Digital Learning Program (DLP) FAQs

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Last updated: Apr 30, 2024 by Karen Schellhaass
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As of Spring, 2023, this program only continues for students currently with checkout equipment who maintain eligibility. The DLP Program is no longer available for new participants. Although content on this page is subject to change or clarification, the Digital Learning Program has ended.

Digital Learning Program Webpage

Visit the https://minneapolis.edu/dlp page to access the DLP Terms and Conditions files.

Who is Eligible?

Students who had checkout equipment in Fall 2022 must maintain all the eligibility requirements for the entire duration of the semester-by-semester checkout.

  • Minneapolis College students currently enrolled in 3 credits or more at Minneapolis College

  • For laptops, not already have a leased or checked out laptop from Minneapolis College

  • Be and remain in Academic Good Standing

  • Be and remain in Good Financial Standing – no financial holds

  • Not have any violations of the leased or checkout equipment programs

  • Meet the equipment usage requirement: the checkout laptop must have been recorded in our system as being connected to the internet or logged into within the last 30 days

Appeal your academic or financial aid suspension

Holds and registration blocks information

 

The Digital Learning Program is no longer open to new participants.

 

PSEO and D3 students were able to participate in the checkout program.

Laptop Renewal Process and Timeline

  1. Eligibility Verification Process
    About 2 weeks prior to the next semester, eligibility verification will take place and students will be notified of their renewal status.
    Eligibility will also be run at random times during the semester to ensure students remain eligible. Students should report if they are no longer eligible and return any checkout equipment within 7 days of no longer being eligible.

    1. Student is eligible for checkout renewal
      Move on to step three

    2. Student not eligible for checkout renewal
      Students will receive an email to letting them know if they are not eligible. If a student is able to meet meets the eligibility requirements before the designated return date, they can request a review of eligibility.

  2. Equipment Returns
    Checkout laptops and hotspots are checked out on a per semester basis and must be returned by the specified return date on the notification OR within 7 business days after the semester ends, whichever is first.

  3. Equipment Extensions
    Eligible students continuing to take classes into the next semester may request an extension on the laptop, student must be registered and meet all the eligibility requirements for the next semester to be approved for an extension. The checkout laptops can be returned at any time during the semester.

Free Internet Resources

Although the Minneapolis College-paid internet options ended at the end of Spring 2023, the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is available directly to students from an internet service provider.

Minneapolis College has previously provided two free internet options for students who had checkout equipment in Fall 2022. This free service continued while they remained eligible until the end of the Spring 2023 semester. Both of these Minneapolis College-paid internet options ended at the end of Spring 2023.

NOTE: There is a different national program - the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) - available from the government directly to you, without having to meet the additional Minneapolis college eligibility requirements. It is a program for free internet service directly to you.

You may read and apply for ACP at: https://www.whitehouse.gov/getinternet/

If you want to check to see if you can get Comcast internet or Verizon internet with the nationwide ACP Program, Affordable Connectivity Program, which will give the same level of service directly from the vendor, which means that you do not also have to meet the additional Minneapolis College eligibility requirements (3+ credits at Minneapolis College, etc), then check out these websites:

https://www.verizon.com/home/free-verizon-internet/

or

What is Provided with the Checkout Laptop

Students receive the hardware and essential software needed for their academic work, including:

  • Windows Laptop and charger

  • Access to college network applications and services including Microsoft 365

  • Auto configuration to the wireless network on-campus

  • Technology support on Minneapolis College-checkout devices

Checkout Laptop Specs

All checkout laptops have the same configuration.

  • Windows 10 Operating System

  • CPU: i3 Processor

  • At least 4 GB RAM (processing memory)

  • At least a 128 GB hard drive (storage)

Checkout Equipment Return Process

Please return the checkout equipment to Technology Support at T.3302 if any of the following events occur:

  1. Within 7 days of the end of the semester if you are not registered for the next semester

  2. Within 7 days of no longer meeting the on-going eligibility requirements, including if you stop taking at least 3 credits of classes at Minneapolis College

  3. Or by the specified return date in the email to your school and personal email that you are no longer eligible

Please return the checkout equipment you checked out in working condition and with their chargers. If the checkout equipment is not returned in a timely fashion, the student will be submitted to the Student Conduct process.

Please review the Technology Support hours on the DLP Page Announcements.

Checkout Semester Return Dates:

  • Spring 2022 - Friday, 5/20/2022 by 4pm

  • Summer 2022 - Friday, 8/12/2022 by 4pm

  • Fall 2022 - Thursday, 12/22/2022 - extended due to winter storm to Thursday, 12/29/2022 by 4pm

  • Spring 2023 - Friday, 5/19/2023 by 4pm

  • Summer 2023 - Friday, 8/4/2023 by 4pm

  • Fall 2023 - Friday, 12/22/2023 by 4pm

Technology Support

For questions or issues related to the Digital Learning Program, please fill out the Digital Learning Service Request form.

For all other technology related questions or issues, please visit our for other ways to contact Technology Support and our hours of operation.

Access our Technology Support Portal anytime.

If Checkout Equipment is Stolen or Lost

If the checkout laptop stolen or lost, please contact your local police department at their the non-emergency number to report the theft/loss or ask for their website to submit an online report as soon as possible. If you are at school or anywhere in the city of Minneapolis when they are stolen, you can submit a report online at the link below:

Minneapolis Police - Theft, lost property or damaged property

Be sure to provide a copy of the police report to Technology Support - Digital Learning Request form. If you have questions about reporting a crime, contact 311 by email or phone. If they can’t assist you, they'll make sure you get routed to the proper resource to report the crime.

Cost

Checkout laptops

Currently, there is no cost related to the checkout laptops, so long as they are returned in good condition with their charger. All the checkout laptops are the same brand and configuration. If you need a replacement charger we will provide you a link where to purchase the correct charger for the checkout device.

Leased Laptops

For Fall 2020, Spring 2021, and Fall 2021 previously leased laptops, the costs varied by the type of laptop leased.

Damaged Devices

If there is any damage, then the cost of the damage may be added to the student account.

If the laptop, hotspot, and/or their associated chargers are not returned, the cost of the laptop, hotspot, and/or their associated chargers may be added to the student account. Please contact Technology Support for the approved list of replacement parts so that you replace the chargers with the correct parts.

Remote Lab Access for Software

For students that have their own laptops, or for students with checkout laptops, there are remote lab computers available to students that have program specific specialized software installed.

Access Remote Labs

Remote Computer Access Link

Instructions for Remote Lab Access

Academic Status Impacts Digital Learning Program

Not Enrolled at Minneapolis College

Please return all checkout equipment to Technology Support in T.3302 within 7 business days of withdrawal from Minneapolis College. If a student is not registered for classes and has not returned the checkout laptop, full replacement costs will be assessed and may charged to the student. And a Student Conduct report will be filed.

Academic Suspension

Students on academic suspension notice who will not be returning to Minneapolis College the following semester should return their laptop to Technology Support in T.3302 to avoid charges or holds.

Grant Laptops

Fall 2021 Grant laptops, students received the balance of the Manufacturer’s Hardware Warranty which expired 01/31/2022. Grant laptops are considered personal devices and support is limited to Wifi.

Leased Laptops

Laptop Warranty for Currently Leased Laptops

For Fall 2020, Spring 2021, and Fall 2021 student leased laptops, all leased laptops came with a standard warranty. There was also an option to purchase 2-years of insurance (provided by Safeware) to cover damage, loss and theft for an extra cost. As of Fall 2023, all of the Safeware contracts and the associated coverage have ended.

 

Damage & Theft Protection with Safeware for Formerly Leased Laptops

For students who leased laptops and opted in and paid for the Safeware insurance, Safeware covered theft and accidental and/or unforeseeable damages including:

A Safeware claim would have been submitted only one time. There are no deductibles and coverage was unlimited.

  • cracked screen

  • liquid spills

  • drops

  • cord splits or breaks

Formerly Leased Laptops and Purchase Information

For students with leased laptops, when a student completed their 4 scheduled payments, they were eligible to purchase their laptop for a nominal charge. The sale was conducted by Minneapolis College's leasing vendor, Aspen Capital. Students were notified at the personal and school emails provided that they must bring their laptop to Technology Support in T.3302 to be wiped and re-loaded with a consumer version of Windows 10. This was done to remain compliant with security and legal licensing. Checkout laptops are not available to purchase.

Laptop Buyout Process

After a student had completed all the required payments on the leased laptop, the ownership transfer would complete the buyout process. Contact Technology Support if you have questions about the progress on your payments.

There were a couple steps that needed to happen to officially transfer the laptop ownership to the student leasor.

This process was completed at the end of the semesters to avoid any disruptions to your coursework.

As of Fall 2023, all of the students that had completed full payment of the leased laptops have had the Ownership Transferred to them. The Technology Support Team has completed the re-imaging process for the students who brought in their laptops. At this point, the remaining students have had instructions sent to them to complete the re-image process.