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Amid the pandemic, a landmark program keeps students plugged in

Chancellor Christ secured emergency one-year funding to cover the cost software licenses for all students continued access to Adobe and Microsoft Office, an expense covered by the Student Technology Fee for the past seven years. 

The Student Technology Council (STC) provides graduate, professional and undergraduate students with the opportunity to advise the Chief Information Officer and other senior IT leaders about the comprehensive student technology experience. Areas of focus may include campus WiFi and connectivity needs; cybersecurity and phishing prevention; tech support services for students; software and device needs; and much more.

The Emergency Broadband Benefit Program is a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) program that provides a temporary discount on monthly broadband bills for qualifying low-income households. 

Despite the STF receiving a majority of the votes in the 2021 ASUC Elections, it failed to meet a campus policy that requires a minimum voter threshold of 20% of all enrolled and eligible students to be met for a referendum to pass. The failed renewal of the referendum impacts provision of student technology services and tools.

The ASUC Elections Council states that, since turnout on student fee ballot questions did not meet the University's policy requirement of 20% casting yes or no votes, renewal of the Student Technology Fee and the Daily Cal Initiative both failed to pass in the 2021 ASUC election. Students argue, during public comment, that the democratic process is being harmed and that abstentions should be counted toward the calculation of turnout. 

The Editorial Board of UC Berkeley's student newspaper advises students vote "yes" on renewal of the Student Technology Fee.

Read more about the Student Technology Fund up for renewal on the April ASUC ballot.

In an interview with campus leaders, the STF was recognized for assisting students with hardware needs during the pandemic.

The Student Tech Fund's STEP (Student Technology Equity Program) initiative was highlighted as one of the "moments of brightness" on the campus in an otherwise historically challenging year.

Top UC Berkeley stories of 2020: The year in images, video and audio

New Student Technology Equity Program (STEP), managed by the Student Technology Fund, provides technology hardware for students in need during remote learning for the 2020-21 academic year.

Student Tech Fund's efforts are recognized in this message from Chancellor Carol Christ and Vice Chancellor for Development and Alumni Relations Julie Morgan, sent in May 2020.

This article highlights campus efforts--including STEP of the Student Technology Fund-- to help students in need when COVID-19 closed campus