Early Bird

Visible donates 250 tablets to MSU Denver

The Denver-based wireless company is providing free devices and services to Roadrunners through April 2021.

By Lindsey Coulter

May 26, 2020

Denver-based wireless company Visible, a subsidiary of Verizon, recently donated 250 ZTE Android tablets and free internet service to Metropolitan State University of Denver for distribution to students in need. The donation will ensure that, no matter their economic status, Roadrunners can successfully stay connected to the University and on track to achieve their academic goals.

Visible’s donation supports remote learning by giving students direct access to technology. The tablets were intended specifically to help students who often used campus computers to complete coursework, and had been making do by using their smartphones or sharing devices. Additionally, the company will provide internet service to the devices at no cost to the student or University through April 2021 via WiFi and its 4G LTE cellular network.

"MSU Denver is a great example of an organization that has had to reshape the way it provides services to all students," said Miguel Quiorga, CEO of Visible. "We are honored to partner in this endeavor to ensure (that) students can have access to the technology they need to be successful in their studies.”

To make the greatest possible impact, Visible empowered the MSU Denver Student Care Team to distribute the devices to students in need. The donation is a perfect example of University efforts to collaborate with like-minded community partners in support of student success. Over the past year, Visible has been exploring ways to lend support to students who self-identify as homeless, and the University’s work to serve this hidden population of homeless students struck a chord with the company.

“Our entire Visible team is so proud to stand behind the University’s hard work to ensure (that) all students are successful this year,” said Meagan Dorsch, social-good-and-impact lead for Visible.

“Our most vulnerable students are balancing so much right now, and Visible’s donation removes a huge source of stress for them,” added Dave Haden, associate dean, Student Engagement and Wellness. “This donation and partnership speaks directly to our core values of access and equity in education.”

Students in need of technology support can submit a Uhardware request to Information Technology Services. Students may receive the ZTE Android tablets or one of several dozen Acer Chromebooks or Dell Latitudes supplied by the Colorado Department of Higher Education.