Q. When does the ISU Laptop Program officially start?
A. The first students required to have a laptop computer were those fulltime freshmen that started in fall 2007.

Q. Will students who already own a laptop computer have to buy another one?
A. No. All students who already own a laptop computer can continue to use it as long as the computer is able to support the academic requirements which are defined by meeting the standard specifications. They will be required to pay for support if and when it is needed. Students will also be required to ensure the appropriate University software is installed. All students may contact the OIT Help Desk (237-2910) for information on acquiring needed software.

Q. Will students be required to buy a Lenovo ThinkPad laptop?
A. No, but all freshmen and sophomores are required to have a computer. You may choose to purchase a different laptop or use one you already own to meet the mandatory laptop ownership requirement. If you choose to purchase or use a laptop other than the ISU recommended and supported laptop (Lenovo ThinkPad) you should be aware you will be required to pay for technical support if it is needed. All students will also be required to ensure the appropriate University software is installed and that it can support the academic requirements.

Q. How was the decision made to have students purchase laptops rather than lease them from the University?
A. Ownership by students was preferred. There is no student leasing program at Indiana State for laptops.

Q. Will students wanting a Mac computer for visual work have to buy a PC laptop computer too?
A. No. Please be aware that the student is responsible for the Macintosh computer to support academic requirements, support needed software, and that students may still have classes in which the Windows-based laptop may be required by the faculty. Unfortunately, the University will not be able to repair Macintosh equipment. Macintosh computer labs will still be available for special needs.

Q. When will current upperclassmen be phased into the initiative?
A. ISU students starting classes before fall semester 2007 will not be required to own a laptop or participate in the laptop program. Those not part of the program, including part-time students, may however take advantage of the lower cost of a ThinkPad purchased through the University’s partnership with Lenovo if they wish. Each incoming freshmen class beginning in fall 2007 will be part of the laptop program and be required to own a laptop. After four years (2011), all full-time undergraduate students will be participants.

Q. How will this initiative affect graduate-level programs?
A. As a general statement, graduate students will not be included in the mandatory program unless their specific program elects to adopt a mandatory laptop requirement. Each graduate program has the option to participate in the program if it makes sense within the context of that program. Students should check with their departments to learn of any requirements.

Q. What is a notebook computer? Is it like a laptop?
A. Yes, notebooks are also small, portable computers. Notebooks are normally lighter than laptops with the same functionality and power. Terms are generally used synonymously.

Q. What is the ISU Laptop Scholarship Award?
A. Indiana State University will award a laptop computer to those incoming fulltime degree seeking freshmen students who have completed an Indiana Core 40 Diploma (or out of state equivalent) and have a high school cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher based on a 4.0 scale and have applied and been admitted by March 1st for that year’s fall semester. ISU Laptop Award Details

Cost Issues

Q. Can financial aid apply to the purchase of the laptop?
A. Yes, costs for a computer can be factored into the formula that determines a student's total financial aid eligibility. Students must submit the Computer Expense Form (PDF) before or within 30 days of purchasing the computer. Please see the form for more information. Questions regarding the form should be directed to the Office of Student Financial Aid.

Q. How much does the ThinkPad laptop cost?
A. The cost of each model is available on the Lenovo Indiana State purchase website. These prices are at a significant discount for Indiana State University students only. Pricing information is also shared with students and families via various mailings and events. Prices for each model are hundreds of dollars less than retail.

Q. Will carrying-bags of some sort be provided as part of the cost of the laptop?
A. No. ISU will follow the strategy employed at other institutions, such as Northern Michigan University and the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, where students select and purchase their own carrying bag. This is a better solution because some students prefer a “briefcase” style bag whereas others prefer “backpack” style bags. The ISU Computer Store, located in the Student Computing Complex, carries a wide assortment of laptop carrying cases, sleeves, and other peripherals.

Q. Will ISU offer loans to students or families to purchase a laptop?
A. No. Individuals will need to plan for their own financing to purchase the laptop. Costs for the laptop can be factored into the formula that determines the total financial aid eligibility. See financial aid question above.

Q. Are student laptops covered for damage?
A. Yes. ThinkPads purchased through the ISU/Lenovo partnership come with a 3 year depot limited warranty for parts and labor and 1 year warranty for the battery. The ThinkPads also come with 3 year ThinkPad Protection (TPP). This covers accidental damage such as spills and dropped laptops. Neither warranty or TPP protect against theft or loss.

Q. Is my laptop covered if it is lost or stolen?
A. No. Please check with your home owner or property insurance carrier to see if the laptop is covered under your current policy or additional computer/home equipment rider for loss or theft. Students may purchase insurance to cover theft and loss of their laptop through the laptop website.

The Optional Purchase Program

Q. How do I purchase one of the three recommended ThinkPad laptops?
A. All sales are via the Lenovo Indiana State purchase Web site. Check the Purchase Information webpage for more information.

Q. When I purchase online, do I need to pay sales tax?
A. Yes. The state to which the laptop is delivered determines the percentage of sales tax.

Q. Can I pay for my ThinkPad using a credit or debit card?
A. Yes. Online purchases can be made with a credit or debit card.

Q. Can I pay for my ThinkPad using a check or money order or by wiring my payment?
A. Yes. Call the Lenovo toll-free number at 1-877-222-6426, choose Option 1, and give extension 2000. You may use check, money order, credit card, debit card, or wire the payment.

Q. Can I add the cost of a laptop purchase to my student account?
A. No. A laptop purchase is a transaction between Lenovo and the purchaser, and as such, you must arrange payment through Lenovo. For payment methods please see above.

Q. How long will it take to receive my laptop?
A. Typical delivery time is two weeks.

Q. Can my laptop be delivered to my residence hall?
A. No. Residential Life has requested no laptops be delivered to the residence halls for security reasons. When ordering, specify another location for delivery.

· Q. Can I have my laptop delivered to another location on campus?
A. Yes. You can elect to have your laptop delivered to the Computer Store. Visit http://TheComputerStore.
indstate.edu for the mailing address and details.

Q. What more can you tell me about Lenovo? I haven’t heard of it before.
A. In May 2005, Lenovo acquired IBM's Personal Computing Division, the unit of IBM which manufactures its laptops. The IBM ThinkPad brand is currently used on Lenovo products.

Use of Laptops in the Classroom

Q. How will the laptops be integrated by faculty in the classroom?
A. There are a multitude of ways in which faculty could integrate technology into a given course or curriculum. The decision of whether to incorporate technology is solely up to the faculty member. It is reasonable to expect that the instructional use of technology will continue to increase once all students have immediate and 24-hour access to standardized technology. Without this standardization, it can be difficult for faculty to incorporate technology into instruction.

Q. How will ISU ensure all faculty will utilize the new laptops?
A. ISU will not require faculty to use the laptops in the classroom. However, professional development and course enhancement support will be offered to faculty who wish to incorporate the laptops into their curricular activities. Faculty will be asked to include information on their course syllabi about if and how laptops will be used during class time.

Q. Will textbooks be replaced?
A. The decision of whether to use a textbook is solely the choice of the faculty member teaching a given class. However, some classes will use instructional software that accompanies many textbooks and some faculty are likely to replace hard-copy textbooks with digital versions and other digital resources.

Q. How will students and faculty deal with students who are distracting other students by playing games, surfing the net, chatting, or checking e-mail?
A. Feedback we have received from faculty and students at other laptop universities indicate the sounds and clicking associated with laptop use is generally not disruptive or problematic in most cases. Faculty members retain full authority over the classroom environment and can adjust laptop computer use to address this issue if necessary. To help faculty with these new classroom management needs, techniques for the handling of such issues will be incorporated into the faculty laptop professional development program. Faculty will be asked to include information on their course syllabi about how and if laptops may be used during class time.

Infrastructure Support

Q. Where can I go on campus if I have a problem with my laptop?
A. The Computer Support Center in the Student Computing Complex provides certified technical support for ThinkPads. See the CSC's website for more information. (http://www.indstate.edu/oit/us/csc.htm)

Q. Will there be printing centers on campus?
A. Yes. Centers supporting a variety of peripheral services (i.e., printing, scanning, etc.) will be placed in strategic locations around campus. Students may also purchase printers for their own private use.

Q. Will all of the computer labs be closed once the laptop initiative is fully implemented?
A. No. Some labs will remain open, while others may be phased out after a deliberate study of usage is conducted. This will occur over an extended period of time.

Q. Will the classrooms on campus be upgraded to meet the electrical needs of the students’ laptops?
A. Electrical power in classrooms and other high laptop use areas is an important issue and one that will be addressed over an extended period of time with the help of ISU’s Facilities Management team. Select rooms will be upgraded dependant on use and need.

Q. How else may classrooms on campus be enhanced to support laptop use during class?
A. The Office of Information Technology and various faculty/staff/student committees are working on plans to provide additional projection equipment, student seating and tables, and other upgrades to make the learning environment as laptop-friendly as possible.

Q. Is there a place on campus to purchase the laptop or other computer equipment?
A. The ISU Computer Store, located in the Student Computing Complex, will sell carrying bags, sleeves, and other peripherals. Samples of the three ThinkPad models will be available for you to test. All sales of laptops will be through the Lenovo Indiana State purchase website which the Computer Store staff can help you with.

Q. How long will my battery last?
A. Currently, laptop computers provide approximately 3-5 hours of useful power depending on how the laptop is being used and how it is configured. For instance, typing a term paper takes much less battery power than surfing the Internet or gaming. The number of cells in a given battery also determines charge length. The more cells the longer the charge.

Battery power cycles and recharge cycles within laptops are improving all of the time. It is difficult to tell what battery life will be available in 2007 and beyond, but there is strong reason to believe that battery technology will be able to provide battery-life in excess of 8 hours in the next 24-36 months. Once battery life exceeds 6 hours, the need to provide continuous A/C power in the classroom will be greatly reduced. A backup battery that the student keeps fully charged is highly recommended and can be purchased from The Computer Store located in the Student Computing Complex along with other laptop accessories.

Q. Will there be a “battery café” where students can swap out a “dead” battery for a fully charged one?
A. No. The idea of a community held set of batteries is not practical where students purchase their own laptops rather than lease them. Students are encouraged to keep their batteries charged and to purchase a backup if their schedules require laptop usage for longer than the battery can hold a useful charge.

Q. Is the ISU wireless network able to carry the workload of an entire campus of wireless laptops?
A. At this point, 100% of all academic areas provide wireless access. Many general/public areas are also covered by wireless, and new wireless capacity is being added all of the time. The ISU wireless network supports both 802.11b and 802.11g and has been engineered to accommodate anticipated use. Wireless in open areas, such as the student union, has been engineered to accommodate high concentrations of use. Regular reviews and upgrades will be made so that specific areas provide sufficient wireless capacity to meet the need.

Q. Will wireless be installed in the residence halls?
A. Common areas of the residence halls may have wireless access in the future, but this is still being reviewed. Currently all residence hall rooms are equipped with a network jack per student occupant which provides much faster access to the network.