Laptop Requirements for College of Business & Technology Bachelor's Students
All undergraduates in the College of Business and Technology will be required to have access to a laptop to bring to classes. A Windows-based PC is preferred, Apple (Mac) Laptops work fine, but be aware business software uses different versions on PC vs Mac and requires workarounds. If buying now, don’t purchase the cheapest laptop model, but there is also no need to buy the highest model either. Aim for mid-range models that will last for 3-4 years. Chrome laptops (Chromebook) nor tablets (iPad/Androids), are not adequate but can certainly be used for some tasks like reading textbooks and taking notes if preferred. The laptop needs to meet the following specifications.
Operating System: Windows 10 or OSX Sonoma or higher
Processor: Intel i7 or higher or Apple Silicon
RAM: 8GB minimum, 16GB recommended for students in technology degree programs
Software: Microsoft Office 2019 (offered free to all Rockhurst students through Office 365, so no need to purchase a separate license), along with up-to-date virus protection
Browser: Google Chrome preferred
Battery: At least 4 hours of energy per charge
Hard Drive: 256GB recommended
Cloud Storage: 10GB storage space on OneDrive, iCloud, Google Drive or Dropbox; back up your files frequently. At least 10GB of OneDrive will come with your Rockhurst student MS-365 account for free.
Other: Administrative rights to laptop, ability to connect to Wi-Fi 6
Warranty: Recommend an extended warranty to cover the laptop for 3-4 years.
Common laptop models are recent Dell XPS, HP or Lenovo midrange laptop or Apple Macbook Air (Apple Pro for technology students). Students in technology degrees should upgrade to a higher performance model to include levels of RAM and processor.
FAQs
Does the laptop policy apply to all courses?
Yes. That said, only a limited number of courses will require you to bring a laptop to the scheduled class, and it is during these classes that you must use a compliant device. Please check the syllabus for clarification.
Where can I go for support?
The Computer Services Help Desk, located on the fourth floor of Conway Hall, can assist with connection issues, passwords, University computer systems and general questions. However, they do not repair student laptops.
What if my laptop breaks during the term?
Several nearby centers fix laptops, including the Apple Store on the Country Club Plaza. While you are waiting for yours to be fixed, you can check out a laptop from Computer Services. We recommend you frequently back up your files to a cloud storage service.
I don’t have the financial resources to purchase the laptop and/or software required. What can I do?
Please check with your academic adviser to see if you qualify for financial assistance. If you don’t qualify, you can obtain a university loaner laptop for three hours at a time. For out-of-class use, Rockhurst has computer labs located across campus. However, they may not have all the software required by your instructor.
Can I use a Chromebook, tablet or smartphone instead of a laptop?
No. These devices do not support the Windows or Mac operating system required to run the proper version of Microsoft Office.
