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Technology Budget Planning Process 2012

Overview

Calvin College provides funding for desktop computers and software through the Technology Budgets. These are centralized budgets, managed by CIT, that provide funding for both administrative and academic technology needs. This includes technology in public and departmental computer labs as well as Smart Classrooms.

Department chairpersons, department directors, and/or department budget officers are asked to submit their technology requests through an annual budget request process.

Quick Index

Changes for 2012-2013

In order to streamline the budget process, we are making changes to the process for 2012-2013. For small and routine requests, we are implementing a strategy of request when needed. Instead of requesting routine items in the budget and not having it filled until July, you can alert the CIT HelpDesk as needs arise.

What to Include in Your Technology Budget

  • Individual Items that cost more than $5,000
    • Most desktop computers cost less than $1,000 and laptops cost about $1,500.
  • Departmental Requests totaling more than $20,000 should be itemized.
  • Teaching Spaces, including Smart Classrooms and teaching labs
  • Additional Office Technology Needs, such as additional desktop computer equipment, software for offices and computer labs, printers, scanners, and other peripheral equipment.
  • Staffing Changes if you anticipate needing 5 or more additional computers
  • Other Technology outside of the current hardware standards
  • Software Requests for office use as well as for use in teaching spaces
  • Software License Renewals
  • Smart Classrooms, changing or adding
  • CalvinWireless
  • Tablet Devices: The technology budget will be able to purchase a limited number of Apple iPads. Requests for iPads must include strong rationale and be approved by the appropriate divisional vice president or the Provost. CIT will provide support and funding only for the Apple iPad and not for other tablet devices.

What Not to Include in Your Technology Budget

Technology Budget Planning Timeline

CIT follows this general timeline for the technology budget planning process:
Early February: CIT sends letters to the departments to initiate the process.
March 2, 2012: The departments must have their technology requests returned to CIT.
March through mid-April: CIT prepares the technology budgets and reviews them with the Deans.
End of April : CIT has finalized the budget and reports back to the departments.
Week following Commencement: CIT begins the summer deployment schedule.

 

CalvinWireless

CalvinWireless is currently available in a number of campus wireless hotspots.

If you would like to request CalvinWireless, please include this in your technology budget request. We will pass your request on to the correct people in CIT for consideration. Approval and communication of your CalvinWireless requests will be handled separately from your other technology requests.

Academic Software

Academic software needed for teaching spaces* must be requested in the budget. This includes requests for the renewal of existing software licenses as well as new requests for software.

When making your request, you must specify where the software will be used and how many licenses are needed. A license must be purchased for every computer in the classroom, as well as copies for the faculty who will be teaching with it.

*Teaching spaces can include departmental computer labs, public computer labs, the mobile computer lab, off-campus labs, and Smart Classrooms.

Faculty & Staff Computers

All primary computers are automatically replaced on a three-year rotation. Desktops are replaced with desktops and laptops with laptops unless otherwise requested.

Faculty filling vacancies will automatically be assigned the same computer. Faculty filling sabbatical vacancies will use the computer left by the regular faculty member or be provided with a temporary computer if the computer was taken along on sabbatical.

Who To Contact

CIT's Business Services Team (BST) heads up the technology budget planning process.

As always, we offer you the opportunity to have CIT meet with you as you are formulating your technology budget requests.

You may contact Rick DeVries, Assistant Director for Business Services (x6-7125) with your budget questions. You may also contact Rob Bobeldyk, Assistant Director for Teaching and Learning (x6-6837).

Comments

Comments on any of these issues are welcome. Please contact Rick DeVries by March 2, 2012.