This memorandum is to announce the Computer Replacement Initiative (CRI) for the Academic Year 2019-2020. CRI is being extended across the campus to all faculty and staff; each division has developed the criteria to be used in that division. This continues to be an important initiative as we strive to provide our faculty and staff with the technology tools needed to carry out our academic mission. Funds available for the CRI continue to be limited and consequently we anticipate that we will not be able to fund all the meritorious applications.

Within Academic Affairs, the procedures for this year’s CRI will be the same as last year’s and we will also maintain the same subsidy levels as before.  Specifically, the subsidy for a laptop is $1,000 and the subsidy for a desktop is $600. The goal for this differential is to promote the purchase of laptops by faculty and staff based on the advantages provided by laptops in the areas of academic continuity, sustainability, portability and teaching with technology as we continue to enhance our pool of classrooms. Those wishing to purchase a different configuration may apply the subsidy amount toward the purchase of a customized computer configuration.  All computers should minimally be purchased with a three-year warranty.

In order to ensure delivery and installation is completed in advance of the start of Fall 2019 semester, the schedule for this cycle of the CRI is again rather compressed. Ordering of the new machines will occur in early June 2019 with installations planned for completion by the start of the Fall 2019 semester. Given the success achieved during the previous years with a single procurement and mass distribution of PCs, we will continue with a similar program this year. As in the past, we will have several “standard” configurations included in this procurement. The minimum and recommended configurations for a desktop and laptops can be found at:

The CRI has always required cost sharing of new computers. As indicated above, we will provide a subsidy of $600 for a desktop computer and $1,000 for a laptop computer.

We will place a bulk purchase with Dell so machines can be delivered and installed in advance of the start of the Fall 2019 semester. Each individual will have the option of using the bulk purchase or ordering their customized unit from either Dell or another vendor. I encourage you to participate in this bulk purchase plan given the benefits we have seen in the past. Your department will be charged a one-time amount depending on which option you should select. The options available and the exact department cost share for each option will be announced in March as soon as we have such information from Dell.

The application form is available on the web http://umbc.edu/go/cri. First priority for funding is given to a requester with a computer that falls below the minimum standard and who has explained the need for a new computer under the mandatory narrative on the form.  If you have questions about the CRI or these instructions, please contact Vice Provost Moreira at x56576 (or Executive Assistant, Susan Mocko at x56577).