UNCW freshmen may be required to purchase laptops next year. The university is working hard to put this into effect. According to Vice Chancellor and Associate Provost Robert Tyndall of the Internet Technology Systems Division at UNCW, there are three options for the university to consider. The university can require incoming freshmen to purchase laptops, they can give authorization to certain departments such as computer science to require laptops, or they can require the entire student body to buy laptops.

Most likely, the university will go with the first option. Once the decision is made to require laptops, the next issue is what brand and who is going to cover the cost. “A university-wide committee is going to look and see which is most logical,” Tyndall said. Tyndall, Bobby Miller, Beverly Vagnerini and Scott Cowdrey, all of ITSD, presented all the information that academic leaders on campus need in order to make a decision regarding this matter at a meeting Sept. 8. “If they make a decision in the spring, we’re probably looking one and a half to two years out before it becomes a reality,” Tyndall said. The university has received mixed feedback regarding mandatory laptops. A survey will be sent to parents, probably of freshmen, to learn how many have laptops or desktops, and the brand and price they chose.

“Parents are glad that students are learning [computer] skills and better prepared after leaving college,” Tyndall said. “Students have an advantage living in that [technical] world for four years.” The only negative feedback has been the cost of the laptops. “Obviously cost is going to be an issue. That is one of the key areas we plan to focus on,” said director of client services Beverly Vagnerini.Tyndall said the question is, “how do we make this work without making this a financial burden?” Three options lay ahead: UNCW can lease the laptops, swallow the cost and provide them for free, or get financial aid to cover the cost.

“81 percent of the freshmen class has already brought computers to campus,” Tyndall said. Client Services, which facilitates the online Dell laptop program, reported that 470 Dell laptops were purchased through client services since May. Most of these customers were freshmen. If the university implemented a mandatory laptop rule, it is possible that students would have to purchase Dell laptops from the school. UNC-Chapel Hill and Wake Forest University both require their students to purchase laptops. “I’ve talked with a lot of universities that have this program in place,” Vagnerini said, “and most of their feedback is positive.” “I expect we’ll have a final agreement by the end of the semester,” said Paul Hosier, Interim Provost And Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs. “This area changes so much each year and we have to keep up with it.” Tyndall said. Another Dean’s meeting is scheduled for Monday, where discussion over the issue will continue.