Other universities create individual computer requirements

By KATE DAILEY
Collegian Staff Writer

Colleges and universities around the country, including Penn State, are beginning to ask themselves if they should create mandates requiring students to own computers.

According to Renata Engel, chair of the Computer Ownership and Access Committee at Penn State, more than 60 schools now require students to own computers, and many more are considering it.

At The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, all incoming freshmen must own a laptop computer that meets Chapel Hill specifications by the year 2000, said Linwood Futrelle, director of the Carolina Computing Initiative at the university.

"It's something that levels the playing field for all students," Futrelle said. He said about 60 percent of students who enter Chapel Hill already own a computer.

"I can't prove that those 60 percent have better luck academically," he said, "but the perception is they do."

The average cost of a laptop is almost equal to a semester of in-state tuition at Chapel Hill. A deal with IBM as well as an increase in student aid should ease this economic burden, Futrelle said.

In preparation for the change in policy, Chapel Hill is increasing its technical support and computer resources for students and staff.

"We have a plethora of services in place and plan to offer more," he said.

There are no plans to close down or reduce the computer labs, he said.

"Even when people have computers, they still need the lab," he said, adding labs can provide software and accessories students can't afford.

At Wake Forest University, students are provided with new laptop computers every two years. The computers are covered in the cost of tuition and students keep them upon graduation, said Kevin Cox, director of media relations at Wake Forest.

Administrators at Michigan State University rejected a proposal similar to Chapel Hill's because the plan lacked specifications.

• PSU researching computer options