Laptop Program
In the Roy H. Park School of Communications, we believe that the best undergraduate education blends rigorous intellectual inquiry and creative professional practice, and that true excellence results when students are highly engaged in both. Our students begin immediately to put that theory into practice: from their first semester, they are expected not only to critique but to create mediated messages.
Just as music majors bring their own instruments to campus so that they can put in the hours of practice necessary to develop their talents, here in Park, we highly recommend having a laptop. Increasingly, it’s what is used in colleges and in the profession to conduct research, write papers and scripts, and design and edit creative work.
Although our students have access to our extraordinary labs, studios, and portable equipment, having your own laptop will enhance your ability to take notes in class, collaborate with your classmates, and work on your assignments at the time and place that’s most convenient for you. In fact, some majors and concentrations require that you have your own laptop.
Our Recommendations
We highly recommend the Apple MacBook Pro laptop, since it is the most versatile for digital media production and because it will support the requirements for any major or concentration in the Park School. In addition, the Park School's MacBook Pro Laptop Program provides:
- Walk-in technical support provided by an Apple Care-certified technician right here on campus, included with the purchase of the Apple Care Warranty
- A loaner program to provide a back-up machine when a student's computer is out for repair
The following requirements pertain to entering first-year students and to students transferring to Park from another major at IC or from other colleges.
Loaner Program
We provide a loaner laptop program, on a yearly basis, to those families whose documented financial need makes it difficult for them to purchase a laptop. Please contact the Park School dean's office directly to apply to have your situation reviewed by our financial aid department. Please contact Gwen Benners (gbenners@ithaca.edu, 607-274-1021) to initiate a loaner request.
Dell Discounts
If you are enrolled in a major or concentration that allows you to choose a Windows-based laptop, the College also provides discounts on Dell computers. Find out more at the following page:
ITS Purchase Programs: Personal Equipment
For technical support for this program, please call the Student Computer Repair Center (SCRC) at 607-274-3000, stop by the SCRC in 110 Friends Hall, or visit the SCRC website.
