The following policy is to ensure that all faculty and students have the best computer systems possible. Faculty currently receive new desktop computers on a rotating schedule. Old (replacement) computer systems need to be returned to the Scientific Computing Center (SCC). The IT Committee will request that these old faculty computers be upgraded and added to the current computers used by students (both in graduate student offices and in labs). Professors have the first responsibility to provide computers from grants; however, they can request a computer from the IT Committee. In addition, faculty can request computers from the IT Committee for needs that arise. Before the start of the Fall and Spring semesters, the IT Committee will poll the faculty regarding upcoming needs for computers by new graduate students.
SCC will keep a list of computers, which will be reviewed by the IT Committee each semester. This list will enable a determination of which computers to upgrade. After reviewing faculty requests and department computer needs, the IT Committee will submit a single request to SCC during each semester for upgrades and relocation of computers. Hence, faculty should submit computer requests to the IT Committee instead of going directly to SCC.
Faculty are encouraged to use grant funds as much as possible for computer needs. The Network Equipment Policy and Guide for New Linux System should be followed. A faculty member who purchases a computer using grant funds is responsible for determining how and by whom the system will be used. If a faculty member leaves the University, their systems become the responsibility of the IT Committee. The IT Committee is also responsible for computers purchased with state funds. This responsibility includes ensuring that SCC's computer inventory is updated each time a system is moved, that systems are clean of all personal files when moved from one user to another (SCC can be requested to re-install the computer's operating system), and that systems have labels that identify each system component. Ideally, each component would be labeled either as IT-Student (Student Office), IT-General (Lab System) or with the faculty member's name who funded the system purchased. SCC's inventory will also include this information.