Temple University
IN-27: Innovation D

The Temple Tech for Philly Partnership between Project HOME and Temple University is designed to introduce and teach adult individuals from the community through hands on training from subject matter experts in the IT field, hardware and software topics related to the 901 and 902 A+ Exam with the goal of finding a job that leads to an exponential career path. Program need: 1. Digital Divide exists and shows up along socioeconomic boundaries connected to race, income and geography; 2. Temple has excess technology that is still usable and life can be extended with minimum investment; 3. Monthly internet connection is cost prohibitive; 4. Some common software is cost prohibitive; 5. Tech Support is cost prohibitive; 6. There is not a trained workforce in the community to maintain the existing technology, thus leaving community member without home access and limits their access to public computer labs that may not meet the schedules of all in need of technology access. Program goals: 1. Train the workforce (A+ training by Temple U SME); 2. Provide technology to learn and live on (CRC provides a pool of technology); 3. Provide internet to connect (Work with Comcast Internet Essentials); 4. Provide updated software ( Project HOME > Tech Soup); 5. Have them learn to support the technology (Training/ Self Learning); 6. Have population get certified (Take A+ exam); 7. Provide work experience (Internship Cycle At Temple and Project HOME); 8. Give Back (They support the technology pool as volunteers at Honickman); 9. Continue the career path (with experience and certification); 10. Entry level IT related position in Philly growing tech field. Program structure: During the fall semester, students will work toward earning their A+ certification. A+ certificate programs teach students the necessary information to acquire A+ certification, which is becoming an industry-wide standard for entry-level computer technicians. The certification is provided by vendor-neutral CompTIA. During the spring semester, Temple hosts a 9 week internship rotation up to 9 interns - 3 cycles of 3 weeks each in 3 different departments 2-3 per cohort, 3 days per week 4 hours per day (sample Temple departments: CRC, Helpdesk and DT Lan).