Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Widener University Partners with IBM for Third Annual Community Tech Day



Widener University’s Computer Science Department is partnering with IBM for the third annual Community Tech Day on Saturday, Nov. 5 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Widener’s University Center. During this time, Chester residents, employees, nonprofits and small businesses can bring their computers in for a check-up free of charge.

During Community Tech Day, students in Widener University’s Computer Science Department volunteer their time offering technical assistance to those in need. In preparation for the event, students participate in training sessions sponsored by IBM, which teach them how to monitor for and clear viruses and malware, identify hardware glitches and tend to other technical issues across PCs, desktops and laptops. Last year’s event saw around 30 student volunteers working with approximately 40 people from the community.

“Community Tech Day is an opportunity for our students to help local residents who might otherwise not have access to tech support,” said Dr. J. Adam Fischbach, chair of the Computer Science Department. “This service benefits the community, but it also gives our students a hands-on experience to work with customers and practice communication along with teamwork.”

Widener University encourages students to apply what they learn in the classroom to service projects that benefit the community. In fact, 75 percent of Widener University students participate in community service or volunteer activities.

“We’ve had students come back each year to volunteer for Community Tech Day because they love working with Chester residents to provide an important service,” said Fischbach. “The students are dedicated to giving back, and they spend the whole day working to solve problems.”

To sign up to receive computer help on Community Tech Day, register at cs.widener.edu/comtechday or call 610-499-4035. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Widener’s University Center on East 14th Street between Walnut Street and Melrose Avenue. Walk-ins are welcome, but pre-registration is encouraged.

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