The Journalism department is set to become the second department on campus to require its majors to own laptops.

In the Fall 2009 semester, incoming freshman and transfer students who major in journalism will be required to buy Apple Macintosh laptop computers.

According to a flier that is given out to perspective journalism students, Mac laptops are the latest way to support the department’s initiative of providing students with the different forms of technology they will need.

“Our goal is to graduate the most prepared, most experienced, most talented journalists possible,” the flier states.

The Communication Disorders and Sciences department was the first department to request that their majors purchase laptops since the fall semester of the 2008-09 school year.

Blair Lord, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, said there are other departments that are considering such requirements, but they have not yet implemented them.

“The principle underlying these initiatives are that the technology is an integral component of the educational experience of the students,” said Lord. “As departments develop where such technology becomes integral to their programs, I would expect more to move ahead.”

Michael Hoadley, Assistant Vice President for Academic Technology, said that Eastern is making an attempt to help students and their families by making requests such as this. Hoadley stated that survey data compiled by Housing and Dining Services shows that 94 percent of students that live in residence halls bring a computer with them to college, and a requirement like this helps students and their families when making those kinds of financial aid decisions because the recommended models are best suited for the program that the students are enrolled in.

The flier also reads: “With this requirement, we’re attempting to assist students in getting the computer that best serves their academic and professional needs.”

Associate professor of CDS Lynn Calvert said that the students’ want for laptops increased as they saw them being used in class.

“The students did not buy into it until the professors actually started using them in the classes and used them for projects and the students saw how useful it was,” Calvert said.

After seeing how useful the laptops were to them, students had positive feedback. Calvert said that she saw increases in students who owned laptops throughout the semester in several classes, and expects the same for some future classes.

“Our students have responded well,” Calvert said.

For journalism majors, financial aid assistance is available to help with the purchase of the Apple Macintosh computers. If a student qualifies for financial aid, the laptop may be included as part of their financial aid package since it is a program requirement.

Spenser Nobles can be reached at 581-7946 or at [email protected].