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SMWC announces new technology initiative

News | 05.18.2020

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) announces the addition of a new one-to-one technology initiative, Technology Revolutionizing Educational Experiences and Success (TREES) enabling students access to technology on their pathway to success starting Fall 2020.

“This program builds upon the College’s strong commitment to student success, said Brennan Randolph, vice president for enrollment management, “Every new student will be equipped with this new technology bundle. We want to ensure that technology is affordable to all students, regardless of financial status.”

All incoming new campus-based students will receive an Apple iPad Air. The technology fee, included in their tuition and fees, will cover the cost of the tablet, as well as an iPencil, three years of Apple Care, One Drive file storage, Microsoft Office 365 online and no-cost printing. Each iPad will have 64 gigs of storage and come with Wi-Fi enabled capabilities.

Frankie Enochs, executive director of information technology, led the charge in establishing this initiative, evaluating options for the College and students carefully.

“We wanted to ensure that the technology is relevant to all students regardless of their program of study, said Enochs. “This plan is the most beneficial for our students and provides for the diverse learning needs of our campus.”

Enochs is also excited about some of the technology upgrades that have been made on campus. “We have been able to upgrade to the latest wireless technology and plan to expand our existing coverage to Wi-Fi enable green spaces. This is the backbone of implementation of this initiative,” said Enochs.

The College began laying an early foundation for this plan three years ago with the introduction of MacBook Pro laptops for all music majors, which will continue. This year, all other incoming new students will be issued the iPad Air and returning upper classman will have the opportunity to purchase the bundle at a reduced rate.

This program is another step towards the goal of attaining an Apple Distinguished School designation which will be achieved through technology integration of Apple products throughout the campus and enrichment of the curriculum. 

“This is really a big step towards accomplishing our ultimate goal of having one-to-one technology for all students,” Enochs said, adding that the College’s plan for recognition from Apple might take a few years to completely implement.

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College is Indiana’s oldest Catholic college, established in 1840. SMWC is listed among the Best Regional Universities in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report and was second in the nation to add distance education programming in 1973.