Policy Statement: Outdated College Computer Lab Systems
Historical Background for the Policy
Colleges and universities have been in the forefront of the Information Technology "revolution," offering students and faculty access to state-of-the-art computer technology, usually in the form of both computer laboratories and person computer systems in faculty offices and libraries (Smith, 2000). Determining a school's needs for computer labs and related systems (including software programs and placement of labs and equipment) depends in part upon their intended use, their level and/or frequency of use, the availability of financial and technical resources for acquiring and maintaining such facilities, and issues regarding system or enterprise architecture, platforms, networking and Internet/Intranet access, and so forth (Smith, 2000). A related issue that influences policy in this area is focused on the fact that Information Technologies (IT) and both hardware and software systems and programs are continually being enhanced, improved, and re-engineered to meet emerging needs and reflect new technological capabilities (Sturgeon, 2003).
Because this is the case, college and university administrators, especially Chief Information Officers or the managers and administrators of the institution's technology department, are often confronted with the need to determine when the institution's computer labs must be updated or aging equipment replaced (Sturgeon, 2003). The issue gains in complexity when one considers, said Sturgeon (2003), the fact that older computers and related hardware or software products are still usable; another concern that decision-making in the IT arena face is how to allocate often limited financial and other resources to achieve the best "fit" between computing needs and resource availability. These issues necessitate development of a policy framework that will shape sensible, timely, and efficient as well as ...