IT Services

This is a scheme that has been approved by the University Information Services Committee (ISC) and the agreement can be viewed by logging onto Sussex Direct and searching Committee papers of the ISC. See ISC in Feb 2009 (Procurement of Computer Workstations) with update for the allocation calculation in Feb 2012 (Centrally Funded Workstation Scheme)

From the Centrally Funded Workstation scheme web pages:

• Select the button ORDER COMPUTERS FROM ALLOCATION USING EVOUCHERS. You will be asked to login, and then complete the online form to place your order. See the process guide for a quick summary of the steps you need to take including pictures of the online form.
• If you are ordering a computer where you are paying the full cost, not using an e-voucher, or ordering other equipment, like a printer or scanner, then select the other button PURCHASE ADDITIONAL COMPUTERS OR EQUIPMENT and complete the online form to place your order.

Each School/professional service unit has been allocated a number of systems each year. If you choose the standard PC system there is no charge for the allocated number of systems. Schools / departments can chose to enhance the systems they obtain and will meet the costs of these upgrades; they may also choose to purchase additional systems through the Scheme. The life-time cost of the systems being provided represent good value for money.

Each School or Professional Service is expected to need to replace workstations every four years. If you need to upgrade your workstation, you should contact the person in your School or unit who decides which computers are due to be changed.

You can find the person responsible for allocating new computers for your School or Professional Service on the allocation page.

Yes once the computer has been ordered for you we will contact you and arrange a time for installation.

If the workstation is end of life then ITS will take your computer away and ensure that the data is wiped to infoSec 5 security standards.

If you want the computer to go to someone else because it is still useful, then say this on the form. ITS will not undertake any repairs on hardware that is out of warranty.

First check to see if there is a suitable more powerful computer on the list, which you can purchase via ITS using an e-voucher plus an additional supplement.

If you decide not to purchase one of the more powerful computers from the list, but purchase something completely different, then you must buy this yourself in entirety. You cannot offset the cost of a non standard computer with an e-voucher. ITS will make "best efforts" to support non-standard computers.

All University purchases must follow the rules set out in the Financial regulations and you must buy computers from suppliers that have been selected by competitive tender. If you buy machines through IT Services this is compliant with the Financial Regulations. You must not buy computers from people such as PCWorld, that have not tendered. You should not buy domestic / hobby systems as these may have a limited life and not be capable of operating with the University's core applications.

The scheme issues computers. ITS will make "best efforts" to connect research peripheral equipment to your computer. If this fails, then ITS will help you contact your supplier so you can purchase a computer that will connect to the equipment to be supplied. Where the hardware and software are so co-dependant ITS will require you to have a maintenance contract with the supplier. This is expected to be a very rare problem. You must pay all costs for the special computers and the devices attached.

No, the University has decided that computers are as much a requirement as your desk, lights and various other services you require in order to undertake your role. There is no opt out. If you do not use your allocation of funded systems, they will be redistributed.

Almost certainly - some software we have site licences for so you can have at no cost to yourself. We also have some pool licences - these can be made available at a reduced cost. We buy large quantities of hardware and negotiate good prices and good life-time value for money.

How the eVouchers are used is at the discretion of the Head of Unit or School - please see the allocation page.

You will normally get the type of workstation that you are familiar with using, a PC or a Mac.

There are a range of options available - from standard computers to high spec machines - please see the technical specs for more details.

When you get a new computer, the files that you have stored on your N:drive and shared G: drives will be automatically available to you using your new computer, you do not have to do anything.

However if you have saved data to your local drive e.g. C: (you should not have) then you will need to copy those files to your N: drive before you get your new computer, otherwise they will be lost when your computer is replaced.

The computer comes with the standard staff desktop software which includes:

• Microsoft Office suite, (Word, Excel, Outlook, ..)
• web browsers – such as Internet Explorer
• Anti virus software

See the staff computers web page and also:

software on standard ITS Windows PCs
software on standard ITS Macs

(select staff from the drop down box and click go).

First check the Staff Computers web page to make sure you have found all the software that is available to you on the standard desktop, including software you can add yourself, install on demand.

If you do not see the software you require, we will be happy to get you a quote.

ITS keep in stock equipment that we expect to be ordered frequently. The list includes printers, web cams and headphones. You can order one of these from the Centrally Funded Workstation scheme web pages

Select the button PURCHASE ADDITIONAL COMPUTERS OR EQUIPMENT and complete the online form to place your order.

Most schools/departments have non-chargeable network printers available for their staff to use. Check with your department and see our FAQ 2418: How do I connect my staff PC to a printer? to select an existing printer and add a printer so you can use it.

If you think you need a local printer please see our FAQ 1486, Can I have my own local printer.

Please note that if you purchase the local printer via ITS, (see the list of printers that you can purchase via ITS on the Additional Equipment page), then ITS will assist with the installation of the printer but can only provide limited ongoing support.

If you purchase a printer not via ITS, then ITS is not able to provide ongoing support.

You can also print directly via the web to the ITS networked printers, see Web printing. Please note this is a chargeable service, so you must have credit on your printing account before you can use it.

ITS would ensure that the systems supplied were able to run any University business and academic support software and make use of the University's core IT systems for their 36-48 month life-time.

The number of computers will be calculated using statistics of how large your department is from data supplied by Human Resources. The date that will be used to decide this will be the start of the new financial year - the 1st August or the first working day following this. The individual that allocates the computers will know the number they have to distribute in August.

No. If you want to use the PC beyond its normal lifecycle you may do so. However you will need to pay for any repairs, and you will also be responsible for arranging for the proper disposal and ensuring all university software and data are removed. ITS will not undertake any repairs on hardware that is out of warranty.

You must copy your data from the local drive to either network drives (e.g. N: or G:) or removable media.

ITS will then take your computer away at the end of its life and ensure that the data is wiped to infoSec 5 security standards.