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Purpose
and scope Automatic
replacements Application
and awards Standard
configurations Expectations and caveats FAQ
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Automatic Replacements: Continuing Needs, Standard Equipment
Our goal is to automatically replace eligible College-owned computers that are four years old or older, and eligible College-owned workgroup laserprinters that are six years old or older, based on the Macalester ID tag number. This number allows us to query our inventory database and determine when the equipment was purchased, what funding source was used, etc. For Micro Fund-eligible equipment, we then contact you via e-mail to notify you and offer you choices for the replacement. These choices include several standard configurations of frequently-ordered computers. You may also describe any needs you may have for equipment that exceeds these standards. "How can I tell how old my computer is?" Look for the Macalester ID sticker on your computer. These are typically red, placed in a prominent position on the CPU (not the monitor), and have a five-digit number. Compare the ID number of your device with the ranges given below:
Not all College-owned computers are replaceable through the Micro Fund. ITS inventories all College-owned computers, but the Micro Fund replaces only a subset of these. Please feel free to call and inquire whether a particular computer is eligible for Micro Fund replacement - we'll need to know the ID number. The cycle shown above is based on the four-year life cycle of a Macalester computer. To calculate replacement targets for a workgroup laserprinter, on a six-year cycle, add two fiscal years to the result in the table above. For example, a computer with ID number 21400 will be automatically replaced in fiscal 2008-2009; a workgroup laserprinter with that same ID number would be automatically replaced in fiscal 2010-2011. Replacements take place throughout the year, in ascending order by ID number - higher numbers will be replaced later in the fiscal year. "What constitutes 'standard equipment'?" See: Standards. Process. We will search our inventory of College-owned computers and identify those that are four years old or older. We will work to determine which ones are eligible for replacement through the Micro Fund. You will be contacted via e-mail, and if your computer is eligible for automatic replacement, you will be directed to a Web page showing your options. Most people will simply want the current version of whatever computer they're already using. In these cases, choose the standard automatic replacement. For example, a four-year-old desktop Windows PC would be replaced with a new desktop Windows PC. This is the default choice, and the appropriate one unless you wish to make a change. If you do want to change from your current computer to another supported configuration, there are multiple options to choose from. See : Standards. If you have special needs that exceed the standard configurations, there is an option to request a customized replacement computer. If you select this option, it is critical that you explicitly state what you need and why you need it. While all other options are automatic, this choice is subject to the same competitive review process as are requests for new computers (see: Application and awards: new needs, early replacements). Finally, you should also use the application form below if you wish to replace a device that has not yet reached its full lifespan (four years for a computer, six years for a workgroup printer). Deadline for response. The e-mail message notifying you of the impending replacement will contain a deadline for your reply. If you do not respond by that time, you will receive the current standard version of your current equipment, as if you had checked "Automatic Replacement" on the Web form. In some cases it may be necessary to remove existing computers from service without replacement. If insufficient dollars remain in the Micro Fund to replace all eligible computers, we will strive first to replace computers in public and departmental labs, then individual faculty/staff workstations, and finally shared-use/student employee workstations.
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Macalester College · 1600 Grand Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55105 USA · 651-696-6000 |