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Connect Buffalo
Digital Navigators program
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Student workforce + neighborhood onboarding

Digital Navigators

A student training program that turns connectivity into outcomes: onboarding, device setup, Wi‑Fi troubleshooting, and in‑community support—so residents get stable service and the network stays healthy.

Who this page is for
Schools & hosts → partnerResidents → services hubFAQ → support tiers

How this fits escalation: Navigators operate as Tier 1—onboarding, Wi‑Fi basics, scripted triage—before issues move to network ops (Tier 2) or upstream (Tier 3). See FAQ → for the full support model residents experience.

What Navigators do (Tier 1 support)
  • Onboard households: Wi‑Fi setup, device connection, and basic troubleshooting
  • Reduce repeat support visits by resolving common issues early
  • Support subsidy onboarding paperwork (when applicable) and program referrals
  • Create feedback loops: what residents experience → what the network team fixes
Why this matters
Networks fail socially before they fail technically—confusing setups, slow Wi‑Fi, and no local support erode trust. Navigators protect adoption and confidence.

For academic advisors, schools, & community hosts

We collaborate on cohort calendars, supervised field hours, and host sites where students practice resident-centered support—not unstructured volunteerism. No donation required to start a conversation about credit-bearing placements or community partnership.

Get involved →Email partnerships →Transparency →
Digital Navigator application

Apply to the next cohort

No account needed. Submit saves a CSV on your device, attempts secure delivery through our messaging channel when configured, and falls back to a pre-filled email in your mail app if automated delivery isn't available.

Eligibility & expectations
  • Students: typically enrolled at a partnering college or supervised program—we confirm details at screening.
  • Commitment: expect hands-on modules plus field or lab time; weekly hours align with availability you select (subject to placement).
  • Transport & conduct: reliable way to reach host sites plus professional, resident-centered boundaries (training covers escalation, privacy, ethics).
  • Compensation: stipends or course credit vary by cohort and partner agreements—discussed at screening, not promised on this form.
What to expect
  • Short screening call + scheduling
  • Hands-on training modules + shadowed support
  • Field placement with a community partner (as available)
Privacy: drafts stay on your device (localStorage) until you submit. Submitted applications may route through automated delivery first; otherwise your email provider sends the same contents via mailto—see our Privacy Policy.
Your details
Full name
Email
Phone (optional)
School
Major / Program
Graduation year (optional)
Availability
Preferred neighborhood / area (optional)
Relevant experience (optional)
Why do you want to join? (optional)
When you submit
You'll download a CSV copy for your records. If automated submission is configured, you'll see a success toast; otherwise your email app opens with the same details pre-filled.
Enrollment snapshot

Current cohort

These figures are sourced from navigator-metrics.json and published as cohort data is verified—narrative context often lands on Updates → alongside Transparency → stewardship commitments.

Last updated: TBD
Students enrolled
TBD
Active students in the current training cohort.
Training partners
TBD
Local organizations hosting sessions or placement sites.
Hours completed
TBD
Total training + field hours logged for this cohort.
Households supported
TBD
Onboarding + troubleshooting touches supported by Navigators.
Definitions & notes

Numbers update as cohort activity and partner placement data are finalized. “Households supported” counts distinct households with at least one Navigator-led onboarding or troubleshooting touch in the reporting window—not total visits.

Program reporting
Aggregates may omit early pilot noise; when dashboards go live they will summarize the same categories without exposing identifiable resident histories.
Training program

Student training curriculum

A practical curriculum that blends technical fundamentals with resident-centered support and documentation.

Expand each module below; full syllabus PDFs may be linked here later as cohorts stabilize.

Training schedule (next cohort)
Start date: Fall 2026
Schedule may vary by cohort.
Week 1
Workshop
Intro
Time: Sat 10–12
Location: Campus
Week 2
Workshop + lab
Connectivity basics + troubleshooting
Time: TBD
Location: TBD
Week 3
Lab
Home Wi‑Fi setup + device onboarding
Time: TBD
Location: TBD
Week 4
Field
Field shadowing + ticket practice
Time: TBD
Location: TBD

Public-benefit outcomes

Donors and partners often want to fund outcomes, not just infrastructure. These are the kinds of program results we report alongside network uptime.

  • Households onboarded and stabilized (30/60/90 day follow‑ups)
  • Support volume and Tier‑1 resolution rate
  • Time-to-resolution for common Wi‑Fi issues
  • Resident satisfaction feedback from support interactions
  • Student workforce development milestones (certificates, placements)
Ways to support
Support a student cohort, provide devices/routers for training, host a community lab day, or fund a partner-hosted onboarding event.

Questions?

Students: use the apply form above. Partners: partnership strip →

Ask a question →

Privacy & data handling

Navigator applications keep drafts on your device until you submit; delivery may use automated email routing or mailto. Site-wide practices—including Nominatim lookups and giving—are summarized in our Privacy Policy.