Updated Faculty Client Systems policy

Fuqua employs a thoughtful business-oriented approach to client technology deployment and renewal. Begun in 1997 as part of a technology strategic planning effort led by the Faculty Technology Committee, Fuqua's approach and policies have created flexibility for faculty while managing the investment required for client computing technology. Many systems purchased at Fuqua remain in service for 2-3 years beyond typical service life through a strategic approach to deployment and reassignment. For example, a system deployed into the PhD computing environment might be used there for 2 years, reassigned to an MBA computer lab for another year, moved for use as a staff system for a year, and then spend 2 years as a thin-client stand-up ExpressStation before being retired.

Faculty systems are also reassigned as they are replaced with newer systems through FABS purchases. New Fuqua faculty are provided a high-performance workstation, monitor, and desktop printer for their office environment when they arrive at Fuqua. Faculty may obtain additional computing equipment (laptops, workstations for work at home, etc.) using their assigned FABS budget.

As indicated below, the technology and renewal policy is built around the business/enterprise lines of computers from three companies that have proven over the years to provide outstanding value. The business/enterprise lines of Dell, IBM, and Toshiba have lower lifecycle costs primarily because they can be reused across Fuqua. In order to maximize flexibility for the faculty, any brand can be purchased. A surcharge of $175 for non-business/enterprise brands/lines (see table below) is added to the purchase cost of the system to offset the additional set up time and cost of a non-standard system as well as the cost of obtaining additional hardware support services using external resources for these systems.

Business/enterprise lines used at Fuqua include Dell Optiplex, Dell Precision, Dell Latitude, IBM IntelliStation, IBM ThinkCentre, IBM ThinkPad, Toshiba Portege, and Toshiba Tecra. Computer companies provide lower support levels for their non-enterprise lines. For example, Dell will not cover certain service functions with their non-enterprise lines, sending the user replacement parts but not covering technician costs to change out the bad component.

Fuqua IT will provide hardware support using inhouse staff only for business/enterprise lines of Dell, IBM, and Toshiba. For systems not in this class, Fuqua IT will send failed systems to a third-party for repair. Fuqua IT will provide software support for all brands/lines.

Fuqua's policy for faculty client systems is based around the following view or categories of systems:

• Primary Office system
• Mobile systems
• Home and Secondary Office systems

Overall notes:

Faculty are required to keep at least one working Primary system for which Fuqua IT will provide full support. This could be the system provided to them when first hired at Fuqua.

Faculty teaching in EMBA programs must have a Windows system for use with the D5 platform.

Fuqua IT will provide home support for one (1) Fuqua-owned mobile/laptop system. Systems approved for support are: Dell Latitude, Dell Precision, IBM ThinkPad, Toshiba Portege, Toshiba Tecra. Support for personally-owned systems is not provided.

Fuqua IT will provide home support for one (1) Fuqua-owned Home Desktop system. Support for personally-owned systems is not provided.

Faculty are encouraged to repurpose older laptops (return to TSC for assignment to staff and loaner pool needs) as they make purchases of new mobile systems.

Single-system solutions (eg. – using a single laptop with docking gear) when the faculty member has no other office or home systems can create support challenges. In these situations Fuqua IT recommends the faculty member either: (1) employ a standard laptop, or (2) have a compatible second system which they can use in the event of a hardware failure.

For all client systems (desktops, mobile systems) as well as printers purchased with FABS funds, a 3-year warranty must be purchased with the system or printer. This covers the hidden cost of repair that often arises over the life of the hardware.

All Fuqua client systems (computers, printers, monitors) must be purchased through Fuqua IT. Contact your Faculty Technical Support resource for pricing and configuration assistance. When your system arrives at Fuqua, TSC staff will place a Fuqua Asset Management tag on each CPU, laptop, monitor, and printer.