Beginning the fall semester of 2010, all students, except for incoming seniors, will be able to opt into paying an extra $200 on their technology fee in order to receive a MacBook and either an iPod touch or a cutting-edge iPad (which, among other things, can be used to purchase and read certain textbooks).
By Cody Naylor
Staff Writer
Beginning the fall semester of 2010, all students, except for incoming seniors, will be able to opt into paying an extra $200 on their technology fee in order to receive a MacBook and either an iPod touch or a cutting-edge iPad (which, among other things, can be used to purchase and read certain textbooks).
Incoming freshman who opt for the premium will receive a MacBook with the Seton Hill University (SHU) logo on it and one of the other aforementioned devices and, after four semesters, will be able to trade that computer in for a new one that they can take with them when they graduate.
“Once the older models are turned in, they will be repurposed and given to adjunct faculty,” explained Phil Komarny, executive director of computer information and technology, at the IT Student forum held on Feb. 11.
When pressed by those in attendance for a reason that students would want to pay the extra money, Komarny explained that the technology fee for all students is “rising to $300 per semester” due to the expense of the new wireless system. Komarny shared that the school did not want to up the costs of the tech fee “until it had worked out most of the bugs in the new system.”
Komarny also reasoned that the $200 increase per semester is a deal considering the advanced technology that students would receive, especially for a freshman who will receive upgraded models after two academic years.
This program will bring a number of other changes to SHU as well. A kiosk where students can order Apple equipment will be placed on campus along with an Apple Care Center so that any problems with student equipment can be dealt with expediently.
“Also, all faculty will receive Mac computers and be encouraged to incorporate this new technology in the classroom,” said Komarny.
Training classes for those who are unfamiliar with the Mac operating system will also be offered.
Many students are excited about this opportunity. Sophmore, Kaylee Tomak thinks that “it is impressive that we will be able to get a computer and an iPad for such a low price.”
The university plans to have the iPads on April 1, “the day and date that they begin shipping to stores,” boasted Komarny.
However, there are some students who do not share in the excitement. Junior, Deana Kubat believes that “there really isn’t a reason for the tech fee to increase in the first place. It was the decision of the university to put into place the new wireless system, not the students.”
Even though the tech fee in general is increasing, the university is mindful that there are those students who will not want to spend the extra money because they have their own computers already or depend on the refund check they receive to get them through the semester. According to Komarny, a form that lets you choose to opt into the program or just pay the lowest fee will be appearing for all students on Griffin’s Lair in the near future.