9” screen size
    • Bradley-branded protective case with integrated smart keyboard and trackpad
    • 5G unlimited data plan with the ability to use the iPad as a hotspot. (Each iPad comes with 10GB per month of hotspot data at 5G speeds.)
    • AppleCare+ for Enterprise (ACE) coverage for each device in case of accidental damage

Q: Who will receive the initial rollout of Apple iPads during the 2023-2024 Academic Year?

  • The first devices will be distributed to full-time faculty early in the fall 2023 semester. As the 2023-2024 academic year unfolds, the deployment of devices will extend to “discovery cohorts” that will scale to represent approximately 25% of the student body.
  • Discovery cohorts will be identified and established during the fall 2023 semester.

Q: Who will receive Apple iPads during the 2024-2025 Academic Year?

  • Students, full-time faculty, and certain student-facing staff yet to be identified.

Q: Does Bradley University own the devices?

  • Yes, each Apple iPad is owned by Bradley University. 
  • However, users will be able to personalize the devices for both school and life use, including downloading apps, syncing with other devices, and streaming content.
Citations

  1. EDUCAUSE, 2022 Students and Technology Report: Rebalancing the Student Experience, https://www.educause.edu/ecar/research-publications/2022/students-and-technology-report-rebalancing-the-student-experience/technology-challenges-and-solutions

  1. See, e.g., Sarah Wood, “How Colleges Are Bridging the Digital Divide,” U.S. News & World Report, November 10, 2021, https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/how-colleges-are-bridging-the-digital-divide; Hazel Kelly, “Student Surveys Show CSUCCESS iPads Enhance Educational Experience,” California State University, March 7, 2022, https://www.calstate.edu/csu-system/news/Pages/CSUCCESS-iPads-Enhance-Experience-2022.aspx.

  1. The Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice, #RealCollege 2021: Basic Needs Insecurity During the Ongoing Pandemic, 2021, https://scholarshare.temple.edu/handle/20.500.12613/6953