2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

WIP: Enhancing Broadband Access and Equity Through Co-Designed Navigator Strategies for Promotional Code Redemption

Presented at Community Engagement Division (COMMENG) Technical Session 5

This work-in-progress Engagement in Practice (EiP) study examines low redemption rates of promotional codes for bundled Broadband Internet Service (BIS) with free laptops in underserved urban communities. Integrating Diffusion of Innovations Theory, Technology Acceptance Model, and Equity Theory, it addresses: (1) barriers to code redemption/activation; (2) impact of co-designed navigator interventions; and (3) scalable design principles from qualitative-to-quantitative translation.
Using mixed methods—in-depth interviews (n=14 Historically Black College and University [HBCU] students), focus groups, and A/B testing (180 households)—initial findings show >90% unawareness of Comcast codes due to email/spam/perceived ineligibility issues. Interventions raised redemption from 16.7% to 68.9%, reduced time-to-redeem by 40%, and lowered attrition, with navigator interaction as the strongest predictor (β = 0.42, p < 0.01).
This model fosters student-led community partnerships and curriculum integration in engineering education, drawing lessons from AOL's 1990s CD campaigns for modern digital equity. It produces open-source toolkits and policy insights. IRB approval and informed consent were obtained.

Authors

Samuel Ola Abolarin Morgan State University
Julius Ogaga Etuke http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2710-2803 Morgan State University [biography]

Julius Ogaga Etuke is a seasoned civil engineer and Ph.D. Candidate in Civil Engineering at Morgan State University, where his research focuses on sustainable and resilient infrastructure engineering. With over 15 years of consulting and project leadership experience, primarily in Nigeria's infrastructure landscape, he brings a robust, practical perspective to academic inquiry. His doctoral research is at the cutting edge of transportation resilience, integrating virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR), climate adaptation modeling, and data-driven solutions to improve disaster preparedness and risk mitigation in complex transportation systems. As a COREN-registered engineer and member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, his work emphasizes impactful research and consultancy that bridges structural design principles with urgent sustainability and resilience challenges.
Dr. Oludare Adegbola Owolabi P.E. Morgan State University [biography]

Dr. Oludare Owolabi, a professional engineer in Maryland, joined the Morgan State University faculty in 2010. He is the director of the Sustainable Infrastructure Development, Smart Innovation and Resilient Engineering Research Lab, Department of Civil Engineering at Morgan State University
Dr. Uttam Gaulee http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3010-2812
Obiageli Gertrude Adaku Nwachukwu Morgan State University [biography]

Obiageli Nwachukwu is a Graduate Research Assistant at the Centre for Equitable Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Systems, Morgan State University, where she specializes in data‑driven modeling, machine learning, and applied bioinformatics. Her research spans predictive analytics, digital health adoption, and the development of equitable AI frameworks for underserved communities. She has contributed to NTIA‑funded projects focused on broadband access, telehealth readiness, and community‑centered digital equity initiatives. With a background in pharmacy and advanced training in computer science (bioinformatics), she integrates domain expertise in health systems with computational methods to build predictive models that support informed decision‑making in public health and technology adoption. Her broader interests include clinical trial outcome prediction, translational data science, and AI‑enabled solutions for improving health access and outcomes.
Dr. Olushola V. Emiola-Owolabi http://orcid.org/https://0000-0002-8521-5769 Morgan State University [biography]

Olushola Emiola-Owolabi is an engineering pedagogy specialist, researching active learning in engineering classrooms and specializing in qualitative methods research on teaching and learning – particularly in remote synchronous learning environments.

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