Advancing Innovation and Opportunity
Across California’s community colleges, fast, reliable internet is essential for teaching, learning, and day-to-day operations. Much of the work that makes it possible happens quietly in the background—but its impact is felt everywhere on campus.
That’s where CENIC (Corporation for Education Network Initiatives in California) comes in. From advanced broadband to technical guidance, CENIC helps colleges and districts stay connected and ready for new technologies. Through a purpose-built network for education, shared economies of scale, and strong partnerships with service providers, CENIC reduces costs, improves reliability, and minimizes outages—while providing 24/7 expert network support at no cost to colleges and districts.
Supporting AI and Next-Generation Innovation
As campuses explore artificial intelligence in teaching, learning, and research, access to advanced tools and infrastructure is essential. CENIC Artificial Intelligence Resource (CENIC AIR) connects California’s community colleges to a broader national research platform, giving faculty and students access to the computing power and environments needed for artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data science.
Through this shared infrastructure, campuses can support hands-on learning, develop AI-focused programs, and enable students to build skills aligned with emerging career pathways. CENIC AIR also supports collaboration with institutions across the country, expanding opportunities for research and innovation.
A Community That Connects
CENIC isn’t just about infrastructure; it’s also about people. Through the Community Technology Affinity Group (C2TAG), IT professionals across the system can share ideas, solve challenges, and learn from peers.
Members have access to presentations, topic-focused videos, a mailing list, and a Slack channel to connect year-round. For campuses navigating change, C2TAG offers a space to collaborate, stay current, and engage with a broader technology community—a valuable resource for IT teams supporting campus infrastructure and goals. Consider enhancing your college’s IT capabilities by joining C2TAG today.
Extending Access Beyond Campus
Fast, reliable internet is essential for students wherever they are. Programs like California Connects, offered through the Foundation for California Community Colleges in partnership with the Chancellor’s Office, are helping expand access beyond campus.
Students can also explore additional connectivity and digital support through the Digital Equity Resource Finder (DERF), a statewide tool that helps users locate low-cost internet, devices, and digital literacy resources by county and need.
Beginning April 1, California Connects now offers mobile hotspot service for $13.99 per month, providing affordable, reliable connectivity with unlimited, unrestricted access and no slowdowns. Colleges can distribute hotspots through libraries, EOPS, and loan programs, while students can also enroll independently, making it easier to get connected in ways that work best for them.
“Access to affordable, reliable internet connects people and opens doors. It turns curiosity into learning, learning into opportunity, and opportunity into a pathway forward,” says JC Sales, Executive Vice President of Enterprise and Institutional Partnerships of the Foundation for California Community Colleges. “Expanding access isn’t just about technology; it’s about giving more people the chance to realize what’s possible.”
Beyond the classroom, this level of access helps students connect to critical resources such as healthcare, financial assistance programs like CalFresh, and other low-cost benefits, supporting the whole student.
From supporting next-generation technology to expanding access for students, CENIC quietly powers the digital foundation that helps California’s community colleges thrive.
Questions? Contact Cindy McCartney, CCC Technology Center CENIC Program Manager, at cmccartney@ccctechcenter.org.