Full Transcript for Digital Inclusion in Higher Education | Tech Unscripted

And our goal is to provide stability for our students. 41 00:02:03,350 --> 00:02:06,730 So I get to live out a dream of traveling around, hugging 42 00:02:06,730 --> 00:02:08,350 a bunch of people and surprising them. 43 00:02:08,350 --> 00:02:09,350 GEORGE LEWIS: All right. 44 00:02:09,350 --> 00:02:10,190 This is perfect. 45 00:02:10,190 --> 00:02:12,410 Thank you all for joining us here today. 46 00:02:12,410 --> 00:02:15,690 So before we get started into a deeper discussion around why 47 00:02:15,690 --> 00:02:20,390 we're here, I wanted to do a fire breaker, quick question, 48 00:02:20,390 --> 00:02:22,530 rapid fire at each of you, OK? 49 00:02:22,530 --> 00:02:23,370 Is that cool? 50 00:02:23,370 --> 00:02:24,270 All right. 51 00:02:24,270 --> 00:02:25,130 One question. 52 00:02:25,130 --> 00:02:26,150 Number one. 53 00:02:26,150 --> 00:02:28,410 One word that describes impact technology 54 00:02:28,410 --> 00:02:32,530 can have on a student's future. 55 00:02:32,530 --> 00:02:35,170 TERRY BANKSTON: Career. 56 00:02:35,170 --> 00:02:36,330 GEORGE LEWIS: Dr. Vicki. 57 00:02:36,330 --> 00:02:38,650 VICKI ROBINSON: Community. 58 00:02:38,650 --> 00:02:40,610 TEEJ MERCER: Stability. 59 00:02:40,610 --> 00:02:42,130 It provides stability. 60 00:02:42,130 --> 00:02:44,310 GEORGE LEWIS: Second question. 61 00:02:44,310 --> 00:02:46,330 What's the most important digital skill 62 00:02:46,330 --> 00:02:49,130 students should learn today? 63 00:02:49,130 --> 00:02:51,570 TERRY BANKSTON: How to do research. 64 00:02:51,570 --> 00:02:54,190 VICKI ROBINSON: I don't know if this is digital, 65 00:02:54,190 --> 00:02:57,370 but I believe in the soft skills, 66 00:02:57,370 --> 00:02:59,630 because without the soft skills you really 67 00:02:59,630 --> 00:03:02,590 can't get to the digital skills like communication. 68 00:03:02,590 --> 00:03:05,650 TEEJ MERCER: Because I serve a different kind of demographic, 69 00:03:05,650 --> 00:03:08,590 for me, it's not necessarily the digital skills, 70 00:03:08,590 --> 00:03:11,390 it's simply survival for my kids. 71 00:03:11,390 --> 00:03:16,470 And for my kids is, I would say, to learn 72 00:03:16,470 --> 00:03:21,630 how to keep dreaming because that snatched from them 73 00:03:21,630 --> 00:03:24,470 from having to survive. 74 00:03:24,470 --> 00:03:27,910 So what we try to do in Mafia is to encourage them 75 00:03:27,910 --> 00:03:30,657 to keep hoping and dreaming. 76 00:03:30,657 --> 00:03:31,490 GEORGE LEWIS: Great. 77 00:03:31,490 --> 00:03:32,450 Great answer. 78 00:03:32,450 --> 00:03:36,630 One piece of technology you wish every student had access to. 79 00:03:36,630 --> 00:03:38,510 It's the third question. 80 00:03:38,510 --> 00:03:41,350 TERRY BANKSTON: I want them to have their own-- 81 00:03:41,350 --> 00:03:46,110 the laptops are always good for them to have but just 82 00:03:46,110 --> 00:03:51,070 to be able to do something from a satellite basis 83 00:03:51,070 --> 00:03:53,590 where they can

set up something in their homes. 84 00:03:53,590 --> 00:03:56,800 So I don't know what that word would be. 85 00:03:56,800 --> 00:03:58,950 It's not created yet. 86 00:03:58,950 --> 00:04:00,200 GEORGE LEWIS: It's innovation. 87 00:04:00,200 --> 00:04:01,325 TERRY BANKSTON: Innovation? 88 00:04:01,325 --> 00:04:02,780 GEORGE LEWIS: Yeah. 89 00:04:02,780 --> 00:04:07,660 VICKI ROBINSON: I would say the Wi-Fi and hotspots, especially 90 00:04:07,660 --> 00:04:11,900 as some of our HBCUs that are in rural areas, 91 00:04:11,900 --> 00:04:16,700 sometimes it's difficult and you have your library that usually 92 00:04:16,700 --> 00:04:19,500 or maybe a computer room that usually 93 00:04:19,500 --> 00:04:21,680 has Wi-Fi and technology. 94 00:04:21,680 --> 00:04:24,980 But if I'm in the middle of the night cramming for an exam 95 00:04:24,980 --> 00:04:29,320 or finishing up a paper after I get off from work, I need that. 96 00:04:29,320 --> 00:04:31,220 TEEJ MERCER: That's good. 97 00:04:31,220 --> 00:04:33,680 So these two were coming from a whole different place. 98 00:04:33,680 --> 00:04:35,120 So let me just be clear. 99 00:04:35,120 --> 00:04:35,500 GEORGE LEWIS: That's fine. 100 00:04:35,500 --> 00:04:36,760 TEEJ MERCER: I'm on this panel. 101 00:04:36,760 --> 00:04:38,302 GEORGE LEWIS: We're in this together. 102 00:04:38,302 --> 00:04:38,880 That's OK. 103 00:04:38,880 --> 00:04:40,520 TEEJ MERCER: Let's make sure-- 104 00:04:40,520 --> 00:04:45,900 I got to take it back to the basics for our kids. 105 00:04:45,900 --> 00:04:49,640 I'm looking for a cell phone service provider for our kids 106 00:04:49,640 --> 00:04:53,880 because a lot of our kids get their phones disconnected 107 00:04:53,880 --> 00:04:55,720 throughout the school year. 108 00:04:55,720 --> 00:04:59,100 And that breaks up all of their communication, 109 00:04:59,100 --> 00:05:00,880 their ability to communicate with us 110 00:05:00,880 --> 00:05:03,440 so we can check in and hear what they need. 111 00:05:03,440 --> 00:05:08,240 So I understand AI is taking over, but for my babies, 112 00:05:08,240 --> 00:05:12,040 it's something as basic as a cell phone service plan. 113 00:05:12,040 --> 00:05:16,080 So if you are a cell phone service provider, call me. 114 00:05:16,080 --> 00:05:19,020 And then secondly, I would have to agree with Terry. 115 00:05:19,020 --> 00:05:20,100 The laptops. 116 00:05:20,100 --> 00:05:24,840 Fortunately, last year Cisco came through like a champ 117 00:05:24,840 --> 00:05:28,940 and gave all of our students laptops to kick off the year. 118 00:05:28,940 --> 00:05:33,120 So 25 laptops were given to our students 119 00:05:33,120 --> 00:05:35,220 that Cisco made possible. 120 00:05:35,220 --> 00:05:37,500 And so that changes the game. 121 00:05:37,500 --> 00:05:41,100 So Dr. Vicki said that if they're going to work, 122 00:05:41,100 --> 00:05:42,360 they need Wi-Fi. 123 00:05:42,360 --> 00:05:44,800 But then this also gives them autonomy 124 00:05:44,800 --> 00:05:49,460 to go to work, not have to be confined to library hours. 125 00:05:49,460 --> 00:05:52,240 And they can then take care of themselves, 126 00:05:52,240 --> 00:05:55,035 get their bills paid, but be in their dorm room at 1:00/2 127 00:05:55,035 --> 00:05:57,660 o'clock, in the morning, because sometimes that's what they got 128 00:05:57,660 --> 00:06:00,480 to get it done because they have a laptop. 129 00:06:00,480 --> 00:06:02,400 So for me, it's the cell phone service, 130 00:06:02,400 --> 00:06:05,675 and the laptops are absolutely non-negotiable for my kids. 131 00:06:05,675 --> 00:06:07,300 VICKI ROBINSON: And I'm sorry, I forgot 132 00:06:07,300 --> 00:06:09,380 to mention during my introduction 133 00:06:09,380 --> 00:06:13,200 that after I retired, I started. 134 00:06:13,200 --> 00:06:14,100 [INTERPOSING VOICES] 135 00:06:14,100 --> 00:06:15,600 I'm not going to look at TeeJ. 136 00:06:15,600 --> 00:06:18,880 I started volunteering with Move-In Day Mafia. 137 00:06:18,880 --> 00:06:22,613 And I am now on head of outreach and partnerships. 138 00:06:22,613 --> 00:06:24,780 TEEJ MERCER: So she retired to only have another job 139 00:06:24,780 --> 00:06:26,280 that she didn't even get paid for. 140 00:06:26,280 --> 00:06:27,420 GEORGE LEWIS: OK, well listen, that 141 00:06:27,420 --> 00:06:28,760 is important for our students. 142 00:06:28,760 --> 00:06:31,260 That's important for our community, I love it. 143 00:06:31,260 --> 00:06:34,100 That leads into one of our first questions 144 00:06:34,100 --> 00:06:36,040 that now we want to kick off. 145 00:06:36,040 --> 00:06:39,460 So what are the most pressing digital inclusion 146 00:06:39,460 --> 00:06:42,260 challenges facing universities in the surrounding communities 147 00:06:42,260 --> 00:06:43,260 today? 148 00:06:43,260 --> 00:06:46,660 Terry, I know with DSU, you serve diverse student population 149 00:06:46,660 --> 00:06:48,320 and you deal with careers. 150 00:06:48,320 --> 00:06:52,370 Where do you see the digital divide showing up the most? 151 00:06:52,370 --> 00:06:54,610 TERRY BANKSTON: We've got some excellent partners 152 00:06:54,610 --> 00:06:57,630 and with Cisco being one of our top partners. 153 00:06:57,630 --> 00:06:59,670 And when you asked me the question earlier, 154 00:06:59,670 --> 00:07:03,010 it was hard for me to pinpoint what 155 00:07:03,010 --> 00:07:07,370 that one thing would be because I've got students 156 00:07:07,370 --> 00:07:11,490 that are doing agriculture. 157 00:07:11,490 --> 00:07:14,930 Looking at how eggs are hatched and looking 158 00:07:14,930 --> 00:07:22,630 at Greenlife and fish and the whole wildlife area, 159 00:07:22,630 --> 00:07:25,530 as well as the whole technology side. 160 00:07:25,530 --> 00:07:30,570 And for them to have access to something mobile 161 00:07:30,570 --> 00:07:35,730 that they could use to do all those testing and data-driven 162 00:07:35,730 --> 00:07:37,850 pieces would make sense.

163 00:07:37,850 --> 00:07:44,050 And so our students are anxious to change the world. 164 00:07:44,050 --> 00:07:45,850 And there's so many ideas that are going on 165 00:07:45,850 --> 00:07:49,470 up here that they don't have that technology aspect to be 166 00:07:49,470 --> 00:07:53,870 able to get to it, and that partnerships that we're doing 167 00:07:53,870 --> 00:07:56,330 are perfect for what we're trying to do, 168 00:07:56,330 --> 00:07:58,145 and we're just scratching the surface. 169 00:07:58,145 --> 00:07:59,270 GEORGE LEWIS: That's great. 170 00:07:59,270 --> 00:08:01,410 Yeah, we have a lot of programs in IoT. 171 00:08:01,410 --> 00:08:03,190 And with that being said, that leads 172 00:08:03,190 --> 00:08:05,683 into some of that agriculture and smart technology 173 00:08:05,683 --> 00:08:06,850 TERRY BANKSTON: --and water. 174 00:08:06,850 --> 00:08:08,170 I'm just looking at the water. 175 00:08:08,170 --> 00:08:09,910 And water is one of the biggest thing 176 00:08:09,910 --> 00:08:13,150 that they are working right now on coming up 177 00:08:13,150 --> 00:08:17,950 with some solutions on how to improve the water. 178 00:08:17,950 --> 00:08:19,563 VICKI ROBINSON: Oh that's good. 179 00:08:19,563 --> 00:08:20,730 GEORGE LEWIS: That is great. 180 00:08:20,730 --> 00:08:24,650 Dr. Robinson, you've seen this from a national level. 181 00:08:24,650 --> 00:08:27,990 And how through community partnerships as you mentioned, 182 00:08:27,990 --> 00:08:31,470 what patterns are you seeing across campus that you can talk 183 00:08:31,470 --> 00:08:33,190 about from this perspective? 184 00:08:33,190 --> 00:08:38,750 VICKI ROBINSON: So I would say the infrastructure is very 185 00:08:38,750 --> 00:08:42,770 important because, as you know, a lot of these HBCUs, I mean, 186 00:08:42,770 --> 00:08:45,110 they were built in the 1800s. 187 00:08:45,110 --> 00:08:49,710 So we're steady growing and innovating, 188 00:08:49,710 --> 00:08:55,570 and that comes with needing more power, more infrastructure, 189 00:08:55,570 --> 00:09:01,570 and also having the staff educated and available in order 190 00:09:01,570 --> 00:09:05,090 to teach with the changing innovation. 191 00:09:05,090 --> 00:09:07,450 So, I mean, you got to have the infrastructure 192 00:09:07,450 --> 00:09:10,290 to put all those things in place and then 193 00:09:10,290 --> 00:09:12,810 working with the community. 194 00:09:12,810 --> 00:09:15,110 A lot of campuses are open campuses, 195 00:09:15,110 --> 00:09:19,570 so you have the community coming in student programs 196 00:09:19,570 --> 00:09:20,930 during the summer. 197 00:09:20,930 --> 00:09:24,908 So it's really growing faster than the schools are growing. 198 00:09:24,908 --> 00:09:25,950 GEORGE LEWIS: Good point. 199 00:09:25,950 --> 00:09:27,170 Great, good point. 200 00:09:27,170 --> 00:09:29,290 And TeeJ, you're working with students 201 00:09:29,290 --> 00:09:33,250 who often arrive without the support system they need. 202 00:09:33,250 --> 00:09:35,930 So many others take for granted. 203 00:09:35,930 --> 00:09:39,810 What technology access-- what does that look like for them 204 00:09:39,810 --> 00:09:41,510 when they do join the dorm? 205 00:09:41,510 --> 00:09:44,630 Tell me a little bit about how their first day looks like. 206 00:09:44,630 --> 00:09:46,160 TEEJ MERCER: So we are expanding. 207 00:09:46,160 --> 00:09:49,700 Their first day looks like somebody is there for them. 208 00:09:49,700 --> 00:09:52,080 Because Move-In Day Mafia was founded 209 00:09:52,080 --> 00:09:56,240 because I met a young lady who had aged out of foster care 210 00:09:56,240 --> 00:10:00,560 when she went to her HBCU, and her social worker 211 00:10:00,560 --> 00:10:04,240 drove her to campus, pulled up to the curb and just left her. 212 00:10:04,240 --> 00:10:09,400 And being a graduate of the Howard University, that 213 00:10:09,400 --> 00:10:13,260 was so far past what I had experienced, 214 00:10:13,260 --> 00:10:14,840 and until that moment, I had never 215 00:10:14,840 --> 00:10:17,320 thought about this population. 216 00:10:17,320 --> 00:10:20,540 So for the purposes of this conversation, 217 00:10:20,540 --> 00:10:25,540 what it looks like is us showing up to be that family. 218 00:10:25,540 --> 00:10:30,860 So if you imagine when you went to school freshman year, 219 00:10:30,860 --> 00:10:31,520 perhaps. 220 00:10:31,520 --> 00:10:33,540 On one side of the room, it's a whole family. 221 00:10:33,540 --> 00:10:36,660 And I'm sure you have seen a whole family, the mama, 222 00:10:36,660 --> 00:10:39,480 the grandma, the aunt, everybody showing up. 223 00:10:39,480 --> 00:10:42,400 But then imagine being that student that's coming in 224 00:10:42,400 --> 00:10:44,060 and they got dropped off in an Uber. 225 00:10:44,060 --> 00:10:46,240 We've had kids that were just dropped off in Uber. 226 00:10:46,240 --> 00:10:47,740 TERRY BANKSTON: They'd come to DSU-- 227 00:10:47,740 --> 00:10:49,540 TEEJ MERCER: --and they barely-- if they 228 00:10:49,540 --> 00:10:52,780 have a suitcase, most of them are showing up 229 00:10:52,780 --> 00:10:54,060 with garbage bags. 230 00:10:54,060 --> 00:10:55,840 If they don't have what they need, 231 00:10:55,840 --> 00:10:58,400 so they're sitting there watching this whole family. 232 00:10:58,400 --> 00:10:59,200 They're scared. 233 00:10:59,200 --> 00:11:01,820 They're only 18/19 years old. 234 00:11:01,820 --> 00:11:04,800 But Mafia is there to catch that. 235 00:11:04,800 --> 00:11:07,680 So they're not on that side of the room by themselves. 236 00:11:07,680 --> 00:11:11,760 We're coming in with laptops provided by Cisco. 237 00:11:11,760 --> 00:11:15,520 We're coming in with VR headsets given to us by Best Buy. 238 00:11:15,520 --> 00:11:19,780 We're coming in with a whole dorm room designed with them 239 00:11:19,780 --> 00:11:21,880 in mind by interior designer. 240 00:11:21,880 --> 00:11:25,580 We're coming in with their

favorite deodorant, detergent, 241 00:11:25,580 --> 00:11:26,680 toothpaste. 242 00:11:26,680 --> 00:11:29,180 So we're making them feel already 243 00:11:29,180 --> 00:11:33,940 in alignment with their peers as opposed to behind their peers. 244 00:11:33,940 --> 00:11:37,240 So it does not necessarily go with technology, 245 00:11:37,240 --> 00:11:39,520 but it's that sense of belonging, 246 00:11:39,520 --> 00:11:43,310 that sense of, I belong here and I got these people behind me. 247 00:11:43,310 --> 00:11:44,550 So I'm going to be all right. 248 00:11:44,550 --> 00:11:46,050 VICKI ROBINSON: And that's important 249 00:11:46,050 --> 00:11:49,190 because before you can get into the academics, 250 00:11:49,190 --> 00:11:51,230 you have to have your mind right. 251 00:11:51,230 --> 00:11:54,570 So that whole dorm room makeover, 252 00:11:54,570 --> 00:11:57,110 it gives them that sense of family and belonging. 253 00:11:57,110 --> 00:11:58,490 So that's important. 254 00:11:58,490 --> 00:11:59,990 TEEJ MERCER: So let me add to that. 255 00:11:59,990 --> 00:12:03,090 So the stats are for my demographic-- 256 00:12:03,090 --> 00:12:05,810 because I'm here for my babies --70% 257 00:12:05,810 --> 00:12:10,250 of kids who are in foster care dream of college. 258 00:12:10,250 --> 00:12:15,730 Only 3% go, 1% graduate. 259 00:12:15,730 --> 00:12:19,450 And it's not academics because my kids are getting 260 00:12:19,450 --> 00:12:23,330 accepted into the number one HBCU Spelman, 261 00:12:23,330 --> 00:12:26,810 the number two HBCU, Howard. 262 00:12:26,810 --> 00:12:30,870 But they're getting 40,000, 50,000 applicants, 1,600 slots. 263 00:12:30,870 --> 00:12:33,050 I don't know what the ratio is for Delaware State. 264 00:12:33,050 --> 00:12:34,210 GEORGE LEWIS: Number 6-2. 265 00:12:34,210 --> 00:12:34,790 TEEJ MERCER: There you go. 266 00:12:34,790 --> 00:12:35,748 So see what I'm saying. 267 00:12:35,748 --> 00:12:38,310 [INAUDIBLE] I have three scholars at Delaware State. 268 00:12:38,310 --> 00:12:41,870 So our kids are not only beating the odds to go to college, 269 00:12:41,870 --> 00:12:44,730 they're getting into the top HBCUs. 270 00:12:44,730 --> 00:12:48,530 So it is our responsibility, along with partners, 271 00:12:48,530 --> 00:12:50,930 to help them cross the finish line. 272 00:12:50,930 --> 00:12:54,490 Because not to be your stereotypical. 273 00:12:54,490 --> 00:12:58,510 But when Houston said, the kids are our future, 274 00:12:58,510 --> 00:13:00,910 so we got to pour into them across the board. 275 00:13:00,910 --> 00:13:01,410 I'm sorry. 276 00:13:01,410 --> 00:13:02,577 I'm going to let you go now. 277 00:13:02,577 --> 00:13:06,090 GEORGE LEWIS: No, I truly believe in Cisco. 278 00:13:06,090 --> 00:13:08,470 And our partnerships become that blended family 279 00:13:08,470 --> 00:13:09,970 for those students. 280 00:13:09,970 --> 00:13:14,150 And that's how they can continue to thrive and be able to cherish 281 00:13:14,150 -->

00:13:15,570 and blossom to their future. 282 00:13:15,570 --> 00:13:17,550 Can 283 00:13:17,550 --> 00:13:20,190 TERRY BANKSTON: I don't want Dr. Vicki's points 284 00:13:20,190 --> 00:13:24,590 to go without saying is that when we look at our partnerships 285 00:13:24,590 --> 00:13:26,410 and we keep the students in the center, 286 00:13:26,410 --> 00:13:30,070 we keep your students right in the center of everything we do. 287 00:13:30,070 --> 00:13:34,430 But with our partners, we make sure that our faculty and staff 288 00:13:34,430 --> 00:13:36,730 are in the loop on everything that's going on, 289 00:13:36,730 --> 00:13:42,050 as well as our students, so that everybody knows all the newest 290 00:13:42,050 --> 00:13:44,190 technology and newest things that are going on 291 00:13:44,190 --> 00:13:47,690 so they can put that piece into their curriculum 292 00:13:47,690 --> 00:13:50,490 and into their syllabus on things that can happen. 293 00:13:50,490 --> 00:13:53,030 And we don't act like we know everything. 294 00:13:53,030 --> 00:13:56,410 So we depend on our partners to share, not 295 00:13:56,410 --> 00:13:58,710 your latest and greatest secrets or anything, 296 00:13:58,710 --> 00:14:01,810 but things that they can use so when the students are 297 00:14:01,810 --> 00:14:06,930 graduating, they already have touched some of that technology, 298 00:14:06,930 --> 00:14:09,030 and it's not new to them. 299 00:14:09,030 --> 00:14:13,630 So that they ramp up when they start in their careers. 300 00:14:13,630 --> 00:14:15,870 Maybe they don't start at entry level. 301 00:14:15,870 --> 00:14:18,610 They may go to second or third level, 302 00:14:18,610 --> 00:14:20,750 but it's with the teachers. 303 00:14:20,750 --> 00:14:22,730 So as we're sitting here now, I've 304 00:14:22,730 --> 00:14:26,210 got some faculty that are on a site visit with one 305 00:14:26,210 --> 00:14:30,930 of my other team members at ABC station in Philadelphia, 306 00:14:30,930 --> 00:14:34,210 and we make sure that it's not just the students that go, 307 00:14:34,210 --> 00:14:35,550 but the teachers go. 308 00:14:35,550 --> 00:14:39,000 And then so as the professors and the students 309 00:14:39,000 --> 00:14:42,060 are having this discussion about everything that's going on-- 310 00:14:42,060 --> 00:14:44,160 if they were sitting here in the room with us now, 311 00:14:44,160 --> 00:14:46,673 I would have loved to have brought a faculty member with me 312 00:14:46,673 --> 00:14:48,840 today so that they could see some of the things that 313 00:14:48,840 --> 00:14:52,880 were going on and get a feel for all the technology 314 00:14:52,880 --> 00:14:57,160 that they may not have touched before, 315 00:14:57,160 --> 00:14:59,478 but they can enhance their curriculum. 316 00:14:59,478 --> 00:15:00,520 GEORGE LEWIS: Absolutely. 317 00:15:00,520 --> 00:15:01,145 We believe in-- 318 00:15:01,145 --> 00:15:02,937 VICKI ROBINSON: --technology is everywhere. 319 00:15:02,937

--> 00:15:05,540 I mean, like you were talking about your agriculture programs, 320 00:15:05,540 --> 00:15:07,100 there's technology for that. 321 00:15:07,100 --> 00:15:10,680 We also have to think outside the box and not just 322 00:15:10,680 --> 00:15:14,040 the computer part of the technology, 323 00:15:14,040 --> 00:15:15,940 but technology is everywhere. 324 00:15:15,940 --> 00:15:19,600 Medicine, like you say, agriculture. 325 00:15:19,600 --> 00:15:20,480 Everywhere. 326 00:15:20,480 --> 00:15:21,522 GEORGE LEWIS: Absolutely. 327 00:15:21,522 --> 00:15:23,912 Digital transformation for Cisco is one of our key areas. 328 00:15:23,912 --> 00:15:25,120 So that's something that we-- 329 00:15:25,120 --> 00:15:26,328 TEEJ MERCER: Oh, I like that. 330 00:15:26,328 --> 00:15:27,300 Digital transformation. 331 00:15:27,300 --> 00:15:29,480 Let's get to transformation. 332 00:15:29,480 --> 00:15:30,180 I like that. 333 00:15:30,180 --> 00:15:31,513 GEORGE LEWIS: Thank you so much. 334 00:15:31,513 --> 00:15:33,860 So it leads us to the next topic, 335 00:15:33,860 --> 00:15:36,700 which you guys were bringing up is, collaboration 336 00:15:36,700 --> 00:15:37,920 across communities. 337 00:15:37,920 --> 00:15:40,820 The question is around, how have collaboration 338 00:15:40,820 --> 00:15:43,200 between universities, local governments, 339 00:15:43,200 --> 00:15:46,820 and the support organizations help advance the digital access 340 00:15:46,820 --> 00:15:48,440 and connectivity to these students? 341 00:15:48,440 --> 00:15:49,690 So I'll start with you, Terry. 342 00:15:49,690 --> 00:15:53,680 TERRY BANKSTON: One of the things that as it is with PWIs, 343 00:15:53,680 --> 00:15:57,100 but with HBCUs, it depends on what areas that they're 344 00:15:57,100 --> 00:16:00,260 in on what they need. 345 00:16:00,260 --> 00:16:03,100 So Delaware State, we're the only HBCU 346 00:16:03,100 --> 00:16:07,980 in the state of Delaware, but we have a great contingency 347 00:16:07,980 --> 00:16:12,660 of individuals that are former military because Dover Air Force 348 00:16:12,660 --> 00:16:13,320 base is there. 349 00:16:13,320 --> 00:16:17,140 And it's a big hub for folks that are coming out 350 00:16:17,140 --> 00:16:19,260 of there doing their active duty, 351 00:16:19,260 --> 00:16:21,280 and then they come to Delaware State. 352 00:16:21,280 --> 00:16:24,340 So they bring a whole different mindset 353 00:16:24,340 --> 00:16:27,700 of what technology is because they've done things 354 00:16:27,700 --> 00:16:33,060 within the government aspect of it, whether it's on the war side 355 00:16:33,060 --> 00:16:35,690 or at the Pentagon. 356 00:16:35,690 --> 00:16:39,610 Or it could be here in DC, wherever they were stationed at. 357 00:16:39,610 --> 00:16:41,710 And they bring a different mindset. 358 00:16:41,710 --> 00:16:45,090 So that person that meets your student that 359 00:16:45,090 --> 00:16:49,470 comes in at 18 years old brings a whole different concept. 360 00:16:49,470 --> 00:16:52,650 And if we are where we need to be from a technology 361 00:16:52,650 --> 00:16:57,610 standpoint or rising, then the communication level 362 00:16:57,610 --> 00:17:00,990 is such where it just makes sense. 363 00:17:00,990 --> 00:17:03,850 So at any time in our classroom, we 364 00:17:03,850 --> 00:17:07,130 could have five generations sitting 365 00:17:07,130 --> 00:17:09,369 at the table at the same time. 366 00:17:09,369 --> 00:17:12,290 And we have to be able to have that communication where 367 00:17:12,290 --> 00:17:14,690 we're not just stuck on-- 368 00:17:14,690 --> 00:17:17,550 what did TeeJ just say? 369 00:17:17,550 --> 00:17:20,010 I can't even get past the conversation because-- 370 00:17:20,010 --> 00:17:22,621 TEEJ MERCER: --of the communication breakdown. 371 00:17:22,621 --> 00:17:24,329 TERRY BANKSTON: And that technology piece 372 00:17:24,329 --> 00:17:26,150 makes it easier for us to do that. 373 00:17:26,150 --> 00:17:27,849 And our outreach in the community 374 00:17:27,849 --> 00:17:31,830 is such where we have not to dominate the conversation, 375 00:17:31,830 --> 00:17:36,950 but we have students that dropped out at an early age 376 00:17:36,950 --> 00:17:41,030 and started families and are now coming back to school 377 00:17:41,030 --> 00:17:42,090 and they're learning. 378 00:17:42,090 --> 00:17:45,510 So we have students that the parents are 379 00:17:45,510 --> 00:17:49,190 graduating with the students. 380 00:17:49,190 --> 00:17:52,190 And that's when they walk across stage and they're together. 381 00:17:52,190 --> 00:17:54,288 But they can still do that technology. 382 00:17:54,288 --> 00:17:55,330 TEEJ MERCER: I love that. 383 00:17:55,330 --> 00:17:56,955 TERRY BANKSTON: And I want to make sure 384 00:17:56,955 --> 00:18:00,195 that whatever we do that it's all encompassing. 385 00:18:00,195 --> 00:18:02,070 Everything that's going on from the community 386 00:18:02,070 --> 00:18:03,050 and the partnership. 387 00:18:03,050 --> 00:18:04,092 TEEJ MERCER: I love that. 388 00:18:04,092 --> 00:18:05,830 GEORGE LEWIS: And Dr. Vicki, as far 389 00:18:05,830 --> 00:18:08,350 as you've been with the Department of Education 390 00:18:08,350 --> 00:18:10,070 for over 15 years and-- 391 00:18:10,070 --> 00:18:12,190 TEEJ MERCER: She's probably going to correct you 392 00:18:12,190 --> 00:18:14,490 and say she was. 393 00:18:14,490 --> 00:18:15,850 [INTERPOSING VOICES] 394 00:18:15,850 --> 00:18:17,450 GEORGE LEWIS: She retired, yes. 395 00:18:17,450 --> 00:18:18,377 Not going back. 396 00:18:18,377 --> 00:18:19,210 [INTERPOSING VOICES] 397 00:18:19,210 --> 00:18:20,377 TERRY BANKSTON: She retired. 398 00:18:20,377 --> 00:18:22,650 GEORGE LEWIS: But you see that as well in government. 399 00:18:22,650 --> 00:18:24,630 How big of a role do partnerships 400 00:18:24,630 --> 00:18:27,030 play in scaling for the digital inclusion? 401 00:18:27,030 --> 00:18:32,410 VICKI ROBINSON: So

Terry mentioned the differences 402 00:18:32,410 --> 00:18:36,370 in the classrooms as-- when I was 403 00:18:36,370 --> 00:18:39,850 the director for HBCU programs, I also 404 00:18:39,850 --> 00:18:43,330 had predominantly Black institutions. 405 00:18:43,330 --> 00:18:45,110 I had veteran programs. 406 00:18:45,110 --> 00:18:49,090 I had a teacher program, the minority science, engineering 407 00:18:49,090 --> 00:18:50,510 and improvement program. 408 00:18:50,510 --> 00:18:52,910 So it wasn't just HBCUs. 409 00:18:52,910 --> 00:18:55,710 And then even with HBCUs, I had undergraduate, 410 00:18:55,710 --> 00:18:58,290 I had graduate programs. 411 00:18:58,290 --> 00:19:03,610 So there were a lot of different programs in my department. 412 00:19:03,610 --> 00:19:09,010 And one thing that I did as the director, and this is how I got 413 00:19:09,010 --> 00:19:11,410 involved with TeeJ and Cisco. 414 00:19:11,410 --> 00:19:16,050 I had what I called master classes, and what I did 415 00:19:16,050 --> 00:19:20,690 was I would invite the institutions 416 00:19:20,690 --> 00:19:24,210 partners such as Move-In Day Mafia and Cisco 417 00:19:24,210 --> 00:19:26,890 to come and talk about the work that you all 418 00:19:26,890 --> 00:19:32,720 are doing so that everyone that was impacted by my programs 419 00:19:32,720 --> 00:19:34,760 would have access to that information, which 420 00:19:34,760 --> 00:19:38,780 led to partnerships, collaborations, internships, 421 00:19:38,780 --> 00:19:43,520 fellowships, working with the state department and FDA 422 00:19:43,520 --> 00:19:45,260 and other organizations. 423 00:19:45,260 --> 00:19:48,685 So that was very important to me as a director. 424 00:19:48,685 --> 00:19:50,060 GEORGE LEWIS: Yeah, that's great. 425 00:19:50,060 --> 00:19:51,280 Wow. 426 00:19:51,280 --> 00:19:55,120 And TeeJ, with their partnerships 427 00:19:55,120 --> 00:20:00,147 and you have volunteers, donors, universities. 428 00:20:00,147 --> 00:20:02,480 Talk a little bit about those collaborations that you've 429 00:20:02,480 --> 00:20:05,020 had within your organization. 430 00:20:05,020 --> 00:20:08,400 TEEJ MERCER: What I'm loving about our collaborations 431 00:20:08,400 --> 00:20:09,160 like Cisco. 432 00:20:09,160 --> 00:20:13,900 Cisco for us is-- and I know that the Cisco podcast, 433 00:20:13,900 --> 00:20:16,600 but I'm just telling the truth of what is happening. 434 00:20:16,600 --> 00:20:21,060 So when Cisco, they didn't just donate the computers, 435 00:20:21,060 --> 00:20:23,380 they put boots on the ground for us. 436 00:20:23,380 --> 00:20:28,340 They sent volunteers so that it's not just finances, 437 00:20:28,340 --> 00:20:32,840 it's is people invested in the movement of Mafia. 438 00:20:32,840 --> 00:20:35,100 And what I'm seeing, because we've only 439 00:20:35,100 --> 00:20:37,220 been in existence since 2022, we've 440 00:20:37,220 --> 00:20:42,480 moved in 109 scholars at 28 HBCUs since 2022. 441 00:20:42,480

--> 00:20:45,620 So we've done really well because we're 442 00:20:45,620 --> 00:20:49,040 attracting partners that believe in, yes, they need financing, 443 00:20:49,040 --> 00:20:51,240 but we need people power as well. 444 00:20:51,240 --> 00:20:54,420 And what I'm loving to see happen 445 00:20:54,420 --> 00:20:58,580 as we get older and wiser with the organization is now 446 00:20:58,580 --> 00:21:00,800 the collaborations are coming together. 447 00:21:00,800 --> 00:21:04,500 So there can be Cisco mentees that are then 448 00:21:04,500 --> 00:21:05,760 showing them the pipeline. 449 00:21:05,760 --> 00:21:08,740 Because here is what I had to learn the hard way. 450 00:21:08,740 --> 00:21:11,340 The opportunities are there. 451 00:21:11,340 --> 00:21:16,200 The confidence to go after the opportunities is not. 452 00:21:16,200 --> 00:21:23,060 And so what I'm discovering that is important to put the Cisco 453 00:21:23,060 --> 00:21:26,380 leadership with the partnership or Cisco engineer 454 00:21:26,380 --> 00:21:30,400 or Cisco marketing person so that our students can see what's 455 00:21:30,400 --> 00:21:33,540 possible and feel like that there's someone that cares, 456 00:21:33,540 --> 00:21:36,760 that's taking them by the hand and navigating them 457 00:21:36,760 --> 00:21:38,340 through the process. 458 00:21:38,340 --> 00:21:40,600 So that's what I am seeing That's, really 459 00:21:40,600 --> 00:21:45,095 crucial for collaborations for us, from my viewpoint. 460 00:21:45,095 --> 00:21:46,220 GEORGE LEWIS: That's great. 461 00:21:46,220 --> 00:21:50,360 And Cisco, we are built on critical infrastructure 462 00:21:50,360 --> 00:21:51,500 for the AI era. 463 00:21:51,500 --> 00:21:52,580 That is our tagline. 464 00:21:52,580 --> 00:21:54,080 That is what we thrive in. 465 00:21:54,080 --> 00:21:58,840 And that leads us to how technology solutions impact 466 00:21:58,840 --> 00:21:59,820 students. 467 00:21:59,820 --> 00:22:03,320 Terry, I want to pose a question around what technology 468 00:22:03,320 --> 00:22:07,483 initiatives are important for infrastructure for the students 469 00:22:07,483 --> 00:22:09,400 and what's critical to them, and how important 470 00:22:09,400 --> 00:22:12,128 is reliable infrastructure for them and their success. 471 00:22:12,128 --> 00:22:13,420 TERRY BANKSTON: Oh, absolutely. 472 00:22:13,420 --> 00:22:16,280 And the point I was going to make a little earlier 473 00:22:16,280 --> 00:22:21,600 was that we talk about the success stories a lot, 474 00:22:21,600 --> 00:22:22,480 which are good. 475 00:22:22,480 --> 00:22:23,920 And that's a good thing. 476 00:22:23,920 --> 00:22:28,150 But all the experiences that we have sitting at the table 477 00:22:28,150 --> 00:22:29,830 really doesn't mean anything if we 478 00:22:29,830 --> 00:22:33,830 can't hear what the students are saying and what they're feeling. 479 00:22:33,830 --> 00:22:36,810 And so there's the peer influence has to be there. 480 00:22:36,810 --> 00:22:39,350 There's some opportunities that we have 481 00:22:39,350 --> 00:22:43,590 where I can show a student how to get the whole chicken, 482 00:22:43,590 --> 00:22:45,810 and they're just happy with the quarter dark. 483 00:22:45,810 --> 00:22:46,863 And that's OK. 484 00:22:46,863 --> 00:22:48,530 That's OK if that's what you want to do. 485 00:22:48,530 --> 00:22:51,670 But the peer influence has to be, at least, I 486 00:22:51,670 --> 00:22:53,570 know I can get that. 487 00:22:53,570 --> 00:22:58,310 And so that's one thing where you can hear that, Dr. Vicki got 488 00:22:58,310 --> 00:23:01,190 it, TeeJ got it, Terry got it. 489 00:23:01,190 --> 00:23:03,870 But if we had the infrastructure where they can do things 490 00:23:03,870 --> 00:23:06,030 on their own because so many times they're 491 00:23:06,030 --> 00:23:10,807 doing some individual work that if they had access where 492 00:23:10,807 --> 00:23:12,390 no matter what hour the night, they're 493 00:23:12,390 --> 00:23:15,350 doing some things that they can see some success 494 00:23:15,350 --> 00:23:17,790 and then share it with each other, 495 00:23:17,790 --> 00:23:19,770 that's much more than what we can do. 496 00:23:19,770 --> 00:23:25,110 So that infrastructure piece is so much needed 497 00:23:25,110 --> 00:23:26,570 and it's reliable. 498 00:23:26,570 --> 00:23:31,890 So many times if something shuts down, and then they're stuck, 499 00:23:31,890 --> 00:23:34,930 they're not going to ask for help. 500 00:23:34,930 --> 00:23:38,895 They won't go to somebody and say, how did you do this? 501 00:23:38,895 --> 00:23:40,770 They want to do it on their own and come back 502 00:23:40,770 --> 00:23:42,290 and say, look what I did. 503 00:23:42,290 --> 00:23:44,290 So if we have that infrastructure 504 00:23:44,290 --> 00:23:49,122 in place across the university's standpoint, it makes sense. 505 00:23:49,122 --> 00:23:51,330 And I would love for us to be a hub for the community 506 00:23:51,330 --> 00:23:54,510 to be able to come to Delaware State and make that happen. 507 00:23:54,510 --> 00:23:58,590 We acquired Wesley college in Dover also. 508 00:23:58,590 --> 00:24:02,490 So we have two campuses, and Wesley was an older school. 509 00:24:02,490 --> 00:24:07,690 So and their infrastructure is in a need. 510 00:24:07,690 --> 00:24:10,690 And our technology department is doing an amazing job 511 00:24:10,690 --> 00:24:12,490 to get that up and running. 512 00:24:12,490 --> 00:24:16,570 But it takes absolutely funding and wiring and everything else 513 00:24:16,570 --> 00:24:17,150 that goes on. 514 00:24:17,150 --> 00:24:19,925 But once that happens, the sky's the limit. 515 00:24:19,925 --> 00:24:21,050 GEORGE LEWIS: That's great. 516 00:24:21,050 --> 00:24:23,100 VICKI ROBINSON: A lot of institutions, 517 00:24:23,100 --> 00:24:25,260 and I'm not sure if Delaware State has it, 518 00:24:25,260 --> 00:24:26,880 but a lot of the institutions now 519

00:24:26,880 --> 00:24:31,000 are doing the living-learning spaces where 520 00:24:31,000 --> 00:24:38,220 maybe the first floor is where students can work on projects, 521 00:24:38,220 --> 00:24:43,640 have meetings, maybe have a Cisco-sponsored room. 522 00:24:43,640 --> 00:24:45,140 TEEJ MERCER: Hint, hint, hint, hint. 523 00:24:45,140 --> 00:24:45,760 Cisco. 524 00:24:45,760 --> 00:24:46,740 [LAUGHTER] 525 00:24:46,740 --> 00:24:49,480 VICKI ROBINSON: So that's important too. 526 00:24:49,480 --> 00:24:50,970 And there is-- 527 00:24:50,970 --> 00:24:52,720 I don't want to talk about federal funding 528 00:24:52,720 --> 00:24:56,300 because things have changed a lot just since I've retired. 529 00:24:56,300 --> 00:24:59,920 But I know that federal funding can 530 00:24:59,920 --> 00:25:03,860 be used to improve instructional facilities. 531 00:25:03,860 --> 00:25:05,680 And like I said, a lot of institutions 532 00:25:05,680 --> 00:25:08,200 are doing the living-learning because that's 533 00:25:08,200 --> 00:25:14,080 still around academics and can't do so much around dorms. 534 00:25:14,080 --> 00:25:16,440 But that living-learning space where 535 00:25:16,440 --> 00:25:20,400 they're working together and collaborating and working 536 00:25:20,400 --> 00:25:23,920 with peers has happened a lot on the campuses. 537 00:25:23,920 --> 00:25:24,920 GEORGE LEWIS: All right. 538 00:25:24,920 --> 00:25:25,640 Thank you. 539 00:25:25,640 --> 00:25:26,140 Yes. 540 00:25:26,140 --> 00:25:28,840 TERRY BANKSTON: And to TeeJ's point, I mean, 541 00:25:28,840 --> 00:25:30,640 the biggest piece is at Delaware State, 542 00:25:30,640 --> 00:25:36,180 we have a contingency in Shenzhen in China. 543 00:25:36,180 --> 00:25:38,420 So having that whole international piece 544 00:25:38,420 --> 00:25:43,220 where if the infrastructure is not there, we're in trouble. 545 00:25:43,220 --> 00:25:45,620 TEEJ MERCER: I think as a whole, though, to what you 546 00:25:45,620 --> 00:25:50,700 said earlier, is this generation of students 547 00:25:50,700 --> 00:25:53,260 that are in college now, they need 548 00:25:53,260 --> 00:25:57,320 to know what's possible because they don't ask. 549 00:25:57,320 --> 00:26:03,180 They are very independent, or in our case, they've been let down. 550 00:26:03,180 --> 00:26:05,100 They've had to fight for everything 551 00:26:05,100 --> 00:26:06,680 that they've achieved. 552 00:26:06,680 --> 00:26:10,200 So they're not used to someone caring. 553 00:26:10,200 --> 00:26:12,840 They're not used to someone really saying, 554 00:26:12,840 --> 00:26:15,220 we're going to be here for you. 555 00:26:15,220 --> 00:26:16,400 And they believe it. 556 00:26:16,400 --> 00:26:20,160 It takes us pulling it out of what-- 557 00:26:20,160 --> 00:26:23,320 For example, one of the student didn't 558 00:26:23,320 --> 00:26:25,880 realize that one of the laptops that we 559 00:26:25,880 --> 00:26:28,820 gave them did or did not. 560 00:26:28,820 --> 00:26:31,360 I can't remember the details of did not 561 00:26:31,360 --> 00:26:33,400 have the Microsoft suite. 562 00:26:33,400 --> 00:26:37,760 So we would think, hey, I need to let 563 00:26:37,760 --> 00:26:41,800 somebody know I'm missing this if it's not on here or whatever. 564 00:26:41,800 --> 00:26:43,700 They didn't tell us anything. 565 00:26:43,700 --> 00:26:45,460 I didn't find out for months. 566 00:26:45,460 --> 00:26:48,320 And I'm like, so you just haven't been using the laptop? 567 00:26:48,320 --> 00:26:51,520 So I think we have to put people in place that 568 00:26:51,520 --> 00:26:53,620 understands that this is there. 569 00:26:53,620 --> 00:26:55,020 We can complain about it. 570 00:26:55,020 --> 00:27:00,680 We can say it shouldn't be like this, but the reality is it is. 571 00:27:00,680 --> 00:27:05,520 So then we have to have people in place to then be checking in 572 00:27:05,520 --> 00:27:07,580 and know, hey, do you have this? 573 00:27:07,580 --> 00:27:08,620 Do you have that? 574 00:27:08,620 --> 00:27:10,625 So then it triggers, oh, I should tell them 575 00:27:10,625 --> 00:27:12,000 because they're not just doing it 576 00:27:12,000 --> 00:27:14,520 on their own of saying what I don't have 577 00:27:14,520 --> 00:27:17,200 or what I-- they'll just try to go figure it out and go 578 00:27:17,200 --> 00:27:20,970 the long way when we're sitting right there going, well, 579 00:27:20,970 --> 00:27:23,850 had I known, I could have solved this in five minutes. 580 00:27:23,850 --> 00:27:24,930 GEORGE LEWIS: Absolutely. 581 00:27:24,930 --> 00:27:26,430 VICKI ROBINSON: And the school could 582 00:27:26,430 --> 00:27:29,410 have had an account or something that they could use. 583 00:27:29,410 --> 00:27:31,710 GEORGE LEWIS: And that leads us to our next segment 584 00:27:31,710 --> 00:27:33,170 on measuring impact. 585 00:27:33,170 --> 00:27:38,470 And you started with Dr. Vicki is, what are some of the KPIs 586 00:27:38,470 --> 00:27:41,710 that organizations should look at for building 587 00:27:41,710 --> 00:27:44,950 institutional level success around these types of programs 588 00:27:44,950 --> 00:27:47,430 and needs for the students? 589 00:27:47,430 --> 00:27:49,390 VICKI ROBINSON: That's difficult to answer 590 00:27:49,390 --> 00:27:52,690 because as you guys talk about equity, 591 00:27:52,690 --> 00:27:55,430 and I'm glad we're talking about equity and not equality 592 00:27:55,430 --> 00:27:59,390 because they are different, very different. 593 00:27:59,390 --> 00:28:02,150 But it would be different for each institution 594 00:28:02,150 --> 00:28:04,510 because it's not a one size fits all. 595 00:28:04,510 --> 00:28:07,110 So something that works at Delaware State 596 00:28:07,110 --> 00:28:10,230 may not work at Spelman, may not work at Howard. 597 00:28:10,230 --> 00:28:16,970 So what I would say to any partner, Cisco or any partner, 598 00:28:16,970 --> 00:28:22,208 first ask what is it that you need and

how can we help. 599 00:28:22,208 --> 00:28:23,750 Because it's going to look different. 600 00:28:23,750 --> 00:28:26,730 Even though we're all HBCUs, it's 601 00:28:26,730 --> 00:28:30,310 going to be different if you have children, same parent, 602 00:28:30,310 --> 00:28:31,790 each child is different. 603 00:28:31,790 --> 00:28:32,690 GEORGE LEWIS: Yes. 604 00:28:32,690 --> 00:28:36,730 TERRY BANKSTON: And the ask is not just to the three of us, 605 00:28:36,730 --> 00:28:39,410 but I'm always going to have students sitting 606 00:28:39,410 --> 00:28:42,590 on this side of the table that are going to tell me, 607 00:28:42,590 --> 00:28:43,590 this is what I need. 608 00:28:43,590 --> 00:28:45,850 This is what I'd like to have. 609 00:28:45,850 --> 00:28:47,970 I learned more from them and-- 610 00:28:47,970 --> 00:28:49,510 TEEJ MERCER: Listening to them. 611 00:28:49,510 --> 00:28:52,270 TERRY BANKSTON: They teach me more about technology. 612 00:28:52,270 --> 00:28:54,490 And as soon as my team and some of the students 613 00:28:54,490 --> 00:28:57,450 see this podcast, they're going to ask, Mr. Bankston, why 614 00:28:57,450 --> 00:29:00,610 were you on the podcast [INAUDIBLE] technology 615 00:29:00,610 --> 00:29:03,850 when I just taught you how to do this, this, this and this? 616 00:29:03,850 --> 00:29:07,490 But the point is that when they learn something and learn how 617 00:29:07,490 --> 00:29:09,710 to do it, the sky's the limit. 618 00:29:09,710 --> 00:29:14,920 So the KPI piece is always going to be internships, 619 00:29:14,920 --> 00:29:17,680 full-time jobs that they get, being 620 00:29:17,680 --> 00:29:20,800 able to look at where they come into organizations 621 00:29:20,800 --> 00:29:24,040 that whether it's small nonprofit organizations 622 00:29:24,040 --> 00:29:27,400 or federal government or major corporations, 623 00:29:27,400 --> 00:29:29,760 where they fit in at and being able to have 624 00:29:29,760 --> 00:29:34,900 that data to showcase what it is and how this piece works. 625 00:29:34,900 --> 00:29:37,280 It doesn't work if we don't talk about it 626 00:29:37,280 --> 00:29:40,415 and showcase the successes. 627 00:29:40,415 --> 00:29:41,540 GEORGE LEWIS: That's great. 628 00:29:41,540 --> 00:29:44,960 And TeeJ, one of the things I want to bring up to you 629 00:29:44,960 --> 00:29:50,640 is, how do your students and how do your people, your children 630 00:29:50,640 --> 00:29:52,760 measure success when you talk to them 631 00:29:52,760 --> 00:29:55,080 and they are getting what they need from these programs 632 00:29:55,080 --> 00:29:56,200 and partnerships? 633 00:29:56,200 --> 00:29:57,940 What do you see and measure that success? 634 00:29:57,940 --> 00:29:59,940 What does that impact look like to the students? 635 00:29:59,940 --> 00:30:00,860 What do they tell you? 636 00:30:00,860 --> 00:30:03,780 TEEJ MERCER: It's twofold for us. 637 00:30:03,780 --> 00:30:05,940 One, it's the actual tangible data. 638 00:30:05,940 --> 00:30:09,420 So when we first started Mafia, we had a 0% retention rate, 639 00:30:09,420 --> 00:30:14,300 0% in our first year because we only moved in 13 students 640 00:30:14,300 --> 00:30:17,100 that year, and they were all handpicked by the president 641 00:30:17,100 --> 00:30:18,940 of the college. 642 00:30:18,940 --> 00:30:21,660 And well intentioned, he wanted to make sure 643 00:30:21,660 --> 00:30:24,340 that it was students that he thought would really 644 00:30:24,340 --> 00:30:26,940 benefit from the opportunity. 645 00:30:26,940 --> 00:30:29,700 Well, for them, they had no skin in the game because it was just 646 00:30:29,700 --> 00:30:31,540 a bunch of people showing up like, hey, we're here to get you 647 00:30:31,540 --> 00:30:32,748 free stuff and what have you. 648 00:30:32,748 --> 00:30:34,800 So they didn't have any skin in the game. 649 00:30:34,800 --> 00:30:36,175 So I was like, that doesn't work. 650 00:30:36,175 --> 00:30:41,060 So the next year when we moved in 31 students at five HBCUs, 651 00:30:41,060 --> 00:30:42,120 they had to apply. 652 00:30:42,120 --> 00:30:44,320 They had to have some skin in the game. 653 00:30:44,320 --> 00:30:47,083 So our retention jumped to 42% that year. 654 00:30:47,083 --> 00:30:48,000 GEORGE LEWIS: Oh, wow. 655 00:30:48,000 --> 00:30:50,167 TEEJ MERCER: The next year, and I'm still going, OK, 656 00:30:50,167 --> 00:30:52,365 something's still there's a disconnect. 657 00:30:52,365 --> 00:30:53,740 When I started digging, I started 658 00:30:53,740 --> 00:30:55,323 realizing that a lot of these students 659 00:30:55,323 --> 00:30:59,360 were showing up to school not understanding financial aid, 660 00:30:59,360 --> 00:31:01,680 not really understanding how much college cost. 661 00:31:01,680 --> 00:31:06,180 What they needed-- and so I put in a team called the Mafia moms, 662 00:31:06,180 --> 00:31:09,500 and it was basically a team that took their hand the minute 663 00:31:09,500 --> 00:31:13,240 they came into Mafia and walk them through step 664 00:31:13,240 --> 00:31:15,820 by step of what you know is available to them, 665 00:31:15,820 --> 00:31:16,880 what it looks like. 666 00:31:16,880 --> 00:31:21,400 That year, George, our retention jumped to 92%. 667 00:31:21,400 --> 00:31:24,180 So that's the hard data of what I'm watching. 668 00:31:24,180 --> 00:31:26,860 And then the second level is I'm watching graduation rates. 669 00:31:26,860 --> 00:31:29,780 How our babies are getting to graduation. 670 00:31:29,780 --> 00:31:33,720 But the intangible is every month 671 00:31:33,720 --> 00:31:36,300 when they sit their care package requests, 672 00:31:36,300 --> 00:31:38,960 they have to fill out a Good News section, 673 00:31:38,960 --> 00:31:40,720 and they have to finish a sentence stem-- 674 00:31:40,720 --> 00:31:43,440 I'm grateful for, I'm thankful for, I'm looking forward to, 675 00:31:43,440 --> 00:31:44,840 I'm excited about. 676 00:31:44,840 -->

00:31:47,560 Or something like that and tell me what's going on. 677 00:31:47,560 --> 00:31:49,980 That's when I start to get to really know them, 678 00:31:49,980 --> 00:31:51,160 what they're thinking. 679 00:31:51,160 --> 00:31:54,480 And what I'm seeing consistently that they're sharing 680 00:31:54,480 --> 00:31:57,840 is that they love the stability that 681 00:31:57,840 --> 00:31:59,820 is giving them piece of mind. 682 00:31:59,820 --> 00:32:04,180 So now I've got kids presenting on Capitol Hill. 683 00:32:04,180 --> 00:32:08,420 I've got kids that are Mr. Or MS. Senior or Ms. Sophomore. 684 00:32:08,420 --> 00:32:11,990 I got kids who are pledging sororities and fraternities 685 00:32:11,990 --> 00:32:16,430 because we've given them the freedom to think, 686 00:32:16,430 --> 00:32:18,610 because they're not worried about detergent, 687 00:32:18,610 --> 00:32:22,450 they're not worried about toilet paper, paper towels, snacks. 688 00:32:22,450 --> 00:32:24,730 They're not worried about any of those things. 689 00:32:24,730 --> 00:32:28,590 And the last thing I'll say is measuring the impact. 690 00:32:28,590 --> 00:32:31,270 And Dr. Vicki has witnessed this, 691 00:32:31,270 --> 00:32:34,470 that things that we take for granted. 692 00:32:34,470 --> 00:32:39,750 I'm a woman, so of course I've needed Maxi pads. 693 00:32:39,750 --> 00:32:42,330 I showed this young lady, a student at Prairie View. 694 00:32:42,330 --> 00:32:43,490 I show her room. 695 00:32:43,490 --> 00:32:46,630 It's totally designed by a professional interior designer. 696 00:32:46,630 --> 00:32:50,310 She loves the room, but it wasn't until I showed her 697 00:32:50,310 --> 00:32:54,030 we had bought her favorite Maxi pads that she just 698 00:32:54,030 --> 00:32:55,990 broke into tears. 699 00:32:55,990 --> 00:32:58,530 That's how I know we're making impact as well. 700 00:32:58,530 --> 00:33:01,030 Because these kids are being seen. 701 00:33:01,030 --> 00:33:03,250 They know that they matter. 702 00:33:03,250 --> 00:33:08,030 So I have three levels that I juggle when it comes to, 703 00:33:08,030 --> 00:33:09,450 what are we doing? 704 00:33:09,450 --> 00:33:10,790 How is it working? 705 00:33:10,790 --> 00:33:12,530 What do we need to do next? 706 00:33:12,530 --> 00:33:15,810 VICKI ROBINSON: And what do we do next as Move-In Day 707 00:33:15,810 --> 00:33:18,510 Mafia is growing. 708 00:33:18,510 --> 00:33:21,910 Now we're starting to add workshops. 709 00:33:21,910 --> 00:33:24,650 So workshops around financial literacy. 710 00:33:24,650 --> 00:33:26,710 What happens after graduation? 711 00:33:26,710 --> 00:33:31,330 Credit worthiness mental health wellness. 712 00:33:31,330 --> 00:33:34,150 So it's more than a dorm-room makeover. 713 00:33:34,150 --> 00:33:37,110 It's more than the monthly care packages. 714 00:33:37,110 --> 00:33:39,690 We're really meeting them where they are 715 00:33:39,690 --> 00:33:41,970 and giving them what they need. 716 00:33:41,970 --> 00:33:43,110 TEEJ MERCER: Stability. 717 00:33:43,110 --> 00:33:45,330 TERRY BANKSTON: So when you all talked 718 00:33:45,330 --> 00:33:49,730 about making an impact, one of the things 719 00:33:49,730 --> 00:33:51,610 that Cisco did for us, they helped 720 00:33:51,610 --> 00:33:56,070 us purchase a machine that's called an iris photo. 721 00:33:56,070 --> 00:33:57,950 And we do headshots. 722 00:33:57,950 --> 00:33:59,170 TEEJ MERCER: Oh, that's dope. 723 00:33:59,170 --> 00:34:01,210 [INTERPOSING VOICES] 724 00:34:01,210 --> 00:34:02,710 TERRY BANKSTON: --for their resumes, 725 00:34:02,710 --> 00:34:05,970 and they put it on their LinkedIn pages. 726 00:34:05,970 --> 00:34:09,270 So the first time we set it up and had the students doing 727 00:34:09,270 --> 00:34:12,909 the headshots, and then it's emailed to them, 728 00:34:12,909 --> 00:34:16,150 the first thing the students said was they 729 00:34:16,150 --> 00:34:18,570 took the pictures, had it on their phone, and they said, 730 00:34:18,570 --> 00:34:19,810 I'm going to send this to my little brother. 731 00:34:19,810 --> 00:34:22,070 I'm going to send this to my little sister. 732 00:34:22,070 --> 00:34:25,469 And now they're passing this information down 733 00:34:25,469 --> 00:34:27,510 to the next generation. 734 00:34:27,510 --> 00:34:30,870 So when the students come on campus with their siblings 735 00:34:30,870 --> 00:34:34,550 for homecoming or some events, they bring them 736 00:34:34,550 --> 00:34:37,429 to the Career Services Office, and we do 737 00:34:37,429 --> 00:34:39,275 headshots for the young kids. 738 00:34:39,275 --> 00:34:40,650 VICKI ROBINSON: Oh, that's great. 739 00:34:40,650 --> 00:34:42,900 TERRY BANKSTON: But it gets them excited about getting 740 00:34:42,900 --> 00:34:44,090 ready to come to college. 741 00:34:44,090 --> 00:34:49,210 So that's just an offset of the piece that you all did. 742 00:34:49,210 --> 00:34:52,150 And I cannot go beyond talking about Ms. 743 00:34:52,150 --> 00:34:55,550 Perry and the things that she's done with our IT department 744 00:34:55,550 --> 00:34:56,770 to making this piece work. 745 00:34:56,770 --> 00:34:58,890 It's phenomenal. 746 00:34:58,890 --> 00:35:00,130 It's a powerful statement. 747 00:35:00,130 --> 00:35:03,530 And so it goes deeper than just us sitting at the table. 748 00:35:03,530 --> 00:35:06,580 And if we don't look at the holistic piece of it, 749 00:35:06,580 --> 00:35:07,420 we're losing us. 750 00:35:07,420 --> 00:35:08,900 We're losing the emphasis already. 751 00:35:08,900 --> 00:35:10,240 GEORGE LEWIS: Great information. 752 00:35:10,240 --> 00:35:13,680 And before we wrap up, this has been a great conversation. 753 00:35:13,680 --> 00:35:16,420 And I love everything about what we're talking about. 754 00:35:16,420 --> 00:35:19,500 And it leads me to my last rapid fire question 755 00:35:19,500 --> 00:35:21,180 that I want to give you guys. 756 00:35:21,180 --> 00:35:26,100 If we could wave a

magic wand and solve one technology 757 00:35:26,100 --> 00:35:29,672 challenge for students tomorrow, TeeJ, what would that be? 758 00:35:29,672 --> 00:35:30,880 TEEJ MERCER: Oh, that's easy. 759 00:35:30,880 --> 00:35:34,240 The cell phone service plan, call me, 760 00:35:34,240 --> 00:35:39,480 but also continuing to pour into them with laptops. 761 00:35:39,480 --> 00:35:42,380 I would love for Cisco that every year, 762 00:35:42,380 --> 00:35:45,580 it becomes a thing that they know that they're 763 00:35:45,580 --> 00:35:47,740 covering our incoming class. 764 00:35:47,740 --> 00:35:50,600 So then they know that they compete. 765 00:35:50,600 --> 00:35:53,700 They starting off ahead of the game as 766 00:35:53,700 --> 00:35:55,110 opposed to behind the game. 767 00:35:55,110 --> 00:35:56,360 So, yeah, for me, that's easy. 768 00:35:56,360 --> 00:35:57,068 GEORGE LEWIS: OK. 769 00:35:57,068 --> 00:35:57,923 Dr. Vicki. 770 00:35:57,923 --> 00:35:59,340 VICKI ROBINSON: I'm going to stick 771 00:35:59,340 --> 00:36:02,220 with what I started originally talking 772 00:36:02,220 --> 00:36:06,520 about the infrastructure, because, to me, that's 773 00:36:06,520 --> 00:36:08,880 like the foundational level. 774 00:36:08,880 --> 00:36:12,100 And I believe, as Whitney Young believes, 775 00:36:12,100 --> 00:36:14,720 that it's better to be prepared for an opportunity 776 00:36:14,720 --> 00:36:18,620 and not have one than to have an opportunity and not be prepared. 777 00:36:18,620 --> 00:36:21,220 So we want to make sure that we're preparing our students. 778 00:36:21,220 --> 00:36:24,500 And it's also a win-win for Cisco, 779 00:36:24,500 --> 00:36:28,300 because if Cisco is working with the students, the staff, 780 00:36:28,300 --> 00:36:30,820 the institutions, when they graduate, 781 00:36:30,820 --> 00:36:32,860 it's going to help Cisco workforce. 782 00:36:32,860 --> 00:36:34,880 And there's so many resources and tools 783 00:36:34,880 --> 00:36:37,520 that we didn't even talk about that Cisco have, 784 00:36:37,520 --> 00:36:43,520 the academy, the university, just everything that Cisco has 785 00:36:43,520 --> 00:36:45,400 to offer, it needs to be known. 786 00:36:45,400 --> 00:36:47,980 787 00:36:47,980 --> 00:36:49,840 TERRY BANKSTON: Wiring. 788 00:36:49,840 --> 00:36:52,400 Not that I don't want our students to go sit-in 789 00:36:52,400 --> 00:36:55,280 Starbucks or McDonald's and have to use their Wi-Fi 790 00:36:55,280 --> 00:36:57,380 to get their work done. 791 00:36:57,380 --> 00:36:59,762 They could do it from their dorm room. 792 00:36:59,762 --> 00:37:01,220 TEEJ MERCER: And I just got to say, 793 00:37:01,220 --> 00:37:03,130 y'all have been totally responsive. 794 00:37:03,130 --> 00:37:06,590 Shawna Ishmael, who has been our advocate. 795 00:37:06,590 --> 00:37:14,270 You have been totally responsive to have a strong footprint 796 00:37:14,270 --> 00:37:16,250 in transformation. 797 00:37:16,250 --> 00:37:17,250 GEORGE LEWIS: All right. 798 00:37:17,250 --> 00:37:17,670 Well-- 799 00:37:17,670 --> 00:37:18,470 VICKI ROBINSON: And not just-- 800 00:37:18,470 --> 00:37:19,210 I'm sorry. 801 00:37:19,210 --> 00:37:19,570 GEORGE LEWIS: Go ahead. 802 00:37:19,570 --> 00:37:21,362 VICKI ROBINSON: Not just the students here. 803 00:37:21,362 --> 00:37:24,910 Terry touched on it when he talked about their partnership 804 00:37:24,910 --> 00:37:25,650 with China. 805 00:37:25,650 --> 00:37:28,350 But we're growing virtually and globally. 806 00:37:28,350 --> 00:37:30,230 So that's something else that needs 807 00:37:30,230 --> 00:37:31,610 to be taken into consideration. 808 00:37:31,610 --> 00:37:32,610 GEORGE LEWIS: All right. 809 00:37:32,610 --> 00:37:34,430 Well, there you have it, folks. 810 00:37:34,430 --> 00:37:35,610 Our time is up. 811 00:37:35,610 --> 00:37:37,390 But this was a great conversation 812 00:37:37,390 --> 00:37:41,290 on bridging the gap between our digital inclusion, 813 00:37:41,290 --> 00:37:43,170 but also the partnerships. 814 00:37:43,170 --> 00:37:46,230 What matters to us most is what's happening with DSU 815 00:37:46,230 --> 00:37:49,230 and with Move-In Day Mafia being able to bring student 816 00:37:49,230 --> 00:37:51,330 success and careers forward. 817 00:37:51,330 --> 00:37:53,590 Thank you so much for partnering with Cisco, 818 00:37:53,590 --> 00:37:56,070 and thank you all for Tech Unscripted. 819 00:37:56,070 --> 00:37:57,350 Thank you so much. 820 00:37:57,350 --> 00:37:59,020 PARTICIPANTS: Thank you. 821 00:37:59,020 --> 00:38:02,000