Seton Hall University announced in a press release that all incoming freshmen will be supplied with a Smartphone running Windows Phone and cloud services through Office 365 for education, and a Samsung Series 5 laptop with Windows 8 or a Samsung Series 7 tablet PC currently running Windows 8.

The electronic devices are part of the SHUmobile program in collaboration with Microsoft, AT&T and Nokia. The class of 2016 will benefit from the phased rollout as Seton Hall upgrades its campus-wide email, storage, communications and collaboration platform to Office 365 for education.

Dr. Larry Robinson, Provost, explained, “We know that student engagement is critical to academic success.  We also know that technology can help make the connections between students, with their faculty and with other campus units, much more frequent and meaningful.  Ensuring that every student has the technology regardless of socio-economic circumstances will help our students complete their degrees, helping to fulfill the University’s mission and to advance one of the nation’s top educational priorities.”

By bringing together industry leaders such as Microsoft, AT&T and Nokia, Seton Hall is providing its students with unprecedented access to University resources and services through their PCs and smartphones, without raising the cost of tuition.

“We have a responsibility to give all our students access to the technology they need to be successful learners today, as well as future leaders in the workplace,” said Dr. Gabriel Esteban, Seton Hall University President.  “By putting the most advanced mobile computing system in the hands of all of our students, regardless of prior experience or socio-economic background, we are leveling the playing field and creating opportunities for tomorrow's servant leaders.”

More information, news and perspectives from Seton Hall University is available at http://www.shu.edu/go/mobile.