BFIT Provides Free Chromebooks to Incoming Students

August 24, 2020

Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology (BFIT) announced it will be providing free Dell Chromebooks to all new students entering the college in fall 2020 to ensure they can access online classes.

Like many colleges, BFIT will be conducting classes almost exclusively online for the fall term. This one-time Chromebook distribution program, created in direct response to the COVID-19 pandemic, will ensure that every new student has the technology needed to succeed in their studies.

“We hope this news relieves any anxiety our incoming students might be feeling about how they will access online classes,” said Calvin Conyers, Associate Dean of Admissions and Chief Enrollment Officer. “Many of our students have limited financial resources. We don’t want the cost of a laptop to stand between them and an education that will lead to a good-paying career.”

The Chromebooks will be the property of BFIT. If a student withdraws or stops attending classes before completing their program, they must return the computer or they will be charged for it. Once a student completes their program and graduates, the Chromebook will be theirs to keep.

Incoming students with questions about the program can contact admissions@bfit.edu. The Admissions Team will be on campus Aug. 24-28, 2020 for Chromebook Week, where students can complete any outstanding paperwork and sign their Chromebook contract.

The Chromebook program is just one example of BFIT’s comprehensive approach to student support, which includes one-on-one advising, free tutoring, career preparation, wellness initiatives, and much more.

BFIT, founded in 1908, has been preparing young people for success in technical fields for over a century by focusing on the technical skills that employers seek, using hands-on, collaborative teaching. The college is committed to providing pathways through affordable higher education to high-paying jobs, particularly for those who may not have many other opportunities.

Already one the most affordable private colleges in Massachusetts, BFIT offers a variety financial aid programs to help families pay for college. BFIT gives full scholarships to 30 income-eligible students per year through the City of Boston’s Tuition-Free Community College plan.

The college has also partnered with MentorWorks Education Capital to offer Income Share Agreements (ISAs), a flexible alternative to student loans that allows students to finance their education now and pay back a small percentage of their future earnings for a fixed period of time, up to a set cap. Students funded through the ISA also have access to career advisors and employers, enhancing the services of BFIT’s Career Services office.