SU’s iMLearning Unveils New MacBooks For Incoming Students

Shenandoah’s iMLearning program will now provide most new incoming students with the state-of-the-art M1 MacBook Pro.

Starting with certain models introduced in late 2020, Apple began the transition from Intel processors to Apple Silicon chips in Mac computers. The M1 MacBook Pro is the first step in this process.

The two-port M1 MacBook Pro, which has received rave reviews, will replace the Intel-based model Shenandoah has been purchasing.

The M1 MacBook Pro will provide really significant performance improvements with a big increase in battery life, with Apple claiming it will last 18-20 hours. So far, reviews and testing have shown this to be accurate. This should be a great laptop for our students.”

Tom Anderson | Technology Resource Manager at SU

In 2009, Shenandoah University implemented the iMLearning initiative to provide all of its undergraduate (and most of its graduate) students with a MacBook and other Apple devices to aid in their education. Students lease the equipment for eight semesters, after which it’s theirs to keep. Students pay for the devices through a per-semester fee that is included in student tuition.

Currently, members of the Shenandoah academic community are issued an iPad, Apple Pencil, and Intel-based MacBook Pro. Exact models depend on what’s available at the time they are issued. Many staff members also receive a MacBook if it is appropriate for their work duties.

Starting this spring, most new incoming students in programs that participate in iMLearning, such as all undergraduate and some graduate programs, will receive the new M1 MacBook Pro instead of the Intel-based MacBook Pro.

Shenandoah will continue forward with Apple Silicon Macs in the future, although it’s likely the M1 name will change as Apple continues to release updates.