Dear Faculty and Staff,
This is to announce the Computer Replacement Initiative (CRI) for the Academic Year 2020-2021. 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 the fall 2020 semester, the schedule for this CRI cycle is again rather compressed. The new machines will be ordered in early June 2020, with installations planned for completion by the start of the fall 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 desktops and laptops can be found here.
The CRI has always required cost sharing of new computers. As indicated above, we will provide a subsidy of $600 for a desktop and $1,000 for a laptop.
We will place a bulk purchase with Dell so machines can be delivered and installed in advance of the start of the fall 2020 semester. Individuals 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 select. The options available and the exact department cost share for each option will be announced in March 2020 as soon as we have the information from Dell.
The timeline for this year’s CRI is:
This is to announce the Computer Replacement Initiative (CRI) for the Academic Year 2020-2021. 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 the fall 2020 semester, the schedule for this CRI cycle is again rather compressed. The new machines will be ordered in early June 2020, with installations planned for completion by the start of the fall 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 desktops and laptops can be found here.
The CRI has always required cost sharing of new computers. As indicated above, we will provide a subsidy of $600 for a desktop and $1,000 for a laptop.
We will place a bulk purchase with Dell so machines can be delivered and installed in advance of the start of the fall 2020 semester. Individuals 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 select. The options available and the exact department cost share for each option will be announced in March 2020 as soon as we have the information from Dell.
The timeline for this year’s CRI is:
- February 10, 2020: Announcement sent to campus
- March 27, 2020: Deadline for submitting the CRI application via the DoIT web form
- April 10, 2020: Notification to chairs/directors of award recommendations from the review committee
- April 17, 2020: Feedback from chairs/directors on the award recommendations
- April 22, 2020: Review by the deans of the awards list
- May 1, 2020: Awards are announced
-
May 31, 2020: Deadline for awardees to make their computer options selection
- Early June 2020: Computer order will be placed
The application form is available here. First priority for funding is given to requestors with a computer that falls below the minimum standard and who have 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 Tony Moreira at (410) 455-6576, or Executive Administrative Assistant Susan Mocko at (410) 455-6577.
Philip Rous, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
