Request a Long-Term Laptop Loan

Ursuline Academy's BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) Program

Technology is having a dramatic impact on how students learn best, what they need to learn, and how they collaborate and express themselves in effective, engaging, and interactive ways. Successful students need not only to read, to write, and to be good thinkers and problem solvers, but they must also be able to leverage digital resources, to be flexible and adaptive with rapidly emerging technologies. It is more important than ever that students be self-sustaining as they move from device to device, application to application, and environment to environment.

All Ursuline Academy students are required to bring a laptop computer (Windows or Mac) to school on a daily basis as part of their class materials. In addition to bringing their own laptops, students will have access to the school’s collaborative environment, academic portals, and email within the guidelines of the student handbook. Students will use their devices in the classroom to access and save information from the Internet, collaborate with other learners, and utilize productivity and research tools available to them through their student accounts.

The descriptions in the next section of this page provide recommendations for laptop computers brought to school. In the event that you are considering the purchase of a new Laptop, the recommendations will be helpful in the selection process. Use the recommendations as a list of minimum requirements for a laptop computer. Many devices will exceed the specifications listed. If your financial situation prevents you from having your own, there are a limited number of laptops available to students who qualify. Please download the Long Term Laptop Loan form below.

A good functioning battery is paramount. Students will be expected to arrive at school with their personal laptop fully charged for the day; batteries must have enough charge for each class. Limited electrical charging locations in public spaces and the library may be available for emergency charging during free mods.

The school’s IT staff will help students connect to the school’s wireless network and to network resources available to them through the school. They may advise students on steps they can take to correct a problem; however they will not troubleshoot personal devices for hardware or software malfunctions.

Students should keep track of their device’s serial number and model number. Theft or vandalism of any kind should be immediately reported to the Assistant Principal so the appropriate steps can be taken. Parents may consider complete care packages that cover breakage when purchasing devices. Tracking software is also an option to help locate lost equipment. The school is not responsible for damage or theft of student owned equipment. Devices should be clearly labeled with the student’s name. The label should be visible at a glance.

Student files saved in network directories on a school server are backed up regularly. Non-school related files should not be stored on school storage resources. Student files on a personal device or in web based storage locations, such as OneDrive for Business in Office 365 will not be backed up by the school. Students are responsible for backing up their data on personal devices and cloud storage.

BYOD Device Information

What to look for in a laptop

• A device for content creation, which requires more processing power and capacity
• A device that will be capable of meeting the student’s needs for all 4 years at UA
• A device that will stand up to the daily handling by a teenager
• A device with good battery life
• The device must have a current and active antivirus/antimalware protection
• Suggested – A device with an extended warranty and accidental damage protection for those times when something is accidentally broken.

 

Windows Laptop Recommendations

• Operating System: Windows 11 Home or Pro
• Processor: Intel 12/13th Generation Core i5/i7 or AMD Ryzen 7000 series
• Memory: 16GB or more
• Hard Drive Size: 256 GB or larger Solid-State Drive
• Display Type: Touchscreen
• Display Resolution: 1920 X 1080 (FHD) or better
• Wireless Networking: 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6)
• Ports: USB-C, headphone and mic, HDMI
• Web camera: Yes
• Keyboard: Backlit
• Battery: 8 hours of use, minimum, after a full charge
• Accidental Damage Protection (this will be an extra cost)

 

Apple (Mac) Laptop Recommendations

• Processor: Apple M3 chip
• Memory: 16GB or more
• Hard Drive Type: Solid-State Drive
• Hard Drive Size: 256GB or larger
• Display Type: Retina Display with True Tone
• Wireless Networking: 802.11ax
• Ports: Thunderbolt/USB 4, headphone and mic, HDMI or thunderbolt to HDMI adapter
• Web Camera: Yes
• Keyboard: Backlit
• Battery: 8 hours of use, minimum, after a full charge
• Apple Care (this will be an extra cost)

 

**When a student begins school at Ursuline Academy she will be provided an Office 365 account which will allow her to install Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote on her personal computer for free.

BYOD Frequently Asked Questions

Why a laptop BYOD?

Ursuline Academy promotes student choice, individual expression, and personal responsibility. We are providing students the power to choose the computer that best suits their needs, while expecting them to know how to use it and take proper care of it. Specifying a Windows or Mac laptop computer will provide a more consistent classroom experience and access to full functioning desktop applications, while allowing student choice.

What if purchasing a laptop is a financial hardship on a family?

Ursuline Academy provides a quality education to all students who can meet the academic demands regardless of their family’s ability to pay tuition. There is an application process to receive a long-term laptop loan for students that currently do not have their own laptop and are unable to purchase one (access the Long-Term Laptop Loan form below).

If I already have a laptop do I need to purchase a new one?

Students who currently have their own laptop, Windows or Mac, can use their existing laptop for school. If the computer was purchased within the last couple of years and was a quality laptop when purchased, it should be sufficient for the needs of an Ursuline Academy student. The hardware recommendations provided by Ursuline Academy should be used if a student is purchasing a new computer. These recommendations were developed with the goal of having a computer that would be sufficient for at least four years of academic work.

Will the wireless network handle all the student devices?

Ursuline Academy continually evaluates campus network performance and carries out improvements when necessary. The internet bandwidth to campus is 1 Gbps and we have a secondary internet service provider in case of emergency. The existing wireless network was implemented in April 2017 with a design able to handle each student connecting multiple devices.

What will happen if a student does not bring her laptop to school?

Forgetting to bring a laptop to school will be managed by each classroom teacher in the same fashion as when a student fails to bring in any other required classroom tool.

Request a Long-Term Laptop Loan