The purpose of the Information Technology Initiative is to put computer technology into the hands of all COB students and faculty. The College’s mission is "educate undergraduate and MBA students in the region and beyond to be successful and responsible business professionals." In this context, the College of Business offers programs in a technologically-advanced active learning environment. This Initiative ensures that all students will have the same opportunity and exposure to the technology needed to succeed in business today. All students entering the College of Business will be required to purchase a laptop computer through MSU’s Campus Computer store or on-line via the COB website.
Entering Freshmen may purchase the COB approved laptop computer from the Campus Computer Store. However, students are not required to own the laptop until they begin taking COB required 200-level business courses (e.g. Accounting 200 and Management 200). These courses are typically taken in the sophomore year. The COB laptop must be purchased prior to enrolling in laptop courses. The COB laptop can be purchased at the Campus Computer Store. Please remember to ask specifically for the COB required laptop.
The Initiative is designed to provide students with industry applications of information technology; thus making them better prepared and more marketable to prospective employers. Students further benefit by having 24-hour access to worldwide information services, from any location at any time, not just from the computer labs. As a result of a campus–wide wireless initiative, students are able to log on to the Internet from multiple campus sites, indoors and out, without a hard wire connection. Other advantages of the IT Initiative include not having to move to a computer lab for instruction, not having to use unfamiliar computers, or not having to transfer files and software by disk to one’s own computer or to another open lab computer for completing assignments.
In the state of Minnesota, campuses using laptops include: Crookston, Winona State, Concordia, and Minnesota State University, Mankato. Of these schools, MSU has the only AACSB-accredited College of Business.
All students with a major or a minor in the College of Business are required to purchase a COB approved laptop from the Campus Computer Store.
If you are enrolling in COB courses and you are a College of Business student, you will be required to participate in the Information Technology Initiative.
The COB approved laptop and pricing is negotiated each semester. Please check with the Campus Computer Store for the current model and price. Students may upgrade the laptop; however, this will be considered a special order. The COB approved laptop comes with all the necessary hardware and software and includes a 3-year (or optional 4-year) warranty package.
First year students entering MSU may purchase the College of Business laptop from the Campus Computer Store. Due to licensing agreements between the College of Business and Microsoft and state sales tax regulations, students who are not enrolled in a laptop required class (200-400 level business classes) will be required to pay sales tax and purchase Microsoft Office Professional. When students enroll in 200 level business classes, they will begin paying a $125 program fee per semester. Additional software will be installed on your laptop at that time.
The laptop must be paid for, in full, at the time of purchase either by check or credit card. Students who qualify for financial aid can incorporate the expense into their financial aid package. To qualify, students need only to indicate on their registration that they are a business major enrolled in the I.T. Initiative (i.e., they have paid the $125 program fee).
If you wish to register for a laptop class, you must fill out and submit the I.T. Initiative Fee Form on the COB webpage prior to registration.
The $125 program fee covers software site licenses for SPSS, Microsoft products, Mergent Online, Compustat, CRSP, Euromonitor, ABI Inform, & Business Source Premier, Wall Street Journal online access, Financial Times online access, Business Week online, access to COB printers with unlimited printing, 30 student laptop loaners for students whose laptops need repair work, premium on-campus technical support, and classroom infrastructure support.
Indicating your intention to purchase a COB laptop computer while filling out your program fee does not start the ordering process. It is your responsibility to go to the Campus Computer Store to order your laptop computer. If you plan to arrange financing through a bank or credit union, you should make those arrangements prior to placing your order. All laptops must be paid in full at time of purchase.
Distribution sessions are held daily at 2:20 P.M. in Memorial Library, Room 3016. The session takes approximately 45-60 minutes. Warranty information, ownership transfer, COB printing, and other information is discussed to make your computer use on the MSU campus as smooth as possible.
Yes, the laptop computers are equipped with three modes of access: a modem, Ethernet, and wireless connectivity. The modem will assist students with off-campus access, while the Ethernet and wireless connections can be used on-campus. All residence halls are wired for Ethernet access to the Internet. Classroom buildings, the library, the student union, and the fountain, and bell tower areas have wireless accessibility.
Yes, but to an increasingly smaller extent as learning materials reside on the computers rather than the printed page. Textbook authors (including the College’s own instructors) are making the switch to CD-ROM. For some time, instructors have been relying less on textbooks and developing their own course materials for students to buy at copy shops. Course materials can be electronically transmitted the first day of class, at no cost, along with the course syllabus.
Printers are available in a number of locations on campus. In addition, some work can be submitted to instructors electronically. For personal or home use, students may wish to purchase a printer.
No, when students participate in in-class activities each student will be required to have their own laptop. Not all activities, tests for example, are collaborative efforts.
Laptops will make students’ lives easier than using the computer labs because students will use their laptops for projects or papers in all courses. A survey taken of College of Business students regarding the use of computer labs revealed that students dislike the noise, equipment failures, low quality printing, and the inaccessibility of equipment and printers during high demand times. The IT Initiative will help alleviate these student concerns.
All students will be required to attend a distribution session on the use and care of their laptop, accessibility to MSU networks, and dialing-in instructions.
Increasingly, students already have these skills before they come to the College of Business. However, to assure a minimum skill level, College of Business students are required to complete Computer Science 101, Introduction to Microcomputers. The laptop program will give students the opportunity to further develop the skills learned in this course. Students will have a definite advantage in all classes, on their jobs, and in the job market. The College of Business wants to facilitate the students’ transition from the classroom to the workplace in a way that gives our students a competitive edge in dealing with information technology. Knowledge of information technology is no longer something that sets a student apart, but rather the lack of such knowledge may hinder a student’s career.
Each course and each professor will require different applications of laptop technology. Some courses will use laptops intensively in class while others will rely more on out-of-class applications. Students should NOT expect to use their laptop computer the same way in each class. The common thread throughout the curriculum is that students have the appropriate technology to meet the challenges of an increasingly wireless, real-time work environment. 24/7 access to Microsoft Office products, SPSS, Wall Street Journal online, e-mail, and web access are all tools that are integrated into the laptop learning environment.
Student assistants will be available during selected hours in the Morris Hall first floor Commons area. These assistants will be knowledgeable in the various software packages required for classroom use.
The ITS HelpDesk will assist you with any required software installs, reimaging, and/or hardware warranty repair. A pool of loaner laptops is maintained for your use if your laptop needs service and you will be without it for a period of time.
