Assured Access to Computing Initiative

UMBC's learning environment requires that students have ready access to a computer and the Internet by Fall 2001. To ensure this, students will want to explore outright ownership, leasing and use of on-campus public computing facilities. The choice will naturally depend on individual circumstances, but the following information linked on the left hand side will help guide prospective students and their parents. To aid you in understanding what this initiative is about we have answered a number of common questions below.

Why?

Discussion on this initiative began in the spring of 1998 and was an initiative that had its beginning in discussions among faculty over how to best prepare students to live and work in a world shaped by technology. At that time a number of universities had announced programs to require all students to own a laptop and UMBC was interested in making sure our students were prepared to compete in this world.  This initiative is the result of numerous discussions with students, staff and especially faculty. The fundamental goals of this initiative are:

• provide assurance to faculty that students in their course have adequate access to computing to insure that work assigned using the computer can be completed;
• provide faculty and staff with a campus infrastructure that will support their use of  technology for teaching and service; 
• provide students with a campus infrastructure and services that make owning a computer both beneficial and cost-effective.

Why not require a laptop computer?

As stated above, a fundamental goal was to make this program cost-effective. In reviewing programs that required laptops of all students we did not find enough benefit to warrant the increased cost to students. In discussing the program with students we found that most students (>80%) were coming to UMBC with a computer and we did not want to require students to lose that investment. 

That said, there can be benefits to owning a laptop and students should consider this option if they are purchasing a new computer.

I can't afford to purchase a computer, what will I do?

UMBC has tried to make ownership very affordable and has subsidized the cost of the software licenses through site license agreements with vendors. Utilizing different payment options we hope that all students can afford to purchase a computer. However, UMBC will work with students who have demonstrated the greatest financial need to provide a low-cost rental computer. This rental computer will be a computer that is owned by UMBC and meets the minimum specifications.  In addition, UMBC has made a commitment to continue to provide public access computer labs. Many of these labs are open round-the-clock during the school week. If you do not own a computer you must be prepared to allocate time for working in campus computer labs.