Business Majors required to Own Laptops

Many universities across the nation are requiring their students to own laptops.  BYU-Idaho's business program is no exception.  By their junior year, all business majors must own a laptop.  Business majors frequently use the web and Microsoft Excel in their classes.  The fact that students have their own computer increases the efficiency of class time.  Says Brother Craig Bell, Chair of the Business Department, "We outgrew the labs... along with notebooks [comes] flexibility."  Lanae Lott, a business major at BYU-Idaho, is in favor of the requirement. She says, "I believe that owning a laptop will be most useful to me because I can study where, when, and how I want." 

When the requirement was first instituted, Brother Bell and his other colleagues worried the change would be "a big deal."  However, they were impressed with the students' willingness and ability to adapt.  "... (W)e have not had much heartache over the decision," comments Bell.  The average price of laptops drops every year, which also makes purchasing one less of a hassle. 

Overall, teachers and students are satisfied with the new requirement.  As time passes, BYU-Idaho is bound to see more and more departments requiring their students to own various technologies.  Laptops are only the beginning.    

Written by Krislyn McCandless

June 20, 2007