So far in the fall semester, Delta has distributed more than 500 laptops but don’t currently have any to loan to students.
As of right now there are currently more than 200 laptops waiting on power supplies from the vendor.
The arrival of power supplies will resolve around 200 open referrals, leaving a shortage of around 177 laptops.
According to Alex Brietler, one of the challenges that the program is facing is that laptops loaned to students are often never returned.
Even when laptops are returned, they sometimes lack accessories like power cords, and the tech squad has ordered additional replacements.
Alex Breitler passed all the information to me from the tech squad regarding the update on the laptops situation.
“We are working on purchasing replacement power supplies, which should make additional devices available later this semester.”
The last order of laptops cost more than $1,000 per unit, including the warranty, maintenance and IT software utilities.
On Sept. 9, the Tech Squad issued a purchase for new laptops.
Prior to COVID-19, Delta didn’t have a single student technology loan program at all. The program was put in place about five years ago during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Currently, the program has made significant progress in making the technology more accessible and available for students.
“Essentially, it’s important to understand that this program is offered ‘while supplies last.’ Depending on our inventory and how many laptops are returned from the preceding session, there’s no guarantee that students will get a device,” said Breitler.
Over the last two years, Delta’s laptop availability has been an ongoing issue due to some devices not being returned.
“We have no way of knowing the status of any laptop until the end of the term, when hopefully it is returned,” said Breitler.
