The Natural Science Department has begun to give away Net-books (laptops) to science and mathematics majors. The laptops were purchased by a grant that was written by the department. “I requested to attract high gpa minority students, especially females, into the science and mathematics area. We try an experiment of giving laptops to students to attract them,” said Deva Sharma of the Science Department.
For students to qualify for the laptops, they must have a gpa close to 3.0 or higher, be a minority, and be a science major. According to Sharma, although they are planning to give away 50 laptops, they only have 37 students who qualify thus far. Out of those 37 students that qualify only 25 students have picked up their laptops. They are also extending the giveaway to students who are undecided about their major and choose to pursue a major in mathematics or science, as well as to students who want to change their major to mathematics or science.
To maintain ownership of the laptop, the students must sustain their high gpa and remain in the department. “If they maintain the gpa, remain in science, and graduate from Shaw then the laptop will be a gift to them,” Sharma said.
According to Sharma, the department is prepared to giveaway more than just 50 laptops. “As long as we have more students, we can buy laptops because we have the funding to do it,” Sharma said.