Southeast Tech Laptop Program FAQs

Q. Is the Conditional Sales Agreement a lease to own program?
A. The Conditional Sales Agreement is not a lease to own program. The contract is not a lease and the laptop cannot be returned to Southeast Tech. A conditional sales agreement is the best way to address software licensure requirements for student laptops.

Southeast Tech enters into license agreements with software vendors to provide access to our students. The agreements allow access to the software at a rate that is far below what students would pay if they purchased the software on their own. Under the software license agreements, software must be installed on a Southeast Tech owned laptop. The Conditional Sales Agreement specifies that ownership remains with Southeast Tech until the conditions of contract are met.

Q. If I am a returning student to Southeast Tech, can software be loaded on to my previously purchased Southeast Tech laptop?
A. Yes, if the student is the original owner of the previously purchased Southeast Tech Laptop and the laptop is still under warranty, Southeast Tech will load the program specific software. With the ever changing hardware and software requirements, Southeast Tech will only load program specific software on the following previous Southeast Tech laptop models:

• Dell E6510
• HP 8560w
• MacBook Pro i7
• MacBook Pro Quad Core i7

The $165 software and support fee will be applied each semester once the software is loaded.

Q. If a student terminates or withdraws, can the laptop be returned?
A. No, the laptop cannot be returned. Students must contact the Southeast Tech IT Support Center per the terms of the Conditional Sales Agreement to remove Southeast Tech licensed software and to complete the official bill of sale to transfer ownership to the student. If the software is not removed, a hold will be placed on the student’s account and they will be billed for the software on the laptop.

Q. What is the BYOD pilot program?

A. BYOD (Bring your own device) is a pilot program for Electroneurodiagnostic Technology, Nuclear Medicine, Phlebotomy/Patient Care Technician, and Welding students only. Beginning in the fall 2012 semester, students enrolled in these programs will have the ability to bring their own device.  What this means is that a student can purchase an STI laptop, use their own laptop, or use an iPad or other tablet.  If the student chooses to purchase a laptop through STI, it will be covered by a comprehensive service agreement which includes onsite repair and customer support for three years through the Southeast Tech IT Support Center.  If a student chooses not to purchase an STI laptop, all warranty agreements and repairs will be the responsibility of the student.

Required minimum spec for BYOD

Minimum Specs

• Mac:
  • Model: Intel-based Mac
  • Memory: At least 2GB of RAM
  • Operating systems: Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.8 or later
• Windows:
  • Model: Standard x86 or x64 compatible desktop or laptop computer, 1GHz
  • Memory: At least 1GB of RAM
  • Operating systems:
  • Windows 7 32- or 64-bit up to SP1
  • Windows XP 32-bit SP3
  • Windows Vista 32-bit SP1 or SP2
• iPad:
  • All models of iPad 1, iPad 2, iPad 3 with iOS 4.2 and later 
• Android tablet
  • All major models of tablets that support Android 3 (Honeycomb) and later

Q. What is the iPad required pilot program?

A. iPad required is a pilot program for Surgical Technology and Invasive Cardiovascular Technology students only.  Beginning in the fall 2012 semester, students enrolled in these programs will be required to bring an iPad.  All models of iPads will meet the requirement for these programs.  iPads will need to be purchased by the student and will not be sold under the STI Conditional Sales Agreement.  The student will be responsible for all warranty agreements and repairs if needed.

Required minimum specs

All models of iPad 1,  iPad 2, iPad 3 with iOS 4.2 and later. 

Q. Can a student bring their own laptop to campus?
A. Yes, but all students who are enrolled in a Southeast Tech Laptop Required Program will be charged automatically and will receive a Southeast Tech laptop. Southeast Tech’s laptops are guaranteed to have all necessary program software and be pre-configured depending on the student’s major.

Students who bring their own laptop will only have access to Southeast Tech’s Public Wireless Network on which only Internet can be accessed. Campus resources such as printing and datacluster storage are not available through their own laptop if they are not in a BYOD pilot program. To gain access to other campus resources, students must log in with their Southeast Tech username and password to a computer on campus which is on the Southeast Tech secured network. All computer labs and public kiosk computers on campus will be available to all students and are connected to the Southeast Tech secured network. These computers DO NOT have program specific software installed.

 
Q. Can a student purchase a Southeast Tech laptop even if not enrolled in a Southeast Tech Laptop Included Program?
A. Yes! You can contract for the same Windows based laptop offered through our Laptop Purchase Program. Contact the Southeast Tech IT Support Center at 605.367.4461, or stop in the Technology Center Room 219.

 
Q. How are the laptops under the Southeast Tech Laptop Required Program financed?
A. The laptop is included in the charges during your first semester while at Southeast Tech and Financial Aid can be applied.
 
 
Q. What are the differences between laptop and software fees?
A. The laptop fee is for the actual laptop hardware and accessories. The Software fee is for the license access for the software associated to the student’s program and on-campus support.

 
Q. Once a student graduates, does the student get to keep the software installed on the laptop?
A. No, students must contact the Southeast Tech IT Support Center per the terms of the Conditional Sales Agreement to remove Southeast Tech licensed software and to complete the official bill of sale to transfer ownership to the student. If the software is not removed, a hold will be placed on the student's account and they will be billed for the software on the laptop. Graduating students will have the option to purchase the latest version of Microsoft OS and Microsoft Office at the Southeast Tech bookstore for a nominal fee.

 
Q. Once a student fulfills their payments for their laptop, will the student have to pay the software fee for their remaining semesters at Southeast Tech?
A. Yes, the software fee will continue each semester while the student is enrolled at Southeast Tech. The software fee ends only when a student graduates, terminates, or withdraws from Southeast Tech.

 
Q. Does a student who enrolls in just one laptop included class have to get the laptop?
A. No, students who are enrolled under 6 credits at Southeast Tech are not required to get a laptop through Southeast Tech. The student will need to determine their individual needs in order to meet the course requirements. Depending on the course, the student may need access to a laptop or desktop computer to complete the course, and may choose to rent an STI laptop for the semester. Alternatively, the student may wish to select a campus lab based course offering.

Q. How does Southeast Tech Laptop Program work for one-year programs?
A. The Laptop Program works the same for both one and two-year programs. The laptop fee is included in the charges during your first semester while at Southeast Tech and Financial Aid can be applied. 

 
Q. What models are the laptops under the Southeast Tech Laptop Program?
A. All programs under the Southeast Tech Laptop Program will use Windows based laptop, except Graphic Communications and Digital Media Production; these programs will use Apple MacBook Pros. 

Q. Can a student get an Apple Mac Book Pro if they are not enrolled in Graphics Communications or Digital Media Production?
A. No, only students enrolled in Graphic Communications and Digital Media Production can get an Apple MacBook Pro at Southeast Tech. All other students will receive a Windows based laptop.

Q. If I am in a BYOD or iPad required pilot program, can I bring my device to the Support Center for assistance?
A. General assistance for these devices will be provided to students in the pilot programs at the IT Support Center. You may be referred to a local business for any extended service that is required.

Q. If I am in a BYOD or iPad required pilot program, can I receive a loaner computer if my device is not working?
A. You may rent an STI laptop for up to one month while your device is being repaired.