Going National: The Drexel Microcomputing Project

Drexel University played a unique and significant role in the corporate history of Apple, Inc. It’s well known that Drexel was the first University to require that all students own a personal computer, a highly prescient mandate announced in 1982 and implemented in 1983-1984.

But far less recognized is that Drexel made the very bold decision of committing all students to purchase a previously unreleased and untested computer from Apple. This was, of course, the Macintosh (introduced in January 1984), which was unlike any previous computer. Drexel’s commitment to the Mac was also of great benefit to Apple, helping to legitimize this brand-new platform, which helped make the Mac a successful product that continues to thrive in education 40 years later.

This entire initiative, called the Drexel Microcomputer Project, was captured in a 1-hour documentary filmed by David Jones, Dean of the Pennoni Honors College from 2008 to 2014. The film premiered at Drexel in 1985.

Copyright: Drexel University, 1985