MCGEHEE, Ark. — On January 21, the University of Arkansas at Monticello College of Technology-McGehee (UAM-CTM) launched the UAM-CTM Digital Literacy Program in collaboration with Digitunity and AT&T. The launch event was hosted by UAM-CTM on its campus in McGehee and attended by representatives from Digitunity and AT&T.
Digitunity is a national nonprofit organization committed to making computer ownership possible for all Americans. For over 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, this national-local approach mobilizes resources, influences policy and builds durable solutions that expand opportunity, participation and economic mobility.
Digitunity and AT&T are working together to expand computer ownership and digital skills through their “3 Southern States Connected Communities Program,” which supports local organizations across Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi by focusing on four key components: computer distribution, digital navigator support, digital skills training and community capacity. Organizations across the three states are helping residents gain access to computers, develop new skills and build confidence with technology. Through community-based events, training and computer distribution, more people can fully participate in today’s digital world.
In Desha County, Arkansas, according to the 2024 ACS 5-Year U.S. Census, 46% of households do not own a computer, leaving students who pursue higher education at a disadvantage. Under this collaboration, students who participate in the UAM-CTM Digital Literacy Program receive digital skills training and devices to bridge this digital divide and expand their access to education, employment and essential services.
Steven Jossell, vice chancellor of UAM-CTM, thanked Digitunity and AT&T and highlighted the collaborative framework underpinning the initiative, noting that UAM-CTM “served as the convener, catalyst and steward of this collaboration.” He emphasized the institution’s role in ensuring that resources are deployed strategically, delivered with integrity and evaluated through measurable outcomes.
“Digital opportunity is both a moral and economic imperative,” Jossell stated. “Access to opportunity in today’s society is inextricably linked to digital access and digital fluency. One’s access to opportunity should never be determined by zip code, income level or circumstance. Ensuring equitable participation requires more than individual efforts; it requires bold, sustained, intentional collaboration committed to expanding opportunities and strengthening communities.”
Currently, UAM-CTM students enrolled in the Business Office Technology and Health Information Technology online programs can participate in the UAM-CTM Digital Literacy Program while pursuing their degree. Those who complete the GED and WAGE I employability courses or WAGE I and WAGE II employability courses and an IET course receive refurbished laptops. All participants must complete a digital literacy workshop on basic computer use, online safety and internet skills.
“This program represents much more than just access to laptops or training sessions,” said Dr. Peggy Doss, chancellor of the University of Arkansas at Monticello. “It’s access to opportunity in education, and in today’s world, digital skills are just not an option. They’re a necessity. It’s essential for education; it’s essential for employment; it’s essential for healthcare and for civic engagement. When individuals lack that access to the technology itself, or the skill sets to use that technology, entire communities are impacted by it, and our state is impacted.”
Digitunity and AT&T have committed to providing 250 laptops for distribution to program participants at UAM-CTM, with the possibility of expanding the collaboration in the future. To celebrate the program’s launch, 11 students who already completed program requirements received their laptops from Dr. Dorissa Kaufman, director of Adult Education at UAM-CTM.
Dr. Doss expressed her appreciation to the project’s collaborators during the launch, stating, “We’re especially grateful to Digitunity for providing the refurbished technology, to AT&T for your leadership and your investment and to the ‘3 Southern States Connected Communities Program’ for recognizing the importance of rural and regional connectivity.”
To learn more about the UAM-CTM Digital Literacy Program, contact Jason Henry at henryj@uamont.edu or 870-460-2130.
