VII.  Criteria for Establishing Equipment Replacement Priorities

There are many factors that will be considered in the prioritization of computers and peripheral equipment to be replaced.  The information presented here reflects a current inventory of equipment, approximate age, optimum replacement year, and estimated cost to fund the replacement.  This data will be used for review each year and will be considered for prioritization each funding cycle.

Factors that will be considered for replacement of equipment are:

 Area No. 1: Function

1. Is this equipment critical to the mission of the college?
2. Are there widespread software system upgrades that render equipment underpowered or that interfere with critical job functions?
3. Does this equipment enhance the college’s FTSE generating capacity?

Area No. 2: Age of equipment

1. Is the equipment no longer able to serve its original purpose?
2. Can the useful life of equipment be extended by providing a cost-effective, intermediate upgrade to this equipment? 
3. At what cost and for what length of time? 
4. Is an upgrade sufficient to maintain functionality and accomplish the purpose for which the equipment was originally purchased?

Area No. 3: Supportability

1. Is the equipment maintainable in its current state? 
2. Does this equipment depend on components that are no longer manufactured?
3. Is this equipment a support risk based on lack of dependability and hidden costs incurred due to loss of functionality and downtime? 
4. How are the hidden costs outlined?
5. Is this equipment compatible with the college’s network infrastructure?
6. Are resources available to train the college’s employees to use the equipment that is replacing current equipment?

Area No. 4: Strategies for extending useful life of equipment

1. Due to the high cost of replacement and the large installed base of computing equipment, constant review of equipment used by the college will take place.
2. Equipment that is no longer functional in a particular area will be evaluated for upgrade and potential use in another area.  Equipment cycling presents options for extending the service life at a cost savings while still meeting departmental computing needs.
3. Infrastructure equipment, such as printers, will be monitored and maintained by IRTS to ensure proper functioning and maintenance of high service levels.  Printers will be cycled through the college where they continue to meet needs.
4. Purchasing standards-based equipment affords more options for extending life and improves supportability.
5. Purchasing equipment based on user needs projected a minimum of 3 years into the future.
6. Leveraging network services and infrastructure to maximize desktop functionality (i.e., infrastructure maintenance to ensure efficiency and use of server based computing).
7. Networking infrastructure equipment will be reviewed annually and upgraded incrementally to ensure that networking resources are in place to meet college needs.