However, under

ITP Choice, students will be given freedom of choice... in selecting a

laptop computer and in selecting an Internet Service Provider (ISP).

Whereas all

students were previously equipped with a Microquest laptop computer owned

own arrangements for obtaining laptop computers, including buying their

own laptop, instead of leasing a University laptop as part of the $300

per semester technology fee.

"Clayton

State students will now have the ability to enjoy the benefits of owning

a laptop computer, as opposed to renting a Clayton State-owned computer,"

says Harden.

Since the University

will no longer be purchasing laptop computers, another part of ITP Choice

will be the reduction of the technology fee from $300 a semester to a

suggested $38 a semester.

"Actually,

if Clayton State were to provide the original ITP package of hardware,

software and services in 2001, the technology fee would now have to be

raised to approximately $400 per semester," notes Harden.

"ITP Choice

also recognizes several facts regarding mobile computing in 2001. Since

the Microquest computers are failing at a rapid rate and are no longer

state-of-the-art, there is a need to adapt the program to the changing

computing environment. The original ITP program, where the University

rents computers to the students, is just too expensive."

Some of the

other aspects of ITP Choice program are as follows:

Clayton State

will establish faculty-approved minimum hardware/software requirements

for laptops.

Students will

be required to state that they have ready access to a laptop that meets

those requirements.

Students will

have variety of options, including ownership of a new laptop, ownership

of a used laptop, ownership of a refurbished laptop, using an already-owned

laptop, or leasing, sharing or renting a laptop to meet the minimum requirements.

A list of

preferred (but not required) vendors of laptops will be circulated to

all students.

The Clayton

State student help desk The HUB will continue to provide hardware and

software service to Clayton State students. The HUB will still assist

all students with software problems and will also assist students with

hardware problems if their machines are under warranty and the HUB is

certified to service those machines by the vendor.

Even without

a University-specified ISP, Clayton State will have an electronic "post

office" e-mail address for each student, and student class list serves

will continue.

Clayton State

will hold a "Technology Fair" for preferred laptop vendors Apr.

17- 18, where hardware alternatives will be clearly defined, positives

and negatives of alternative machines explained, and specific product

examples shown.

Clayton State

will maintain a rental program with the remaining working Microquest laptops

for the fall 2001 semester for students with financial need, students

about to complete their coursework, and for emergencies. The University

will also have a more limited rental program for the spring 2002 semester,

after which the Microquest laptops will no longer be usable.

Information

on ITP Choice and laptop computers is being made available to all current

Clayton State students, and all new students accepted for the Fall 2001

semester, through a variety of methods, including:

An ITP Choice

website (https://itpchoice.clayton.edu);

The University's

monthly newsletter, Campus Review;

A detailed

brochure on ITP Choice;

Four Open

Forums on ITP Choice two for students and two for faculty and staff;

The Technology

Fair; and

An on-site

ITP Choice Help Desk at The Hub.

Clayton College

& State University, a member institution of the University System

of Georgia, is located in Morrow in south metro Atlanta.