UK ITS Receives Help From Unlikely Heroes to Get MiFis to Students
LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 9, 2020) — Recently the University of Kentucky, with direction from President Eli Capilouto, suspended all in-person instruction and transitioned to online learning through the end of the spring semester in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Teaching, Learning and Academic Innovation has offered extended instructional design and technology support.
However, one challenge that quickly presented itself was getting technology to students that did not already possess the resources needed to be successful for the semester. Leadership in Student and Academic Life and Information Technology Services (ITS) immediately started unraveling the layers of technology students would need.
“ITS had iPads, but at the time we had no way to get them to students. We were also faced with an even bigger issue — making sure students had the internet connection to complete their online courses,” said Heath Price, associate chief information officer for ITS.
ITS contacted several companies to purchase the suddenly high demand MiFis — a wireless router that acts as a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot — with no luck. Finally, Sprint contacted ITS with news they had MiFis but had no way to get them to campus in time for the start of online classes.
With the assistance of two student-athletes from Radford University — Bus Baker and Benji Pinckney — the 1,500 MiFis made it to campus in time to mail them out to students.
“We wanted to do everything we could to help students during this nontraditional time, so the urgency to have this technology to students was very real,” said Price. “Being able to have these MiFis for students was a huge relief because it meant we could deliver on a defined need — providing a resource to students that would allow them to be successful in their effort during a difficult time.”
So, how did Radford University students enter the picture? Baker's mother works for Sprint, and Pinckney was staying with Baker after Radford had sent their students home due to the pandemic. Baker and Pinckney, both cross country runners, had no hesitation in stepping up when they heard UK needed help.
“My mom told me UK needed a delivery so they could help their students, and we thought it would be more fun than sitting in the house,” Baker said. “They needed our help and we didn’t mind doing it. We got to travel and help fellow college kids out.”
Pinckney had a similar mindset, “In such a rough time there’s an accountability that we have to take care of each other and help each other out in any way possible.”
Pinckney and Baker drove seven hours from Ohio to Nashville, spent the night in Nashville, picked up the MiFis early the next morning and drove straight to UK’s campus — delivering the equipment in less than 24 hours.
“What these young men delivered to campus was invaluable," Price said. "Their willingness to step up and do this secured our position to be ready for the online transition. We can’t thank them enough.”
UK continues to support their students in the transition to online learning. For more information visit https://learnanywhere.uky.edu/.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.
In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.