Network World

While I think this is a cool idea (from the student’s perspective), it has more cons than pros. Parents or students will now have an extra expense; students will not be driven to learn certain things because they’ll be “available” on-line 24-7; students will not be as focused in class because obviously they will use the phone to stay in touch with others (girlfriends, boyfriends, or just friends or family members) while in class. On top of this, I don’t really see the need for this since most if not “all” Universities have available computer labs; never mind the fact that “most” families nowadays should be able to afford a computer and pay a small Internet fee; a computer which the entire family could use, not just the student…. So, in my humble opinion… I think this is just a move by the university to attract young students to join the school…..

Has anybody done studies on whether any of this instant-access information is actually making the transfer to student's long-term memory? Facebook access during class is not a compelling educational advantage - perhaps even a disadvantage to learning!

This just another example of university decision makers/processes exploiting students for profit. Most universities are attaching burdensome and unnecessary requirements. Besides this some universities now restrict users to Microsoft Windows Vista Premium editions-to connect to the network. The reason given is it is a security issue- but this is just a straight out lie give no non-Microsoft platforms have ever caused the significant burden on campus IT department due to security lapses. In fact the platform they are forcing students to use is Microsoft Windows- and that is the frequent cause of the network security issues. Microsoft Windows is so bad that most universities now force all users to identify themselves- and run special software to verify that their systems have as much security as is available to them. This also forces students to get MORE often unnecessary software. Then they get students "deals" on non-free proprietary software that otherwise should be available at no-code on ANY platform. Is this unethical? Absolutely.

From a current college students perspective I don't think I'd attend this school. Pushing more stuff on me that I don't want = no thanks, I'll go elsewhere. No crap about the internet usage, you gave everyone 24/7 access to the net wherever they are, of course its gonna skyrocket.

Where is the Con's other than having a few extra bucks of tuition? Some of the comments on Network World are so stupid as are some of the readers.

In a situation where most students entering into a strange new environment, new faces, the possibility of getting lost in the shuffle and dropping out within the first few months of school, ACU has done an excellent job. Imagine what it was like for us as freshman. These students are now instantly connected to a larger social environment. They are now involved. They are learning a new method of communicating with one another and the school is in contact with them helping them on their journey.

I say "great job" ACU. Can you imagine, students using technology to learn. It's almost as tough to accept compared to when all we had was a notebook and pen. My only gripe is that they allow the use of the wikipedia as a reference source. Not good.

By adding cellular gateways to the PBX, ACU can make all the activity between the students and staff with cell phones to the office and from the office to the students and staff mobile to mobile activity, reducing cell costs for both the students and the college by 30% or more.