UA unlikely to adopt similar requirement, officials say

Incoming NAU students may be required to own a personal computer within two years, but officials say the UA is not likely to follow suit anytime soon.

Northern Arizona University President Owen Cargol will decide in the next few months whether incoming freshmen at NAU will have to purchase a PC beginning in 2003, said Kurt Davis, NAU's vice president for Public Affairs and Marketing.

Davis said the reasoning behind the proposed requirement is to eliminate the "digital divide," which leaves some students at an advantage over others because they own a PC.

"Owning a computer is just a reality of the 21st century," he said.

Davis said that about 80 percent of incoming freshmen at the university already own a computer and around 10 percent of the nation's university have instituted the requirement.

Stuart Glogoff, the UA's assistant dean of library information systems, said the University of Arizona considered the idea of requiring students to own a computer but decided not to pursue it because of the financial strains it may put on students and the university.

"It's tough to require everyone to have an extra $2,000 when they enter college," he said.

Ray Quintero, president of the Associated Students of the University of Arizona, said students' financial situations must be seriously addressed before such an issue could be considered.

He said that such a requirement probably wouldn't be necessary at the UA because sufficient technological resources are already available.

"I can see both sides of the issue but it depends on how it is applied and the exact purposes," he said.

Davis said that NAU students who cannot afford the computer may receive financial aid packets that would help them purchase items like computers.

"In the last year, the federal government has allowed grant and financial aid money to be used in the purchase of computers," he said.

NAU provides its students with computer labs, but Davis said the university's officials would rather spend money to equip all students with computers than pay to keep the labs open 24 hours a day.

"The university does provide computer labs, but the ability to use a computer at home is more conducive to learning," he said.

Davis said that NAU has also considered creating a pool of computers donated by PC companies to help needy students.

If the proposal is approved, students will also need to purchase software such as Microsoft Office 2000 and other necessary programs to accomplish college-level work.

However, the university will continue to provide more expensive and specific software, such as engineering programs.

Davis said that NAU students who graduate under the policy would receive a certificate with their diploma stating that they have acquired necessary computing skills, which could be advantageous when job hunting.