It is safe to say that we are currently in an era where technology is the heartbeat of your everyday life, and that includes academia. However, technology is not cheap, and not everyone has the same access to it. College laptop loan programs have emerged as a medium of accessibility and support for those students that would otherwise struggle to get their hands on the necessary technology for school, and allows the academic field to be leveled in terms of tools. These initiatives are usually praised for their convenience and role in helping students in their academic success, especially as it offers a lifeline to those without the means to buy their own devices. College technology loaning programs offer several benefits.
So, before we dive into our tech loaning horror stories, let’s discuss the wonderful benefits that these programs offer.
Accessibility to Essential Technology.
For students that might not have the opportunity or financial capability of buying their own equipment, technology loaning programs mean that all students have an equal opportunity to engage with digital resources in their coursework. This not only levels up the playing field, but allows students to challenge themselves intellectually and not be limited by their external circumstances. Succeeding in their schoolwork is not restricted by their access to technology, and is proven by their hardwork and dedication in the classroom.
Flexibility and Convenience.
Being able to borrow a laptop or a tablet means that students can easily adapt to changing academic needs. Take the pandemic, for example. The pandemic made sure that anyone without access to a laptop would have a hard time staying connected with their peers, their teachers, and coursework. Anyone who didn’t have access to technology during the pandemic was not able to attend online classes, meaning they had to stay behind for the time being. Being able to borrow a piece of technological equipment allows students to work on assignments, projects, and coursework from various locations. It also allows them to stay connected with other students and their professors, promoting flexibility in their study environments.
Financial Relief.
Need we say more? Laptops are expensive, y’all! Owning a laptop can be a hefty expense for students, especially when you consider that students are already facing the costs of tuition, books, living expenses, and more. Loan programs alleviate this financial burden by offering a temporary solution without requiring an upfront investment. Additionally, one of the heaviest stressors for college students is their finance and budget allocation. The financial relief that comes from loaning a laptop instead of buying it also helps students’ mental health by removing one extra factor that could otherwise be a heavy burden.
Promotion of Digital Literacy.
As we mentioned already, technology is at the nucleus of modern life, making digital literacy not only a valuable skill, but a necessary skill. By providing access to technology, loaning programs help students develop their digital literacy skills. Engaging with technology for academic purposes familiarizes students with digital tools and software, preparing them for the technological demands of the professional world.
Okay, so we’ve discussed the benefits of technology loaning programs. While these programs undeniably empower students, they also carry hidden risks. Understanding these risks is crucial for anyone that’s thinking about taking advantage of their schools tech loaning program. That being said, we know you came for the ugly side of it!
So, without further ado, let’s see our horror stories.
Keep in mind that for editorial (and legal) purposes, we’ve kept the names of schools and colleges out of the stories and edited for length and clarity.
College Laptop was Robbed
Student asks: “What should I do if my school-issued laptop was stolen, and now the school wants me to pay 200 dollars to replace it?”
Dramatization: “I’m in college, have been for almost two years now, and for most of my time here I have used their laptop loaner program. It actually made my life easier, especially because for my degree I have to write a lot of papers and do a lot of research. Having a laptop just made it way easier.
My campus is relatively safe, or at least that’s what they say, so it’s not uncommon for students to leave their backpacks unattended when leaving the room for a short while. I did that and somebody frickin stole my laptop!!! I told my school about it thinking they had some sort of insurance or something, but now they want me to pay a $200 fee. I don’t have $200, and unless I pay they won’t loan another. I have been stuck on my work and projects because I literally lost everything and have no laptop to work on. I don’t know what to do and school won’t help.”
Answer: Not all schools directly target theft in their laptop loan agreements, so it’s important that you make sure yours does. Especially if you believe you are in a situation where theft is a possibility. That being said, few schools have insurance relating to theft, specifically. Lawrence Tech University directly mentions the fact that their Agreement includes insurance coverage for theft. This is fantastic for students, and shows LTU cares about their students’ finances. LTU states that the insurance coverage for theft of damage is a $500 deductible. However, it’s important to highlight that in order for the insurance coverage to be applicable, the robbed student must file a police report within three business days of the occurrence! So, read your school’s conditions for any scenario you can imagine. It’s better to be safe than sorry. If you’re lucky, your school will be like LTU!
Non-refundable fees
Student asks: “If you loan a school laptop then lose it and pay the required fee ($300) then find it, do you now own the laptop?”
“I am a very social person, so I like to study with friends. I usually go to my friend’s dorm to study, and I tend to change where I study most days so that I don’t get bored. Anyway, I misplaced my laptop and completely forgot where I left it. I thought I had lost it so I let the school know. Unfortunately, I had to pay a $300 fee which I thought was fair since I had lost their laptop. Fast forward a few days, my friend lets me know that I had left my laptop in their dorm. I pick up the laptop, go to my school and give it back. I thought “Sweet! I’ll get my money back!” Nope… They won’t return my $300 fee! I don’t know what to do or who to talk to. I don’t think it’s fair! Now I don’t have a laptop because I gave it back, I’m scared of loaning another because god knows what other things can happen, and I’m $300 short! Think before you loan laptops, guys…”
Answer: Usually, when you loan a laptop there is a date when you have to return it. If you lost the laptop, then it makes sense that you will have to pay some sort of fee, but what if you bring the laptop back? Well, it depends on your school. Even if they do refund your stolen laptop charge, you might have to pay for a late return fee. It is great when school’s make this clear, as well as the costs.For instance, Santa Ana College has a Digital Dons laptop loan program where you can borrow a laptop for a certain amount of time. They, however, make it extra clear that if a laptop is not returned for any reason, you will be charged $550. They also specify that for every day you are late to return the laptop, you will be charged $25. Depending on your situation, it might be cheaper to pay the fee for not returning a laptop instead of the $25/day. No one can make this decision for you, and the best idea is to simply take responsibility for the laptop you borrowed. However, it is great when schools make their terms and conditions crystal clear, as this allows you to better organize yourself.
Non-flexible responsibility
Student asks: “My school gave me a tablet to keep and my dad intentionally destroyed it because he didn’t want me to have that “technology”. Can I sue? What steps can I take? He will not buy a new one.”
Dramatization: “Ok, so my school doesn’t loan laptops but they do loan tablets. It’s very helpful to take notes in class, stay connected, etc. I kept most of my notes and projects on it, and it was great because I could do my work pretty much anywhere with Wi-Fi. There’s been a few things that have made my life hell recently, and it’s all related to that *** tablet.
My friend, who’s pretty entitled and comes from a rich family, was teasing me with the tablet. Throwing it around and what not. Eventually, he let it fall to the ground and broke the screen. It’s a pretty evident crack and has made the tablet pretty much useless. Basically, totally trashed it. I thought that since my school gave me my tablet as “included in my tuition” then the tablet was my property. Wrong! Apparently, it’s still my college’s property and now they want me to pay for it. I thought I could maybe sure my friend, but apparently since it’s not my property, I can’t. The school won’t do it either, they just handed me the bill. Now I’m in a rough spot because my friend thinks it’s not that big deal, I don’t have the money at all, and the school won’t budge! Basically, I have to choose between affording groceries or paying back my school.”
Answer: You have to read the Loan Agreement your school gives you and for ask the following questions:
- Is the laptop a loan or is it given to you as property?
- If it is your property, then you can act upon it like any other piece of your property. That includes pressing charges for property damage, if such is the case. If it is not your property, you have to answer to your school because it is your school’s property. In that case, you have to check the following:
- What are the conditions relating to theft or loss? Are you responsible?
Some universities will have some sort of repair insurance for their loaned equipment, but others don’t. Let’s take a look at Lynn University’s iPad loan agreement. They clearly state that “Two (2) accidental repairs are covered under this User Agreement at $50.00 per incident. If an iPad is found not to be repairable, it will be replaced at full cost. All other subsequent lost or stolen iPads will be replaced at the full replacement cost of the iPad.”
Lynn does a fantastic job at letting their students know what they can or cannot expect when damaging a borrowed iPad. They also state the price to pay for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd occurrence! Not many schools make it as clear and easy to understand as Lynn U does.
Not as private as you think
u/DanDaManInAPan asks: “I’m using a School Loan Laptop, can anyone see what I do (…)?
“Alright, so my university offers “free laptops.” I obviously think what a sweet deal. Used it for everything, assignments, projects, Netflix, and other… stuff. Here’s the thing. I didn’t know this thing was snooping on me. My school’s IT is like Big Brother. I randomly get this communication from my college’s tech department about laptop usage guidelines and what not. Turns out, my “private” searches weren’t all that private. My college was cool about it, just like “please abide by guidelines…” but it was SO embarrassing!!! It’s very awkward when you realize someone’s been peeking at your internet history, and all that time this had been disclosed in the contract I signed, but never read. Lesson learned, I guess. Read your contracts because I had never been humbled so hard before.”
Answer: Most agreements have a section on privacy, read it. Lynn University provided iPads to their students through their iPad loaning program. Lynn does a fantastic job of letting students know that “You should have no expectation of privacy in the iPad or its contents (…)” In any case, we advice you use you loaned equipment with discretion and for school-work only.
Accidental stealing
Student asks: “Back in October, I dropped out of my school add-on and they had provided a laptop. They’ve never asked for it back and it’s almost January. How long until it’s safe to wipe the computer and keep it?”
Dramatization: “I loved my college’s laptop program. They assigned me a laptop that I used throughout all my years as an undergrad student, and they never once made me switch it or anything. Basically, it was my property and I had gotten it for free. Or so I thought…
Long story short, I graduated and thought I could keep the computer. “It’s mine, I can do whatever I want with it.” Not! Apparently, I was supposed to return the laptop to my school upon graduation, and I found out because they want me to pay for “the stolen laptop.” I never thought I was stealing it, and now, even if I return it, I have a massive amount of fees to pay.”
Answer: Read your fine print! Is the technology provided by your school really yours? Do they have to ask for it back or are you supposed to return it on your own?
A good example of a university that leaves things clear is Borders College. Their Student Laptop Loan Agreement clearly states that “At the completion of your course (…) you will return the assigned device to Borders College (…) Failure to return the device will result in you receiving an invoice for the full cost of a replacement device.” A clear agreement that’s easy to understand is a great way of knowing that your schools wants to be as transparent as possible with you, and the best way for you to avoid trouble is to read it thoroughly. That way, you know what your school’s responsibility is, and you know yours.
Don’t risk it!
So, what do you think? If you ask us, laptop loaning programs are fantastic and universities that implement them should be celebrated. But if there’s anything we learned today, it’s that whatever university you go to, whatever piece of technology they loan you, you have to read the contract!
My name is Jesse Graham I’m a student at Liberty University undergraduate and I need a laptop to go forth with my college work it would really help me because this cell phone isn’t doing what I need to do thank you
Hi Jesse! Thank you for reaching out. We’re sorry to say that we could not find any information on laptop loans by Liberty University. However, LU does offer the IT Marketplace. It is a convenient online resource to help you get the technology that you need for your education. Through the IT Marketplace, you are able to access discounts and special prices on partner companies. You can find more information on the IT Marketplace here: https://www.liberty.edu/information-services/it-marketplace/