Most Lehigh Valley colleges have opted to be bring-your-own-device campuses.
Moravian College's next incoming class won't have to include laptops or tablets on their college shopping list.
The college plans to start issuing MacBook Pros and iPads to all freshmen next fall with the goal of becoming an all MacBook Pro campus.
Moravian is the first Pennsylvania college in the region to roll out such a program. In New Jersey, Centenary College started issuing students laptops a decade ago. This is the first year they can bring their own or select a PC or Apple laptop.
Moravian's new president, Bryon Grigsby, implemented a similar program at Shenandoah University and saw great success, he said.
"We are leveling the playing field for all students regardless of how much money your parents make and we are ensuring you will be able to know the technology skills necessary for the 21st century workforce," Grigsby said.
Moravian is currently a bring-your-own-device campus, like most Lehigh Valley colleges.
But that creates classroom difficulties with students using different machines and inequities when wealthier students can afford better computers, Grigsby said. The current system is akin to telling students to bring just any accounting textbook to class and trying to make it work, he said.
Moravian settled on Apple because it is the only computer that can run Windows, Linux and IOS and the computers tend to last seven to eight years. The program ensures students graduate with a high-end computer to jump start their careers, Grigsby said.
"This one unit can give us the whole array of workforce needs that you could possibly need for any career you go out into," said Grigsby, who is using a 7-year-old Mac.
Bridging the digital divide
When Centenary began issuing laptops to students a decade ago, it built the costs of the computers into its technology fee.
"We
wanted to bridge the digital divide," Centenary President Barbara
Lewthwaite said. "We wanted to make sure that everyone that studied at
Centenary had a laptop."
Centenary students this year have a choice between bringing their own computer if it has the needed specifications or paying for an Apple or Toshiba laptop. Students will pay the $300 technology fee if they bring their own computer, $920 for the MacBook Pro or $620 for the Toshiba laptop. Centenary incorporates iPads in various programs in different ways. For example, student teachers use them in classrooms.
"The way we do it gives students the most flexibility," Lewthwaite said.
Moravian estimates the program will cost $1,000 per student per year, which will be built into the tuition costs. Grigsby expects a small increase and cost savings to fund the program. Freshmen next fall will see a higher tuition hike than existing students, who can opt into the program.
"Yes, you will have a small tuition increase but you may have a significant reduction in the number of college-level textbooks you need for each class," Grigsby said. "We are hoping these two things will balance out."
Moravian plans to work with the faculty to build online, interactive textbooks through iTunes University so students will buy fewer books.
Technology studies
DeSales University studied whether or not to implement such a program but student surveys revealed technology is a personal choice, college spokesman Tom McNamara said.
"Most of them are going to bring whatever devices they are comfortable with from home," he said. "Our focus is to support whatever students have already."
Any time Centenary has considered eliminating the program, there's been a push back from students saying, "No, do not take my laptop away," Lewthwaite said.
Lehigh University weighed issuing laptops back in 2003 when some schools started programs. Lehigh had a tough time finding one laptop or device for all students given its college and program computing diversity, said Bruce Taggart, vice provost for library and technology services.
Engineering and science students need more storage and stronger processors than humanities majors, he said. So, Lehigh opted not to issue students laptops.
Lehigh also didn't see the value in adding $1,000 a year to Lehigh's tuition to fund such a program, he said.
Lehigh implemented its iPad project in the fall of 2011, which allows faculty to have all the students in their courses equipped with iPads and get technology team support, said Greg Reihman, Lehigh's director of the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning.
"We are studying the best ways these devices can be used to support and extend instruction and student learning," Reihman said. "There have been some great projects along the way."