TAMIU Launching Student Loaner Laptop Program for Fall

This Fall at Texas A&M International University (TAMIU)  is different in many ways, but TAMIU hopes to answer one of the challenges some students face… access to technology… with a solution that’s just a click away.

TAMIU has developed a Loaner Laptop Program to support students whose access to technology is a challenge. 

TAMIU president Dr. Pablo Arenaz said the initiative was borne of the University’s sudden transition to online last Spring with the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We saw that there were some students with clear disadvantages.  For instance, they found themselves having to share a home computer with others in their family as public schools went online, or they found their computer inadequate for the tasks at hand…or simply had been using computers on campus and didn’t have a home computer when access was limited.  Fortunately, our TAMIU CARES program has provided us with funding support which makes this program possible,” Dr. Arenaz explained.

To qualify for the program, applicants will complete a simple online questionnaire, contract and acknowledgement.  Applicants must be current TAMIU students, enrolled in at least 6 credit hours and be fully paid for the semester of enrollment to be eligible. The laptop loaners will be provided after Friday, Sept. 18.

The laptops, Dell Latitude 3410’s with 14” display, camera and microphone.  They

 have been pre-loaded with software suitable for TAMIU classes and online and cloud connectivity. The units can be loaned on a semester-long basis and are subject to status checks.

The effort is being coordinated by TAMIU’s Office of Outreach and Pre-College Programs. 

Scheiby González Fisher,  executive director of TAMIU Outreach and Pre-College Programs, said the new initiative reaffirms the University’s commitment to student success.

“These are challenging times for our students, and making sure that they have access to the tools they need to succeed is simply mission critical. Just as we provide resources and services like our  Killam Library and Advising and Mentoring Center, making sure that technology is friend and not foe to students is absolutely crucial to their success,” González Fisher explained. 

Interested TAMIU students can complete an online application for consideration at: go.tamiu.edu/laptop.  Computers will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.  Contact the Office of Outreach and Pre-College Programs at 956.326.2720, email outreach@tamiu.edu , or visit offices in the Senator Judith Zaffirini Student Success Center, room 138.

Registration for the current Fall semester ends Friday, Aug. 28. Financial Aid is still available, and University  offices are open to the public Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

TAMIUFlex, Hybrid, Face-to-Face and online courses all have the same low tuition rates. An online catalog containing a list of all undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degree programs is at http://catalog.tamiu.edu

The University’s online COVID-19 Response Center is updated regularly and includes information on office schedules and services, an expansive FAQ, quick links, student resources, official information resources and much more. 

To learn more about TAMIU’s Back Together Plan for Fall, go to  https://www.tamiu.edu/coronavirus/student-faqs.shtml