The Office of Information Technology (OIT) provides support for computers that use Windows operating systems. Such support includes hardware maintenance, repair, and network services, operating system upgrades, applications software consulting, documentation. See Priorities of Services Provided
Primary Computers: The College will provide to each faculty member, upon request, a primary computer capable of running all supported applications, including those for word processing, spreadsheet, database, electronic mail, Internet access, and library catalogue access. The exact configuration of primary computers will evolve along with the evolution of technology. Each machine will come bundled with a basic application suite and electronic mail package and Internet browser. Maintenance and repairs will be provided at no cost to faculty. Replacement will usually occur on a 3-4 year cycle or as the College's budget permits.
Instructional Support Equipment: The College will endeavor to provide, or assist faculty in obtaining, computers for instructional purposes, courseware development, and laboratory automation, through start-up funds, external grants, and the annual Information Technology equipment request process. Replacement cycles for computers in this category will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Maintenance and repairs will be provided at no cost to departments.
Old Information Technology Equipment: Faculty who have old computers (as defined by the Office of Information Technology) will continue to receive maintenance support for minor problems but repairs or upgrades will be made at the discretion of the Office of Information Technology.
Privately-Owned Computers and Information Technology Equipment: Faculty and staff may purchase computers through Mount Olive College or may use computers purchased elsewhere. The College will not provide maintenance and repair for privately owned computers. Computers purchased outside of Mount Olive College must be approved by OIT before being connected to the college-wide network.
All computers and IT equipment are the property of Mount Olive College and are under the management of the Office of Information Technology. Computers that are allocated to individual faculty and staff members cannot be re-deployed or modified without prior OIT approval. Computers that are replaced must be returned to the OIT allocation pool for re-distribution. The equipment may be reallocated to the original user via the standard equipment request process, if there are no other requests of higher priority at that time and if not obsolesced beyond scope of current Information Technology support policies.
Requests are routed from individual faculty or staff members in the fall of the current academic year for new or replacement computers to be purchased in the following school year. These requests are organized and routed to the appropriate Vice President with suggested priorities. Requests are evaluated by the area Vice President and the Director of Information Technology, and approved, denied, or deferred according to justification and funds available.
Due to the rapid change in computer development, it is impossible to define a standard computer in detail. However, the OIT does establish a standard during the year. This standard computer is capable of meeting the personal productivity needs of faculty and staff. These needs generally include word processing, spreadsheet, e-mail, Internet, and other software along with sufficient excess capacity to meet expansion for the next several years.
New faculty will receive a standard computer package. Any costs above the cost of the standard package are to be paid for by departmental funds, with approval from the Vice President for Academic Affairs and the Director of Information Technology.
Computers and other information technology equipment, which were used by departing faculty, are reallocated according to the decision made by the divisional head and the Director of Information Technology. This equipment does not necessarily remain in the same department or division.
New staff are expected to use the equipment left by their predecessors. In the event that the new staff member is filling a newly-created position, it is up to the department head to make a new computer request to his/her division head.
It is the goal of the Office of Information Technology to assure the College community of computer hardware, peripherals, and software that can be supported. The staff' members in the Office of Information Technology have the primary responsibility for maintaining the networks, computers, servers, printers, peripherals, and VoIP phones to be certain that quality is maintained at reasonable costs.
All equipment, computers and peripheral devices (e.g. printers, scanners, LCD projectors, digital cameras, software, video cards, network cards) which are attached to or used with a computer must be ordered only after consultation with the appropriate Vice President and the Director of Information Technology. The review procedure for purchasing any technology equipment and software is intended to provide:
In order to coordinate and standardize on technology equipment and software purchases in a uniform and planned way so as to avoid duplicate selection which could make the maintenance and operations of the technology program difficult and costly, the following purchase procedure is to be used: