Tools for a school year like no other
Even before the pandemic hit, technology was an essential part of delivering a high-quality education. Without access to a designated laptop or tablet for school, the challenges of remote learning become far more complicated. Imagine doing hundreds of pages of reading on your phone, or typing a six-page research paper on the iPad you share with your children.
For PSU students, these scenarios are all too common. Ellen Weeks, former PSU Associate Chief Information Officer, was keenly aware of these challenges and wanted to find a solution to improve access at Portland State. She discovered several universities have been piloting initiatives to provide personal laptops to students. Different from a lending library system, these programs offer personal laptops to students to keep as fully their own — no strings attached. Weeks wanted to start the same kind of effort at PSU, with the goal of providing computers to students to take them through four years of school and beyond.
“It’s important to acknowledge that PSU students can be in really financially challenging situations and don’t always have their own computers,” Weeks said. “Our students should have the right tools for them to succeed.”
Just as the program was lifting off, COVID-19 became a reality and the need for personal devices skyrocketed.
Sarah MacIntyre, a child, youth and families major who graduated from PSU this spring, received her laptop in the middle of the pandemic.
"As a first-generation college student who could only be here through scholarships, loans, and out-of-pocket money, I can't express how great it feels to OWN something," she said. “The immense pride and independence I felt picking up my laptop are feelings that should not go unnoticed.”
Since graduating, the laptop has continued to be a huge resource in helping her to start her career, allowing her to search for and apply to jobs.
For PSU students, these scenarios are all too common. Ellen Weeks, former PSU Associate Chief Information Officer, was keenly aware of these challenges and wanted to find a solution to improve access at Portland State. She discovered several universities have been piloting initiatives to provide personal laptops to students. Different from a lending library system, these programs offer personal laptops to students to keep as fully their own — no strings attached. Weeks wanted to start the same kind of effort at PSU, with the goal of providing computers to students to take them through four years of school and beyond.
“It’s important to acknowledge that PSU students can be in really financially challenging situations and don’t always have their own computers,” Weeks said. “Our students should have the right tools for them to succeed.”
Just as the program was lifting off, COVID-19 became a reality and the need for personal devices skyrocketed.
Sarah MacIntyre, a child, youth and families major who graduated from PSU this spring, received her laptop in the middle of the pandemic.
"As a first-generation college student who could only be here through scholarships, loans, and out-of-pocket money, I can't express how great it feels to OWN something," she said. “The immense pride and independence I felt picking up my laptop are feelings that should not go unnoticed.”
Since graduating, the laptop has continued to be a huge resource in helping her to start her career, allowing her to search for and apply to jobs.
"The immense pride and independence I felt picking up my laptop are feelings that should not go unnoticed."
The computers are making a big difference in the lives of PSU students — both powering their academic performance and instilling a sense of pride. By the end of 2020, more than 100 students had received laptops through the scholarship. As the pandemic continued into 2021, laptops were distributed to an additional 183 students.
Weeks’ laptop scholarship became a part of a constellation of support programs across the university designed to support students through COVID — and donors stepped up to help.
Private support combined with funding from the PSU Resilience Fund and the CARES Act made it possible for Weeks and her team to order and distribute laptops to students through the PSU Bookstore.
In recognition of Weeks’ efforts to spearhead this initiative at Portland State, PSU President Steve Percy announced this spring that the program would be renamed the PSU Ellen Drake Weeks Laptop Scholarship. A PSU alumna herself, Weeks hails from a family of PSU graduates — her mother, brother and sister and husband have degrees from PSU and her son is now a PSU student. Weeks worked at PSU for more than 30 years before her recent retirement.
“Having this important scholarship program named after me is one of the most personally moving things in my life,” Weeks said. “PSU has been a big part of my world, and I’m very honored by this. I want to continue to help further the scholarship program any way I can.”