Guidelines for Faculty Computer Purchase or Use

These guidelines are for new non tenure-track faculty and one-year appointments, and cover obtaining a school-owned faculty computer.

Computer

• The school will upon request provide a Dell Precision desktop workstation computer with a Xeon processor for use by faculty, depending on availability. The computer will be drawn from existing inventory.
• Please send an email to the IT staff at archit@syr.edu to request a computer.

Software

• Software on the provided computer includes Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Cloud, ArcGIS, assorted Autodesk products (AutoCAD Architecture, 3ds Max, Maya, Revit, etc.), Google Earth Pro, Rhino, V-Ray for Rhino, Keyshot, Lumion, Sketchup Pro, Unity, Unreal Engine and other network-licensed products, depending on availability. See a complete list here.
• School-owned software will be installed by IT staff.

Other Items

• The school will provide the following hardware upon request: headset mic, Ipevo doc/webcam (email archit@syr.edu).

Remote Access

• Faculty will be able to connect to their office desktop machine from anywhere using remote access.

Use of own computer

• A faculty may elect to use their own personal laptop instead of a school-owned computer but are limited to the wireless network. Personal desktops cannot be used on campus.
• Most school-owned software cannot be installed on a personal computer due to licensing restrictions; however, Microsoft Office and Adobe Creative Cloud licenses are available at no charge. Please check with the IT staff for more info.

These guidelines are for new tenure-track faculty and cover obtaining an initial school-owned faculty computer.

Note: if you were a one-year faculty prior to receiving a tenure-track position and we had provided you with an office computer, that computer will be removed once you receive your new computer.

Budget for computer

• The startup budget for a new computer is usually specified in your hire letter. These funds expire one year from the date of the letter.
• A multi-year warranty will be included in the configuration as part of the purchase price, along with accidental damage protection for laptops where appropriate.
• IT staff will work up a computer configuration in consultation with the faculty.
• Personal money cannot be used to supplement the budget.
• Final paperwork for purchases will be generated and submitted by IT staff.

What can be purchased

• The new computer can be either a Dell or Apple (laptop or desktop).
  • If you go with a Mac, please be aware of these limitations:
    • Running Windows-only software is unsupported (we don't support Fusion/Parallels).
    • The Mac version of Rhino does not run plugins used in the school such as V-Ray, ClimateStudio, and Umi.
    • Windows-only software used in the school includes Revit, Lumion, AutoCAD Architecture, and ArcGIS Pro.
      (You might be able to get by using the computer labs if Windows-only software use needed.)
• Other items that may be purchased include software, tablet, printer, scanner, drawing tablet or related peripherals.
  • A personal desktop printer purchase is discouraged. The school provides networked printers and funds to use the school’s pay-per-plot system. If a desktop printer is purchased, supplies are the responsibility of the faculty.
  • Desktop printers, tablets, scanners or other peripherals are not replaced or repaired due to breakage or wear and tear.
  • Flatbed scanners are available in the King+King Library on the 3^rd floor and the small computer lab (004).
• Items that may not be purchased with the startup computer package include cell phones, video/digital cameras, voice recorders, fabrication equipment (foam cutters, 3D printers), wearables (watches, virtual reality gear) or other peripherals. If you have additional research funding, it may be possible to use that funding to purchase items such as video/digital cameras, fabrication equipment, and virtual reality gear.

Software

• Software on the new computer includes Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Cloud, and any school-owned licenses that are currently available, such as ArcGIS, Autodesk products (AutoCAD Architecture, Revit, Maya, etc.), Rhino, V-Ray for Rhino, Lumion, Sketchup Pro, Unity, Unreal Engine, Keyshot, and other network-licensed products, depending on availability. See a complete list here.
• Internal storage drives will be encrypted in case of loss, as mandated by ITS.
• School-owned software will be installed by IT staff.
• The computer is configured to run in user mode; one-time tasks requiring admin access can be facilitated by contacting IT staff.

Other Items

• The school will provide the following hardware upon request: headset mic, Ipevo doc/webcam (email archit@syr.edu).

Breakage

• Computers are covered by a multi-year warranty against defects. An accidental damage warranty is highly recommended and covers drops, spills and breakage.
• If a computer is broken due to misuse or accident that is not covered by the warranty, the school will substitute an existing school-owned computer for the faculty’s use for the duration of the warranty cycle. This substitute will likely not match the specifications of the broken computer.
• Warranty service will be handled by IT staff. Please do not contact Dell or Apple directly.

Remote Access

• If a desktop computer is chosen, faculty will be able to connect to it from anywhere using remote access.

These guidelines are for existing tenured or tenure-track faculty and cover replacement of an existing school owned faculty computer.

 Replacement cycle

• Faculty computers are typically replaced approximately every four years. Purchases usually take place during the months of July-August.
• Eligible computer replacements are evaluated by the Assistant Dean.
• Faculty must turn in the old computer upon receipt of the new computer. The old computer will be reallocated for other school use.

 Budget for computer

• The budget for a new computer is approximately $2,000 with accommodation for 1TB of SSD storage.
• A multi-year warranty will be included in the configuration as part of the purchase price, along with accidental damage protection for laptops where appropriate.
• IT staff will work up a computer configuration in consultation with the faculty person.
• Personal money cannot be used to supplement the budget.
• Final paperwork for purchases will be generated and submitted by IT staff.

 What can be purchased

• The new computer can be either a Dell or Apple (laptop or desktop).
  • If you go with a Mac, please be aware of these limitations:
    • Running Windows-only software is unsupported (we don't support Fusion/Parallels).
    • The Mac version of Rhino does not run plugins used in the school such as V-Ray, ClimateStudio, and Umi.
    • Windows-only software used in the school includes Revit, Lumion, AutoCAD Architecture, and ArcGIS Pro.
      (You might be able to get by using the computer labs if Windows-only software use needed.)
• The replacement covers the computer and the following peripherals (if within budget): external monitor, keyboard + mouse, dock and portable external hard drive. It cannot be used for software, printers, scanners, tablets, video/digital cameras, wearables (watches, virtual reality gear), fabrication equipment (3D printers), or other peripherals.

Other Items

• The school will provide the following peripherals upon request: headset mic, Ipevo doc/webcam (email archit@syr.edu).

 Software

• Software on the new computer includes Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Cloud, and any school-owned licenses that are currently available, such as ArcGIS, Autodesk products (AutoCAD Architecture, Revit, Maya, etc.), Rhino, V-Ray for Rhino, Lumion, Sketchup Pro, Unity, Unreal Engine, Keyshot, and other network-licensed products, depending on availability. See a complete list here.
• Internal storage drives will be encrypted in case of loss, as mandated by ITS.
• School-owned software will be installed by IT staff.
• The computer is configured to run in user mode; one-time tasks requiring admin access can be facilitated by contacting IT staff.

 Breakage

• Computers are covered by a multi-year warranty against defects. An accidental damage warranty is highly recommended and covers drops, spills and breakage.
• If a computer is broken due to misuse or accident that is not covered by the warranty, the school will substitute an existing school-owned computer for the faculty’s use for the duration of the warranty cycle. This substitute will likely not match the specifications of the broken computer.
• Warranty service will be handled by IT staff. Please do not contact Dell or Apple directly.

Remote Access

• If a desktop computer is chosen, faculty will be able to connect to it from anywhere using remote access.