Bunker Hill Community College Helps Students with Remote Learning
Thursday, April 23, 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic has magnified the inequities in our society, especially when it comes to education. BHCC students face significant financial challenges in the best of times and an estimated 20 -25 % do not have the technology – personal computers and internet – to support remote and on-line learning. The College’s shift to complete remote instruction, tutoring and advising during the COVID-19 crisis presented an obstacle to these students’ ability to stay enrolled.
BHCC recently received funding sufficient to purchase up to 800 Chromebooks through the generous support of three foundations. These include the Paul & Phyllis Fireman Charitable Foundation, the City of Boston GRAD Last Mile Fund, supported by the Frieze Family Foundation, and The BHCC Foundation, Inc.
“BHCC wants to provide our students with the tools and resources they need to stay in school, including technology and basic needs. The gifts from these three foundations will make a big difference to our students’ ability to succeed,” said BHCC President Pam Eddinger.
The Chromebooks, which are on loan to the students, were initially distributed through the College’s DISH (Delivering Information Sustenance and Health) food pantry. A local community partner, SnapChef, stepped in to provide Chromebook deliveries during a temporary disruption in services at the DISH due to the COVID-19 surge.
BHCC students are facing tremendous financial hurdles created by the pandemic, such as job loss and increased family obligations. To help BHCC students during these unprecedented times, the BHCC Foundation has created a COVID-19 Student Relief Fund. This flexible fund enables the College to respond quickly to student needs caused by the COVID-19 crisis.
Learn more about BHCC’s COVID-19 Student Relief Fund.
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About Bunker Hill Community College
With more than 50 years of academic excellence, Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC) is Massachusetts' largest community college, annually welcoming a diverse community of around 16,000 students. With campuses in Charlestown and Chelsea, BHCC extends its reach across several locations in Greater Boston. The College offers associate degrees and certificates, early college and dual enrollment, community education, corporate training, and industry-specific training programs. BHCC is celebrated for its diversity, boasting a student body where 65% identify as people of color and more than half are women. The College also embraces a global perspective, with over 600 international students representing 90 countries and conversing in more than 65 languages. Our commitment to diversity is further reflected in BHCC's designation as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and an Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI).