Faculty Laptop/Tablet Policy

This policy is intended to ensure that each faculty member has the means to acquire the use of a dedicated laptop not more than four years old.

For faculty with access to external research funding to which computing equipment may be charged, the full cost of laptops will be charged to those externally funded research projects. Where no or insufficient external research funding is available and where the member of faculty does not have the use of a dedicated laptop fewer than four years old, faculty may request the purchase of a laptop up to the value of £1.5k every four years, with any shortfall between the cost of the laptop and available external research funding to be covered by the department. If a machine of a higher specification is required, faculty may utilise other available departmental funding (eg, personal ‘research incentive’ funds), to top up the funds.

Where an individual would prefer, a tablet may be requested instead of a laptop.

It is not possible for faculty to carry over any amount of the £1.5k allowance from one four-year period to another. Where funds permit, devices purchased under this policy, no matter the source of funds, may include ancillary items such as a carry case and cables, but not other devices such as printers or scanners, except in exceptional circumstances. Devices will be purchased on request by a faculty member and not automatically at the time of eligibility.

Items purchased remain property of the department and must be returned to the department on request at the end of the contract of employment, including in the case of items funded in full or in part by external research grants. Exceptional cases of a member of faculty in possession of items purchased on an active external research grant and moving to another institution, will be handled on a case-by-case basis and in agreement with the funder.

IT facilitate the purchase of all departmental computing equipment.

As approved by Finance Committee February 2023

 

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