Wayne State University, Merit Network partner for Michigan Moonshot broadband planning and expansion efforts

Wayne State University has joined the Michigan Moonshot, a statewide call to action started by the nonprofit research and education organization Merit Network. Broadband internet is essential in modern society, but according to nationally available data, Michigan has at least 380,000 households without broadband access, which equates to 27% of households with school-age children.

As a part of this collaboration, Wayne State students, faculty and staff are asked to participate in a survey about internet access and connectivity. Collecting this information will allow the university a better look at the campus community's readiness and needs for virtual learning and working.

Students, faculty and staff are invited to complete the five-minute survey via a direct message in Academica, Wayne State's student and employee portal.

"Internet accessibility is at the heart of educational equity," said CIO and Associate Vice President Daren Hubbard. "To best serve our students, faculty and staff, the university needs to first understand their needs. This initiative from our partners at Merit, and the forthcoming data, will help us appropriately adjust our technology support services to best serve all Warriors."

Wayne State is the first university invited to participate in promoting the Michigan Moonshot survey. The goal is to provide accurate, unbiased connectivity data regarding which properties do and do not currently have internet access, as well as a realistic representation of current broadband coverage and speeds. Information gathered will be used to help support broadband internet expansion efforts, and to help further inform the university's remote technology support services in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read more about this collaboration at today.wayne.edu