Internet Access and Software Alternatives for Students on the Wrong Side of the Digital Divide

When considering higher education and distance and online learning, the topic of the digital divide continues to be both important and vexing. While there has certainly been some progress made in bridging the divide, many students, particularly those in lower income brackets, continue to encounter problems in terms of access to both high-speed connections and software. As these students increase in numbers on our campuses, and as higher education continues to move aggressively towards providing more instruction online, educators must assess how these issues have been and are being addressed.