Terminals for All

PITTSBURGH--Carnegie-Mellon University (CMU) may soon take a big step forward into the computer age and require that every student buy a terminal wired to a to-be-built school system.

With the help of International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), the school plans to form a computer network that extends throughout the university and will reach all of the faculty and the 5500 students.

Director of Communications Don Hale recently said that "by the fall of 1986 we hope to have several thousand computers installed at the university and 7500 on campus by 1991."

Money

CMU President Richard M. Cyert said there have been estimates that some students will have to pay about $750 a year for terminals beginning after 1985. The development phase of the computer system may cost around $20 million. IBM officials said last month, and installation and upkeep could result in continuing high charges for the university.

CMU is not the only school taking steps on increasing the use of computers.

Stevens Institute of Technology this year started requiring math and science students to pay $750 for Atari 800 microcomputers. Next fall, Drexel University will be charging students $1000 over four years, and Clarkson College of Technology will be asking each of its students for $1800 over four years, with an expected network linking all of the terminals.

Officials at all of the schools explained that the new computers were necessary because of the new markets and demands for people in today's world. Eric Rosenthal, news bureau manager for Drexel University, said. "In addition to those in science and engineering, it will be important for liberal arts majors to be familiarized with computers."