ICC is proud to announce its selection as a recipient of the ADOPT (Advancing Digital Opportunities to Connect Kansans) grant from the Kansas Office of Broadband Development. The ADOPT program, launched by Governor Laura Kelly and administered through the Kansas Department of Commerce, is designed to close the digital divide by increasing broadband adoption and access to technology for underserved Kansans.
As part of this initiative, ICC has been awarded $300,000 to support technology access for students facing financial or geographic barriers. With these funds, the college will purchase more than 400 laptops and seven mobile computer carts to deploy across rural partner high schools and the main campus. These resources will directly benefit both current ICC students and high school students enrolled in the ICC Now dual credit program.
The funding specifically targets communities with a higher percentage of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch programs and ICC students who are Pell Grant eligible. By investing in these students, ICC and the ADOPT program are working together to eliminate one of the most persistent barriers to academic success: access to reliable technology.
“Many of our students, particularly in rural areas, don’t have access to personal computers or high-speed internet at home,” said Sarah Owen, ICC’s Director of Library Services. “Through this grant, we’re able to provide classroom sets of computers in key partner schools and offer loaner laptops to eligible students—empowering them to complete coursework, engage in virtual learning, and succeed in today’s digital academic environment.”
The new computers will be distributed among four ICC Now partner high schools:
Altoona-Midway
West Elk
Elk Valley
Cherryvale
Each location will receive a mobile computer cart stocked with laptops to support instruction during the school day. Additionally, ICC students enrolled in college-level coursework who qualify for Pell Grants will be eligible to apply for individual laptop loans each semester, offering them the flexibility needed for hybrid and online classes.
ICC is also exploring the potential to expand this program to additional ICC Now sites in the future, based on student need and continued resource availability.
“This investment directly supports our mission to serve students, no matter their zip code or socioeconomic background,” said Dr. Jonathan Sadhoo, ICC President. “We’re proud to partner with the state of Kansas to help close the technology gap for rural and underserved communities. These tools are essential, not just for academic success, but for preparing students to thrive in today’s workforce.”
Molly Rains, ICC’s Director for Academic Outreach, emphasized the importance of extending resources beyond the college’s main campus: “Our ICC Now partnerships allow high school students to get a jump start on college. This grant enhances that opportunity by providing them with the tools they need to succeed right where they are, at home in their local high schools.”