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To fully participate in courses, students must use a PC or a Mac laptop or desktop computer. A Chromebook, tablet, or mobile device is insufficient for the demands of Parker University courses. However, they can be used to perform some academic activities and thereby supplement the use of a desktop or laptop computer. A broadband internet connection (Cable/DSL/Satellite/Fiber) is required. You are allowed to use Financial Aid to cover the costs of the computer system; please contact ask1stop@parker.edu for details.

Minimum Hardware Requirements

Microsoft Windows*

  • Windows 10 or higher

  • Minimum 8 GB RAM (16 GB recommended)

  • 256 GB Hard drive or higher, Solid State recommended 

  • Speakers or headphones and a microphone

  • A webcam is required

Mac OS X

  • Version 10.10 - Yosemite or higher

  • 8 GB of RAM (16 GB recommended)

  • 256 GB Hard drive or higher

  • A webcam, speakers, and a microphone are incorporated into all Macs

Software

  • Microsoft Office365 – free of charge to all active Parker University students via their university account

  • Adobe Reader Latest Release - Free download

  • Respondus LockDown Browser

  • The Proctorio browser extension. At least 2Gb of RAM must be free after the OS (Windows or Mac) and the browser are loaded.

What is Respondus LockDown Browser? It is a custom browser that locks down the testing environment for tests taken in Blackboard. If an instructor requires that students use the Respondus LockDown Browser, Students need to download and install the browser and use it to log in to Blackboard to take the test. Students are required to have sufficient technology to support the Respondus LockDown Browser.  See MyParker Student Resources to download the software and validate computer requirements.

Proctorio is, likewise, an exam proctoring solution. It requires students to install a browser extension that is available for the Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge browsers only. These can be found at https://getproctorio.com (for Chrome) and https://getproctorio.com/edge (for Edge). Information about Proctorio will be available with any exam you take that uses Proctorio.

Browser

Firefox and Chrome are the recommended browsers for accessing the Blackboard Learning Management System and other course software. Note that only Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge support Proctorio at this time.

Parker Email

Students are required to use their Parker University student email account for their online course. Parker’s email is accessible 24/7 from any computer with a web browser.

Antivirus and Malware Software

We highly recommend that students purchase anti-virus / anti-malware for their computer or laptop, even if they have a Mac. There are free versions available; however, they are typically minimally featured and frequently advertise their paid versions. Some common antivirus/malware software options are below. The best one will depend on the student’s specific needs and budget: 

Assistance

If a computer doesn’t meet these requirements, students should contact their Financial Aid advisor to see if they qualify for additional funding to purchase a computer. For specific questions regarding personal technology equipment, please work with the Parker University IT Service Desk at servicedesk@parker.edu or 214 902 2430.