Tuesday, October 30, 2001

Computer policy would harm students
Commentary by Chrissy Braden

University curriculum requirements aren’t the only TCU requirements the university has plans to change. TCU is also planning a program requiring all students to have a computer that meets a minimum acceptance requirement. The requirements haven’t been made yet, and there is no date set for when the program will begin.

When the program does begin, it will eliminate some prospective students, waste money the university has already spent on computers and take away students’ choices regarding computers. While the program will increase technology at TCU, it won’t benefit the university and students overall.

Requiring students to have a computer will most likely impact only those students who don’t have a computer now because they can’t afford one.

Dave Edmondson, assistant provost for Information Services, said financial aid will be offered to students who can’t afford a computer. However, the school has a different idea than some students do about what they can afford.

Some students use private loans to pay for tuition because TCU doesn’t recognize their financial need and offer them financial aid. If the school determines that some people can afford a computer they really can’t, then these students will have the burden of finding more loans to pay for a computer.

Computer requirements for all students could decrease university enrollment. Future applicants to TCU will have to consider the added cost of a computer when considering the total cost of attending TCU. The cost of a computer may be enough to cause some prospective students to opt for other schools.

Requiring each student to have a computer could also decrease diversity on campus. A lot of minorities come from low socioeconomic backgrounds. The more expensive the total price tag on TCU becomes, the less likely they are to consider enrolling.

The school doesn’t benefit from a program that makes it less attractive to potential students. If TCU has a decrease in enrollment and loses diversity because of the program, then the university and students don’t benefit overall. Students will be trading several benefits for a single benefit of having their own computer.

If TCU requires every student to have his or her own computer, then less people will use the computer labs on campus. This would be a waste of the millions of dollars the university has invested in putting computers in department computer labs, the library and Frogbytes.

The school won’t benefit from the money it’s already spent.

The money spent on a computer in a lab has more potential benefit than the money spent on a single computer for one student. The university can spend $2,400 to buy a computer that would be open to each student on campus.

This computer could possibly benefit more than 6,000 people. If each student has to buy his or her own computer, then the same amount of money that benefited more than 6,000 people will only benefit that one person. This would decrease the potential benefit that $2,400 has.

The requirements TCU is considering may not serve the needs of every student.

Some students purchase computers only with the programs they need on it. The new TCU computer program may require certain programs that a student doesn’t need on his or her own computer. If students don’t need it, they probably won’t use it.

Students should be able to judge what minimum requirements they need. No one should be forced to have Microsoft Works if they will only use Microsoft Word.

Students won’t benefit from the minimum requirements if these requirements contain things they won’t use.

TCU needs to continue to keep up with technology to offer the best education it can to its students. Instituting a program requiring all students to have a computer meeting a minimum acceptance requirement doesn’t constitute keeping up with technology.

This program won’t benefit the university or students. It will isolate students who can’t afford a computer. It will also counteract other efforts the university has made to increase diversity and enrollment. This program takes us one step forward and two steps backward.

Chrissy Braden is a junior news-editorial journalism major from San Antonio. She can be contacted at (l.c.braden@student.tcu.edu).