Policies for Supporting LTS/Department Computer Labs
and Registrar Classrooms


Lehigh University Technology Management Group (TMS) maintains public computing labs and classrooms for use by Lehigh's faculty, staff and students. There exists a unity in how services are delivered and maintained allowing users to use any site and see a reasonably common infrastructure. Most sites are supported in conjunction with a department that has integrated computing into the curriculum and requires local computing resources. The department has priority on scheduling classes and has active input in how the resources will be maintained. These semi-public sites are available to others when classes are not in session. In return for sharing the facility, TMS will be responsible for providing and maintaining hardware, software and networking which is common to other sites. However, department support is required for discipline-specific software and for day-to-day operating requirements. A complete list of computing sites and classrooms.

Food is not permitted at computing sites; beverages may be consumed if they are in a closed spill-proof container such as pull-top plastic bottle, travel mug, or screw top containers. Details on LTS's food and drink policy. More detailed site guidelines and policies are listed below which identify the extent of services LTS can provide given the existing resources and the support expected from departments. As department requirements exceed these guidelines, further discussions need to be held to develop a plan to meet the department's needs.

PCs and Windows 7 Site Profile

  1. The computers are on a lifecycle schedule of three years, i.e. one third of public computers are replaced every summer. TMS and departments share in the cost of lifecycle upgrades depending on the user agreements in place. Computers are of one model to reduce the work involved in maintaining different software images. They are generally equipped with 2-4GB RAM, CDRW/DVD, and a hard drive. Many computer sites are running on a 100baset network and connected to the Backbone Network at speeds of 100 Mb or 1000 Mb. Laser printer(s) are provided. Clients are expected to bring audio headsets to access PC sound services as speakers are not provided.
  2. Once presented with the login screen, login using your ID and password. Remember to logout or your files will be available to others.
  3. The software image consists of Windows 7 and a minimum set of applications. These images may be reloaded from the server should the hard drive copy be corrupt. Refreshing the image is recommended if the systems is having problems and takes about 10-13 minutes depending on the network speed and traffic. Prism may be used to install other applications from the server that are not part of the base image.
  4. TMS and departments share in the cost of software licenses and printer supplies in accordance with the user agreements in place. Application software support includes: site licensed and general base-level software such as hardware drivers, communications software, software license manager, virus scanner, and the MS Office Suite. A complete list of applications is available by site.
  5. Faculty may share files with others by copying the files to their public directory on the Home Server or through their AFS space. These files are accessible from networked systems from staff offices, public sites and from the residential living areas (WIRED).
  6. Multiple Application Servers are installed and are redundant to minimize outages upon a failure.

Registrar Lecture Classroom and Computer PC Teaching Sites Audio/Video Equipment Profile

TMS designs and maintains the lifecycle replacement of classroom technologies for the Registrar for use by faculty, staff, students and guest lectures. The decision to upgrade a Registrar classroom is made jointly by LTS, faculty, Registrar and Facilities Planning. LTS, Class Gifts and the Provost provide funding. Some PC sites are defined as semi-public teaching labs. These sites may have presentation equipment to facilitate class and lab learning environment. These public PC sites may be reserved for classes through the department contact who maintains the schedule. The design of these rooms mirror those of the Registrar classrooms to facilitate consistent and easy use. There are several hardware profiles for classroom and teaching computer sites:

  1. Equipped with a computer, a projector, VCR/DVD, document camera, microphones, speakers and amplifier. All of these rooms also have auxiliary jacks such that a laptop computer can access the room's network, video and sound services. All computer software images have the same profile described above.
  2. Equipped with a projector, plasma display or TV monitor, VCR/DVD, speakers and amplifier. Most of these rooms also have auxiliary jacks for laptop computers.
  3. Equipped with a moveable cart containing a portable projector, laptop and VCR.

LTS Support Elements

  1. TMS will install and maintain hardware, software (applications and operating systems as described above) and networks that are common at other LTS computing labs.
  2. LTS will provide client ID and Password management.
  3. The Software Librarian will maintain a profile of software and documentation maintained by LTS and departments. This will include the software products, software passwords, licensing terms, contracts, maintenance and renewal fees, media type, etc.
  4. TMS/Technology Installation and Maintenance Services (TIMS) will inventory, track equipment specifications, place equipment orders and maintain the network. All equipment will be physically secured and TIMS will manage theft issues and insurance reimbursements. A lab profile will be maintained including: system and network configurations, computer positions and serial numbers, department contacts, documentation describing basic usage of the equipment, equipment and room keys, and site hours. Facility issues such as access, furnishings, lighting, HVAC, repairs and cleaning will be jointly managed.
  5. TMS will fund expendable supplies after negotiating requirements. Printer usage must be in compliance with site procedures. Printers are to be used for original copies only (not multiple copies); large documents are not permitted; transparencies or special paper is not permitted; toner cartridges are recycled.
  6. LTS Client Services and Instructional Technology Support Services will provide consulting support, classroom training and technical documentation for hardware and basic software.
  7. LTS Client Services will provide seminars on the use of basic software and hardware. These seminars may be tailored for the department by appointment.
  8. TMS will install software on the network for class use provided the user provides a license and submits the request before May for fall use and before November for spring use.
  9. TMS will perform a back-up dump of all client files every evening. These files will be retained on tape for four weeks. Clients may request a reloading of their deleted files from a back-up tape by submitting a File Reload Request with Client Services.
  10. LTS Client Services will assist the departments in long-term planning for computing labs, hardware and software purchases, and make recommendations for disk space usage and allocation of resources.
  11. Department support is required to integrate the computing services into the curriculum, to evaluate resource requirements, and to share in the planning of long-term, functional aspects of the site. These items contribute to the success of the lab. Where required, the department contact(s) will receive training, guidelines and on-going assistance from LTS. The department must identify one (or more) individual(s) to constitute the support for on-site clients. At a minimum the department contacts should include a faculty contact who has the responsibility to assist LTS with the policies and planning activities of the site and to obtain feedback from the department's computing committee. An operational contact is required to assist TIMS with day-to-day issues.

Department contact(s) may work closely with LTS to provide these support elements:

  1. Support department-specialized software and develop handouts, if required. This may include: installation, testing, evaluation, contract negotiation, curriculum integration, license-use restrictions management, etc. LTS Software Librarian will maintain the software licenses by assisting with contract negotiations, ordering software, obtaining documentation, acquiring updates and arranging for installations. Requests for new software or maintenance funding can be made through the Software Subcommittee.
  2. Assist/train the department on using the facilities including: how to use the software, use of the networked environment projector facilities and printing services. It also may include assisting them to install faculty software for class use for a semester. LTS can assist by providing a seminar for the department, and new faculty often needs this introduction.
  3. Assist in enforcing software use restrictions as outlined in the license and manage documentation distribution and provide for a secure location.
  4. Comply with site usage requirements and coordinate site reservation hours with Client Services. Maintain and post a schedule of the site's reserved use.
  5. Insure the site is in good working order. It is assumed the operational contact will check the site weekly and report all problems to the Help Desk at x8HELP.
  6. Check the site to insure that the equipment and network are in good working order and that all assets are present, e.g. equipment, documentation, chairs, etc.
  7. Inventory, order, store in a secure place and disperse printer supplies. Insure that printing supplies are used at the site and that printing policies are enforced. LTS has developed on-line forms for ordering supplies and has the procedure documented to assist with training. Provide basic printer maintenance services such as clearing jams, replacing toner, etc. Printer policies.
  8. Perform recycling tasks for paper and toner.
  9. Assist in enforcing site policies. Examples: no food and drink permitted, no multiple copies printed, no large prints, honor software licenses, etc.
  10. Check that the general site environment is being maintained properly. Items include: burned-out lights, air conditioning malfunctions, water leaks, ripped carpeting, damaged furnishings, site is dusted and floor cleaned, boards are washed, trash removed, etc. Report these problems to Facility Services at X83940; contact the Help Desk at x8HELP if problems persist.
  11. The selected site locations should be one that would maximize the hours available for use which is, at a minimum, the building hours. Arrange for extended site hours and provide consulting of discipline-specific software when student assignments require this level of support.
  12. Provide or arrange for other department assistance as the department requirement change. Examples: Guest speaker equipment needs, lock changes, renovations, provide additional access hours, add new software, etc.