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Bring Your Own Device

All Ursuline Academy students are required to bring a laptop computer (Windows or Mac) to school on a daily basis as part of their class materials.

Students will have access to the school’s collaborative environment, academic portals, and email within the guidelines of the student handbook. Students will use their devices in the classroom to access and save information from the Internet, collaborate with other learners, and utilize productivity and research tools available to them through their student accounts.

Student files saved in network directories on a school server are backed up regularly. When a student begins school at Ursuline Academy, she will be provided with an Office 365 account that will allow her to install Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote on her personal computer for free.

Key Considerations

A good functioning battery is paramount. Students will be expected to arrive at school with their personal laptop fully charged for the day; batteries must have enough charge for each class. Limited electrical charging locations in public spaces and the library may be available for emergency charging during free mods.

Students must be able to navigate their own device. The school’s IT staff will help students connect to the school’s wireless network and to network resources available to them through the school. They may advise students on steps they can take to correct a problem; however they will not troubleshoot personal devices for hardware or software malfunctions.

Non-school related files should not be stored on school storage resources. Student files on a personal device or in web based storage locations, such as OneDrive for Business in Office 365 will not be backed up by the school. Students are responsible for backing up their data on personal devices and cloud storage.

What to look for in a laptop

  • A device for content creation, which requires more processing power and capacity
  • A device that will be capable of meeting the student’s needs for all 4 years at UA
  • A device that will stand up to the daily handling by a teenager
  • A device with good battery life
  • The device must have a current and active antivirus/antimalware protection
  • Suggested – A device with an extended warranty and accidental damage protection for those times when something is accidentally broken.

Tips

  • Clearly label the device with the student's name
  • Keep track of the device’s serial number and model number
  • Consider care packages that cover breakage

Long-Term Laptop Loans

If your financial situation prevents you from having your own, there are a limited number of laptops available to students who qualify. Complete the form below to get started.

Request a Long-Term Laptop Loan

Windows Laptop Recommendations

  • Operating System: Windows 11 Home or Pro

  • Processor: Intel 12/13th Generation Core 5/7 or AMD Ryzen 7 7000/8000 series

  • Memory: 16GB or more
  • Hard Drive Size: 256 GB or larger Solid-State Drive
  • Display Type: Touchscreen
  • Display Resolution: 1920 X 1080 (FHD) or better
  • Wireless Networking: 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6)
  • Ports: USB-C, headphone and mic, HDMI
  • Web camera: Yes
  • Keyboard: Backlit
  • Battery: 8 hours of use, minimum, after a full charge
  • Accidental Damage Protection (this will be an extra cost)

Apple (Mac) Laptop Recommendations

  • Processor: Apple M3 or M4 chip

  • Memory: 16GB or more

  • Hard Drive Type: Solid-State Drive
  • Hard Drive Size: 256GB or larger
  • Display Type: Liquid Retina Display
  • Wireless Networking: 802.11ax
  • Ports: Thunderbolt/USB 4, headphone and mic, HDMI or thunderbolt to HDMI adapter
  • Web Camera: Yes
  • Keyboard: Backlit
  • Battery: 8 hours of use, minimum, after a full charge
  • Apple Care (this will be an extra cost)

Frequently Asked Questions