Dec 02, 2024  
2017-2018 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2017-2018 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Academic Technology


The Academic Technology Department, located in the Diane Meyers Halle Library and the Samuel C. Wax Academic Center, provides a comprehensive approach to technology-integrated education. Students are able to develop their computer skills through learning experiences appropriate for a variety of educational, occupational, and personal applications. In addition to helping students become computer literate, the Academic Technology Department assists faculty in their efforts to integrate technology in their course curricula.

The department is comprised of five state-of-the art computer labs and multiple departmental specialty labs located throughout the campus. Additionally, interactive classrooms include 84 mediated with fixed technology enhancements and 21 mediated with portable technology. The labs are equipped with some of the most powerful and sophisticated software and hardware technologies available. The labs function both as classrooms and as areas in which students may pursue independent projects. All of the labs provide internet access, enabling students to conduct research and to communicate around the world. Students also have access to the labs between scheduled classes both day and evening. Public computers available for student use in the library proper and in the Cyber Café.

Academic Technology also supports the learning community with state-of-the art web applications, such as Canvas (the College’s portal and learning management system, respectively), Big Blue Button (a synchronous web-based distance learning application), and YuJa (a cloud-based multimedia management and distribution system). 

In addition, Academic Technology supports the campus multimedia needs in several areas. Media Services, an Academic Technology department, supplies a host of audio visual and multimedia equipment to support the academic programs. The Digital Media Center includes a state-of-the-art broadcast and multimedia production facility. The Scala digital signage system, located throughout campus, displays the latest events and news from campus and the world and plays programming from ECTV, the student-run campus TV station.

Academic Technology also supports the use of mobile devices such as iPads in the classroom and student laptops, the requirements of which are explained in detail below.

College Laptop Requirements

General Laptop Requirement

All incoming students are required to bring laptops to campus that meet the specifications of their respective majors, which are posted on the web page of the major.  If a School or Department does not indicate a particular laptop specification, the general College laptop specifications, located on the Endicott College website under Laptop Program Support-Hardware, should be used.  Students may use the specifications to purchase laptops of their choice, or they may take advantage of the College Laptop Purchase Package as described below.  Please note: Students in the interior design, graphic design, and photography programs and students in the School of Business have specific purchase requirements as explained below.

Laptop Requirement for Business

All incoming business students are required to bring either PC laptops or MacBook to campus that meets the general College laptop specifications, located on the Endicott College website under Laptop Program Support-Hardware. Students may use the specifications to purchase laptops of their choice or they may take advantage of the College Laptop Purchase Package as described below.

Incoming business students may use either a PC laptop or MacBook; however, it is the students’ responsibility to ensure they are able to run the software applications required by their classes. The School of Business operates primarily in a Windows environment, and some required software applications may not work properly in the Mac operating system. One of the required packages used throughout the curriculum is Microsoft Office for Windows, or Microsoft Office 365 University.

Important Note to Mac Users:
All MacBook manufactured in the last few years have an Intel processor and can therefore be dual booted into a Windows environment. All students enrolled in The School of Business who have MacBook are required to have Windows 10 or newer installed, and another application such as Boot Camp (comes free with Macbook) or Parallels, in order to use their Mac as a Windows laptop.

Additionally, business and accounting students are required to have Microsoft Office Professional 2016 or higher, or Microsoft Office 365 University for Windows. Students will be informed of other required software applications on a course by course basis.

Interior Design Laptop Program

All incoming interior design students are required to bring either PC laptops or Macbook to campus that meets the specifications of the Interior Design program. Students may use the specifications to purchase a laptop of their choice or they may take advantage of the College Laptop Purchase Package as described later in this page.

The 2017 minimum specifications for interior design PC laptops or Macbook will be posted on the Academic Technology and Interior Design web pages as they become available.

Important Note to Mac Users:
Incoming interior design students may use either PC laptops or Macbook; however it is the student’s responsibility to ensure they are able to run the software applications required by their classes. The interior design department operates primarily in a Windows environment and some required software applications do not work properly in the Mac operating system. Therefore all students enrolled in the interior design program who have Macbook are required to have Windows 10 installed, and another application such as Boot Camp (comes free with Macbooks) or Parallels, in order to use their Mac as a Windows laptop. All Macbook manufactured in the last few years have an Intel processor and can therefore be dual booted into Windows.

Additionally, interior design students are required to have the Autodesk software suite installed on their laptops. There is a free student version available for download from the Autodesk website which will satisfy this requirement. Students will be informed of other required software applications from their instructors.

Graphic Design and Photography Laptop Program

All incoming graphic design and photography students are required to bring a Macbook that meets the specifications of their major. Students may use the specifications to purchase laptops of their choice or they may take advantage of the College Laptop Purchase Package as described below.

The 2017 minimum specifications for graphic design and photography Macbook and other recommended software and hardware, will be posted on the Academic Technology and Graphic Design web pages as they become available.

Hard Drives and Storage
We recommend a portable USB hard drive of at least 500 GB or larger with a 7200 rpm spin rate (note check the model specs for this feature and triple interface (USB, Firewire 800/400). This interface is recommended as a failsafe against the failure of a single connection, however a single interface drive will work as well.

Recommended Software (Available at http://endicott.e-academy.com.)

  • Adobe, Creative Cloud Complete
  • Microsoft Office for Mac
     

Recommended Additional Warranty (included in purchase package):

  • AppleCare Protection Plan for MacBook Pro

For more information: Please contact the School of Visual and Performing Arts at 978-232-2250.

College Laptop Purchase Package
The purchase package will be offered to students through our website. There is no semester fee for this program. It provides students with an excellent value on hardware, accidental damage coverage and on-campus support. Students who participate in the program will receive the following benefits:

  • Standardized hardware and anti-virus protection
  • Extended warranty and accidental damage policy
  • On-campus service
  • Loaners on a first-come, first-served basis if the laptop needs to be left for service
  • Laptop trade-in option

For more information, please go to the technology “Partnerships” page on our website.

Please note: Students who choose not to take advantage of the College Laptop Purchase Package are expected to have a maintenance agreement with an outside service provider in the event they experience hardware issues with their laptops.

A printer is strongly recommended to print personal material for courses and assignments. We recommend an inexpensive inkjet printer (HP or similar).