The primary goals of the computer replacement policy are:

• to provide a regular, predictable replacement cycle for faculty and staff computers,
• to allow users to have reasonably up-to-date equipment,
• to ease the support burden on IT staff associated with troubleshooting and
  maintaining outdated or out-of-warranty equipment and non-standard hardware, and
• to accurately budget for computer purchases.

Nicholas IT will provide a new computer every three years for each qualifying faculty and staff member. Qualifying faculty and staff are those members whose salaries are paid from school funds. Faculty and staff supported by research grants are not eligible. It is assumed that startup funds will cover the cost of the first computer for new faculty hires, and departmental funds for new administrative hires. 

The computer will be configured to perform the administrative tasks associated with staff and faculty position at the Nicholas School.  Dell and Apple are the current preferred vendors.  The user must pay the cost difference for any machine other than the standard desktop offering. 

Nicholas IT will provide Microsoft Office Professional on these computers.  Other software licenses must be covered by the user.

At the end of the third year, the computer must be returned to the IT department upon replacement.  These computers are then provided to  graduate students without other resources.