Do You Need a Dongle?

A laptop dongle is a small adaptor used to connect a video cable or computer device (mouse, hard drive, tablet, etc) to your computer. This is particularly common with Apple Laptops which typically have only one type of port on the side.

Dongles are inexpensive and can be ordered online (for best prices) or purchased locally in a store such as Microcenter, Staples, or Best Buy.

Faculty and students should plan on bringing the correct dongles for laptops in able to use the classroom AV systems. In an emergency, COM’s IT office (Room 205) may be able to provide a loaner dongle for the duration of the class. However, it’s best to have your own so you do not need to depend on this service.

COM Loaner Laptops

COM has a limited supply of laptops available in FPS which students can check out and use for the duration of their class. These COM-owned computers have a variety of software packages installed which include Adobe Creative Cloud, MS Office, IBM SPSS, and R Studio. COM loaner laptops are intended for in-class use of technical software and are for students who are unable to use their own laptop. See below for a full list of the laptop checkout policies.

  • Laptops are intended for in-class use of technical software (Adobe Creative Cloud, IBM SPSS, etc.).
  • Laptops are not intended for basic computing functions (web browsing, taking notes, social media, printing).
  • Laptops are not to be taken off-campus.
  • Student laptop checkouts have a maximum duration of one week.
  • Students who do not return a laptop within the allotted checkout duration may be fined each day until the laptop is returned.
  • Students with outstanding fines cannot check out a laptop or any other piece of equipment until that fine has been paid in full.
  • Laptops that have not been returned on time may be remotely locked by Computer Support Services staff.
  • A student may be held liable for the cost of repairing or replacing a laptop in the event it is damaged, lost, or stolen while checked out to that student.

How To Make a Laptop Reservation

  • visit http://wco.bu.edu
  • click Equipment Reservations
  • click COM Course Equipment
  • click Make a Reservation
  • the laptops are under the Computer-AV section