The Office of Educational Technology will not change iPad requirements for Fall 2016, but will consider the change for 2017.

The office sent a survey to all students and started discussions with faculty and staff this semester. Marisa Beard, director of educational technology, said a survey was sent last year, but they needed more data to make a decision.

While some students never use their iPads in the classroom, others use it daily because faculty try to make the most of the device. Beard said as technology changes, so do the needs of students and faculty. Many students are using other devices, such as their phones in class and their laptops for homework.

“We need to look at the big picture,” Beard said.

ACU was one of the first universities to implement touch screen devices in the classroom. The university has required iPads for all incoming freshmen for the past two years since Beard started working in the Office of Educational Technology.

“We don’t want to take it lightly if we change the policy,” Beard said.

Goals for the survey include a better understanding of the disparity between how students and faculty view the iPad. Beard said a variety of students, not only those who dislike the iPad, responded to the survey last year.

The survey will be open for students to respond during the next few days. The survey can be found at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LRL6HR5.