Students who don’t already have a laptop computer as they head off to college may be in luck if their schools have laptop programs.

Colleges and universities offer laptop programs ranging from nonexistent to voluntary to mandatory. With companies like Dell (DELL), Apple (AAPL), Lenovo and Hewlett-Packard (HPQ), there’s also a wide variety of computers to choose from. 

“By participating in our program, hopefully we eliminate time and frustration for parents,” said Rick Murphy, assistant director of IT at Greenville College. Since the small college has many students bringing computers from home, Greenville College offers a voluntary laptop program.

Universities and colleges have their own ideas why implementing a mandatory system works.  

“Students benefit because they are learning skills necessary for the workplace,” said Patrick Cronin, Acting Chief Information Officer at Bridgewater State College. Teaching and learning is changing, becoming more group-based, with less one-on-one in the classroom, according to Cronin. The BSC Standard Laptop is “revised once a year to reflect what’s selling."

First-year students at Quinnipiac University begin using their laptops in the Freshman Writing Program, even if laptops were not bought through the Laptop Purchase Program.  “The student is responsible for having technology to complete assignments,” said Richard Ferguson, V.P. Chief Information and Technology Officer at Quinnipiac University.

St. John’s University gives laptops to their incoming and transfer students, as well as faculty. This is to provide a “common computing platform for teachers and students,” according to Joe Tufano, Vice President and Chief Information Officer at St. John’s University.

Barbara Weaver, Manager of Instructional Services at Clemson University, said some teachers have even changed the way they conduct their classes, integrating laptop use into they classes.

Laptop programs have also encouraged universities and colleges to have a wireless campus, with many points of wireless connectivity located throughout the campus for student and faculty use.

The laptop programs often do service agreements in addition to sales.

“Our laptop support staff is now certified to repair all four of the top-tier laptop brands,” according to Brandon Hall, Director of Customer Support and Personal Computing at Clemson University

Greenville College offers laptop assistance for those who purchase their laptops through the Dell or Apple laptop program, according to Murphy. With Dell computers and Dell technicians on staff, the college receives payments to cover the costs of some repairs. Though not certified to work on Apple computers, technicians assist students the best they can with technical issues and will call in to Apple to help get problems resolved.

Bridgewater State College has Dell technicians on site to assist in repairs for laptops purchased through the program. Quinnipiac University offers technical support from the Computer Help Desk for computers bought with the Laptop Purchase Program.

St. John’s University is a “self-maintainer” school, according to Tufano. The Information Technology Department at the university maintains the laptops.

Of course, there have been some side effects of the laptop programs, as well.

“It already has reduced the number of computer labs,” Ferguson said of Quinnipiac University. He added that hand-held devices might take the place of laptops in some of these programs, noting that Quinnipiac has begun a pilot on the capability of Palm Treos for the Physician Assistant Program.