What do incoming students and their parents most often want to know about UC Davis? Carol Wall, vice chancellor for student affairs, says they inquire about computer equipment.
"Are they required? What do I need? Where do I get it?" she said.
Recognizing that computing plays an important role in higher education, UC Davis recently developed guidelines stipulating that beginning this fall, "every entering undergraduate student will be expected to own a computer that meets certain minimum performance standards and that can connect effectively to the Internet."
Starting this fall, Dell Computer, the campus's new partner in this initiative, will offer students two laptop and two desktop configurations. The least expensive desktop is expected to cost between $1,000 and $1,200.
All systems will arrive loaded with Windows 2000, Microsoft Office 2000, Internet Explorer, Norton Anti-Virus, Eudora and a few other utilities - all set up for the campus network, said Pat Kava, a manager for UC Davis' Information and Educational Technology department. The package will also include a 17-inch monitor and a four-year warranty.
Though Dell is the campus's recommended vendor, students are welcome to purchase their computers from other manufacturers, provided they are familiar with the recommended software package.
More than 90 percent of UC Davis students already own a personal computer, according to Information and Educational Technology. The department, based on Dell's projections, hopes that about 20 percent of the entering first-year class will buy the systems.
"There really is the expectation that students will have handy access to a computer. At the same time, we didn't want to make it a requirement because we're a public institution," said Richard Plant, a faculty member and chair of the Academic Computing Coordinating Council, which developed the computer statement.
Keeping computer ownership as an expectation should allow eligible students to receive financial aid (likely a loan offer of up to $1,900) to buy a machine, without forcing a purchase upon them, Plant said.
Students who do not have their own computers - or who live far off campus - use a variety of labs across campus to work on papers, check their e-mail and use the Internet.
Expecting students to own a computer does not represent a revolutionary leap for UC Davis, but rather an evolutionary step that simply affirms what undergraduate students themselves already seem to know: Computer literacy and ownership play a critical role in a university education. From using e-mail to enhance communications with instructors, to conducting academic research, computers allow students to accomplish a broad range of educational activities.
"In some classes, I've had to send weekly papers to the professors through e-mail rather than submit a hard copy by hand," said Alice Liou, a third-year animal science student. "Luckily, having my own computer allows me to work on and send my documents whenever I want to, even at the last minute."
UC Davis is not alone in its recognition that computer ownership can contribute to academic success. A number of universities across the country have also implemented some form of computer recommendation or requirement. Across the 10 University of California campuses, only Berkeley - and now Davis - have developed that type of recommendation, although several other campuses are exploring the issue.
At UC Davis, a Web site - computerownership.ucdavis.edu - has been established to provide information about the expectation, as well as recommendations for student computer purchases. Parents and entering undergraduate students are also invited to e-mail computerownership@ucdavis.edu for further information.
"Questions have been raised about the impact this expectation will have on students," said Wall. "For the most part, the impact will be a positive one."
The campus believes students' basic computer literacy could increase their marketability upon graduation, Wall said. "I think it's the students who will see the greatest benefit."
Faculty are invited to a series of presentations on the student computer expectation beginning 2:10 p.m. Wednesday at 161 Everson Hall. Presentations will continue throughout May. To reserve a spot, or for a complete schedule, call 754-2115 or e-mail arbor@-ucdavis.edu.