Meredith Laptop Policy

The Meredith College Laptop Program is currently offered to all degree seeking under-graduate students who are taking a full schedule of classes (12 hours or greater). Additionally, students seeking a under-graduate second degree, second major, professional certificate, or license may participate in the program, subject to the conditions listed below. A student/parent-guardian signed Student Laptop Program Agreement is required.
 

Procedures for Laptop Distribution Based on Class Status

Freshman Status
For incoming freshman the Laptop policy is based on a rotational, two year upgrade. Freshmen transfers regardless of the semester they enter will become part of the Fall Freshman rotation.
  • Incoming and fall-transfer freshmen students will receive a new laptop. Provided the student maintains a full class schedule, she will keep this laptop for two years, upgrading to a new model in August of the 2nd year.
  • Spring-transfer freshman students will receive, based on availability, a current or year old laptop. The spring-transfer student will join the fall-freshmen rotation and upgrade her computer to a new model in August of the 2nd year

Sophomore Status
  • The full-time student who has achieved sophomore status will continue using her current laptop so long as she maintains a full class load (12 hours or greater).
  • Fall and spring full-time transfer students with sophomore status will receive, based on availability, a current or year old laptop. This laptop will be returned and upgraded to a new model, provided the student maintains a full class schedule, the following fall semester regardless if the student has achieved junior status. This upgrade will be the only upgrade issued the student during her studies at Meredith College.

Junior Status
  • The continuing full-time student who has achieved junior status will be issued a new, current model laptop.
  • Fall full-time transfer students with junior status will receive a new current model laptop.
  • Spring full-time transfer students will receive, based on availability, a current year’s model.

Senior Status
  • The continuing student will keep her laptop until she graduates.
  • Fall and spring-transfer students with senior status who will be enrolled with a full schedule of classes will be offered a laptop to help them with their studies. If the senior transfer student completes two full-time semesters, she keeps the laptop upon graduation from Meredith College.
  • Students who have achieved senior status and have taken two or more full-time semesters will be allowed to keep their laptops even if they fall below the full-time status.

Second Degree - Second Major – Licensure Status
  • Any student who enrolls at Meredith College in a licensure program, is seeking a second degree or second major, and takes a full schedule of classes (12 hours or more per semester), will be issued a laptop to help her with her studies.
  • If the student completes two semesters with a full schedule of classes (12 hours or greater) each semester, she will be allowed to keep the laptop upon completion of the program.

Disqualification from the Laptop Program
The following are the rules governing the dismissal from the Laptop Program and the return of the laptop.
  • If the student reduces her class load below the 12 hour minimum, before the Drop/Add period, she must return her laptop.
  • If the student reduces her class load below the 12 hour minimum, after the Drop/Add period, she can keep the laptop through the end of the semester. If the student takes a full load the following semester, she can keep the laptop;, otherwise it must be returned to the Annex Building.
  • If the student at any time prior to graduation withdraws from Meredith College, she must return her laptop.
  • If a student takes a leave of absence from Meredith College, with the exception of a leave of absence to study abroad through an official program authorized by Meredith College, she must return her laptop.

Laptop Graduation Policy

When the student has graduated and she has successfully completed at a minimum of two full-time (12 hours or greater) semesters at Meredith College, the laptop will become her property. All laptops are put under a three year warranty from the time Meredith College purchases them. Whatever balance of the warranty remains will pass to the new owner of the laptop. Please note that there may be circumstances in which the machine will not have a full year’s warranty or be out of warranty when the student leaves school. The procedure for disbursement is as follows.
  • A letter is sent to the student informing her that Meredith College owned software must be removed. The student may bring the laptop to Technology Services for software removal, or some may elect to remove the software themselves. Instructions are included with the letter for any student who opts to remove the software.
  • Only when the software is removed from the laptop will a certificate of ownership for the currently installed version of Microsoft be issued. By obtaining the certificate of ownership she will be eligible for future upgrades to more current versions.
  • Only when the software is removed from the laptop will laptop recovery CDs be issued. These CDs will allow the user to completely rebuild her laptop.
  • Only when the software is removed from the laptop will a copy of the currently installed version of Microsoft Office will be included.

Failure to Return Laptop Policy
If a student withdraws from school or drops below the minimum required hours per semester, it will be her responsibility to return the laptop. Failure to do so will result in a letter being sent to the student’s permanent address. The student will have a specified time from the date of the letter to return the laptop or her account will be charged. Please visit the Student Laptop Program Agreement page to review the specific details, all students agree to, when they sign the form. The cost breakdown is as follows:
  • If the computer is leased, the student will be responsible for the remaining lease payments and then the fair market value of the laptop. This fair market value price is determined by the leasing company. Payments will be made to Meredith College.
  • If the computer is purchased, the student will be responsible for the remaining cost of the financed laptop, or the fair market value, whichever is higher.
  • If the laptop is returned damaged and the warranty period has expired, the student will be charged the cost of the repairs or the fair market value of the laptop, whichever is lower. Please note that all new laptops distributed prior to the fall semester of 2006 have a $500 deductible on repairs. Batteries are only covered under the warranty for one year.

Damaged Laptop Policy
There are currently two warranties that apply to laptops being used by students at Meredith College. The laptop battery is the one item that is not covered under either warranty after one year. The following is a breakdown of the two policies.

Laptop issued prior to August 2006
  • There is a three year warranty that comes with a $500 deductible on all break/fix incidents.
  • Batteries are not covered under this warranty after one year. The average life span for a battery is one year

Laptops issued since August 2006
There is a three year warranty that will cover the following:
  • LCDs: Physical damage including cracks, white spots and pressure points affecting pixel performance.
  • Keyboards: Obvious spills, sticky keys, multiple loose or missing keys.
  • System Boards: Spill damage or corrosion, broken and bent connectors.
  • Hard Disks: Shock damage, sometimes identifiable from error codes (DFT 0x73).
  • DVD/CD/CDRW: Damage from accidental spills, missing or broken face plates.
  • Covers/Bezel: Physical damage including cracks, broken pieces, missing latches.
  • AC Adapters/Speakers: Broken or frayed wires.
The following items are not covered by the warranty and will be subject to the cost of repair, replacement, or buy-out, depending on the circumstances.
  • Parts intended to be replaced or consumed (Battery) or cosmetic damage.
  • Damage from intentional misuse, unsuitable environment or alteration.
  • Theft, loss or damage from fire, flood or other uncontrollable event.