Computer Request and Purchase Policy
As there is need and as the campus hardware budget allows, Computer Services aims to upgrade campus faculty and staff computers with improved machines every four years to help maintain maximum computing efficiency and productivity. An upgrade will either be a new computer, a one or two year old computer with better specifications, or a hard drive and memory upgrade that will improve performance. Computer Services and the Controller's Office will be responsible for evaluating need and determining the best upgrade option. Though Computer Services routinely monitors the performance of all faculty and staff computers; please report all computer performance issues to the Computer Services Help Desk.
Staff members currently using a notebook and requiring an upgrade are requested to give written justification including specific reasons for their portability needs and have approval from their department head and vice president. Computer Services and the Controller's Office will carefully review all requests. In all situations where portability is not critical to job function, notebook users will be required to switch to a desktop PC. The advantages of a desktop PC are savings in purchase and support costs, improved performance and reliability, larger screen size, and good ergonomics. Faculty members currently using notebooks, who do not have a need for portability are also encouraged to switch to a desktop, pending approval from their department head.
Computer requests for new hires and or special projects should be submitted to the Controller's Office and Computer Services as early in the yearly budgeting process as possible to ensure proper consideration. In the event that the campus hardware budget is exhausted, departments necessitating additional hardware may be required to pay for the expense out of their available budget, pending approval from the Controller's Office and Computer Services. All equipment must be purchased by Computer Services, meeting TMC standard hardware specifications. You will be asked to return any computer equipment not purchased through Computer Services.
Apple Mac Purchase and Support Policy
While Computer Services has standardized on the use of Windows based PCs for corporate applications on the TMC Campus, some departments may have the need to use Apple computers and software for specialty projects such as video editing or music composition. For those departments having such needs, the following is a guideline for purchase and support.
- Purchase of all computer equipment and software must be approved by the Controller's Office and the CIO's Office. Departments seeking equipment and software must submit a written request to Computer Services stating their requirements, purpose, cost, proposed method of funding, and approval by their department head and vice president. Please note that Apple hardware and software may not be directly compatible with many common applications and protocols that TMC has standardized on. Consequently, a higher cost of ownership may be incurred to provide technical support and maintenance for Apple users and products. TMC departments will not be given purchase approval for a Mac unless they can demonstrate that their requirements can not be fulfilled with a Windows based computer. In their purchase request documentation, departments wishing to purchase Apple hardware and software should include specific reasons why they cannot use a PC. Personal preference is not an acceptable justification for purchasing Apple products.
- If the purchase request is approved, Computer Services will be responsible for the acquisition of the equipment and/or sofware and will work with the requesting department to finalize specifications.
- All Apple machines will be purchased with 3 years of Apple Care Support. Departments will be responsible for the setup and installation of all hardware and software, including Windows and virtualization software if used. It is up to the individual department using the machine to contact Apple for any needed hardware and software support. Due to limited resources, no technical support is provided by Computer Services other than issues involving basic network connectivity and standard peripherals purchased through or issued by Computer Services. Such items include keyboards, mice, monitors, and limited support for network printers.
- If there are warranty hardware or software issues, departments should work directly with Apple tech support to arrange for repairs or replacement. Departments also have the option to bring the hardware to a local authorized Apple reseller that performs warranty repair work. A synopsis of all tech support events along with any associated paperwork should be sent to Computer Services for their records.
- Departments are responsible for any non-warranty technical support and repair costs, such as any accidental damage.
