$114,300 per year. That's how much the CCI is saving UNC-Chapel Hill students, on average, due to a new coverage plan for CCI laptop packages.

For nearly 10 years, the Carolina Computing Initiative, or CCI, has worked to offer students affordable computer packages including a laptop, key software, a four-year warranty and insurance coverage. Recently, CCI program coordinators were able to adapt the program coverage, resulting in big savings for students and families.

ITS handles more than 750 laptop insurance claims each year. In past years, the insurance policy for CCI laptops has covered accidental damage, theft and natural disasters with a $250 deductible per incident. For CCI machines purchased this year and moving forward, Lenovo will provide accidental damage protection with the Thinkpad Protection program at a reduced cost. Additional coverage provided by a contract with Safeware Insurance Agency will protect the laptop against theft and natural disasters. This allows CCI coordinators to lower the initial cost of the laptop package, and reduce the deductible cost to $100 per incident - a savings of $150 per incident.

"Insurance has been a key part of the CCI program since the beginning," said David Eckert, CCI program manager. "We've had to balance the deductible with up-front costs, meaning students paid a higher deductible to keep the CCI laptop package more affordable for everyone. Now, we can offer cheaper coverage and lower deductibles - it's a win-win situation."

For details about the CCI laptop package offered to incoming and current undergraduate and graduate students at UNC-Chapel Hill, refer to the 2008 CCI brochure. The changes to coverage affect only laptops purchased in 2008 or later; students with older CCI machines will continue to use the same coverage they originally purchased.

The Carolina Computing Initiative aims to ensure that Carolina students, faculty and staff have easy access to high-quality and affordable technology and can use it effectively. At the center of the initiative is the requirement that undergraduates at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill own laptop computers that meet University specifications.