As was previously announced, to provide better flexibility for our employees, the college is moving to a laptop as the primary device for faculty and staff going forward. With this change we continue to be discontinuing the centralized funding of more than one computer per individual. For reference, the original intercom announcement can be found here, and summarized below. Please contact the Information Technology Service Desk at (607)274-1000, via email at servicedesk@ithaca.edu or by Live Chat if you have any questions or concerns.
Move to a laptop as the primary device
IT has started the transition to laptop computers as the primary device for faculty and staff this over the past year and half.
- If needed, IT will provide an adaptor, keyboard and mouse as part of the switch from a desktop to a laptop. The adaptor can be used to connect to one display. Windows users will keep their existing desktop monitor, Macintosh users will be provided a new monitor.
- Individual departments are responsible for budgeting for and funding a second external display and advanced docking station (required when connecting 2 or more external displays), if desired by the user and approved by the department. (Budget estimates: Dock $200, Display $300)
- Timing: faculty or staff who currently have a desktop as their primary machine will be migrated to a laptop when their replacement timeframe takes place. Those who are working in a remote or hybrid environment can submit an IT service desk ticket to advance the switch to laptops.
- Returning any unused devices – It is a priority for us to reduce the number of unused machines on campus. If there is a machine that is not being utilized to its fullest capability, please reach out the IT service desk to have the device picked up.
Standard Laptops
The Dell laptop that is distributed is the Latitude 5320 2-in-1 that features a new high-quality touchscreen display and can convert into a tablet. The 13” MacBook Pro is the standard Macintosh laptop with the new M1 processor that is provided to the campus community.
Discontinuance of centralized funding for more than one primary computer per person
With the move to laptops as the primary device for faculty and staff, the college will no longer centrally fund more than one primary computing device per employee.
Information Technology will need your help to work within your department to coordinate the identification and removal of any non-primary computers issued to staff and faculty when identified or when it is due for renewal (this will not include any devices identified as computer lab or general use computers).
If a college employee requires an additional device, it will be the responsibility of the employee’s department to budget for the additional machine(s) in the fiscal year the machine is to be replaced. Any additional machines added in this fashion will still have a 4-year lifespan, and the department will be responsible for budgeting for its replacement every 4 years, if it is desired that the employee continue to have more than one device. (Budget estimates: Dell desktop $900, laptop $1300; Apple desktop $1,600, laptop $1,400).