Madison Evko ~ Guest Writer
According to Michael Jones, vice president of enrollment, marketing and communications, the laptops were provided to first year students to;
- Help make the transition into college easier and potentially help financial trouble students and their families may have faced during COVID
- Have students already be connected to Lynchburg’s network and internet to help ease the Information Technology Resources department
- Incentive for students to fill out the FAFSA, make a deposit, and enroll in at least 12 credit hours
Jones stated that the cost of the laptops was roughly $500,000 and the university used money from the CARES Act.
According to Jones, the decision to discontinue the laptop initiative for the next academic year is due to money and the fact it had such a small impact on enrollment.
“We are really looking at it and determining what we might do in the future to better provide this computer support to students,” Jones stated. “The university is moving towards being totally wireless.”
Although Jones did not see an increase in enrollment through the laptop initiative, it did however impact Kaiya Patton, a first year students’ decision to attend the University.
Patton stated, “It kind of did, I wanted to come here regardless but once I got the email saying we were getting basically free computers it was kind of like a score and it made me want to be here more.”
Patton also shared that she felt like the administration wanted her to be there and be successful at Lynchburg.
Cameron Jacobson, also a first year student, agreed that it felt like the administration cared about the students.
Jacobson said, “It was appealing as an incoming student that they were giving out laptops, it made them seem like the school cared a lot about their students.”
To learn more information visit the campus network and wireless information page located on the lynchburg.edu website.