RUTHERFORD, NJ –Felician University will distribute over 800 iPads to undergraduate and graduate students through Project FELICE (Fostering Equity in Learning Through Inclusion, Connectivity, and Engagement) this fall and in fall 2024.

Project FELICE is $2.3 million project funded through a U.S. Department of Commerce grant to upgrade and expand the university’s broadband infrastructure, increase online and other technology resources, and make remote learning fully accessible for all. The project also provides telehealth best practice teaching to three student cohorts in undergraduate and graduate nursing and counseling psychology.

The first distribution of iPads and broadband will take place on November 17 to eligible first year students. Doctoral students will use the iPads to provide services to underperforming undergraduates enrolled in the GRIT (Goals, Resiliency, Integrity, and Tenacity) program. Remaining iPads will be used for telehealth training and practicum programs to provide teletherapy to underserved clients and families.

Dr. Deanna Valente, Dean of Information & Academic Technology stated, “I am honored to serve as the Prinicipal Investigator for Project FELICE and so excited to see wifi and iPad devices deployed to students to close the digital devide. We look forward to seeing our students soar to their highest potential Project FELICE device deployment in November will be an exciting day.”

Each iPad comes with a folio, keyboard, and hotspots. iPads distributed within the psychology and nursing departments will be fully equipped with the necessary software to train students through immersive real-world simulation and telehealth training to support virtual care that is HIPAA compliant.

In addition to Dr. Deanna Valente, other project team members includes Dr. Daria Waszak, Associate Dean in the School of Nursing; Dr. Dan Mahoney, Director of the Graduate Psychology Program; and Christopher Finch, Assistant Vice President of IT. Dr. Mildred Mihlon, Acting President, and Elizabeth Burke also played a critical role in the successful award of the grant.

For more information, visit https://felician.edu/my-felician/ipad-initiatives/felician-universitys-new-apple-technology-through-project-felice/.

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About Felician University

Felician University inspires and engages more than 2,100 undergraduate, graduate, and adult education students through programs in the Schools of Arts & Sciences, Business & Information Sciences, Nursing, and Education. Over the past five years, Felician University has ranked 3rd among private institutions in New Jersey for best value according to payscale.com and #1 Safest College Campus in New Jersey according to niche.com. The Master of Science in Nursing program is ranked one of the best online graduate nursing programs in the nation by U.S. News and World Report. Felician University was designated as a Military Friendly School (Gold Status) for the ninth year recognizing its strong support for Veteran students. The university is recognized for its diversity as an HSI (Hispanic Serving Institution) and MSI (Minority Serving Institution), having underrepresented students comprise more than half of the student population. With campuses in Rutherford and Lodi, New Jersey, the Franciscan values of social justice, compassion, and respect for human dignity serve as an inclusive foundation for transforming the lives of tomorrow’s leaders. For more information, please visit https://felician.edu.