Computing Equipment
The college's Technology Personnel will only work on Dell or Microsoft Surface (Windows) and Apple (macOS) computers that belong to departments and programs under College of Liberal Arts Unit Codes, have a UTEP tag number, are joined to the MINERS domain (utep.edu) and are used for college and departmental/program business.
For other types of systems (Lenovo, ASUS, HP, Linux systems, non-domain computers), please contact the UTEP Helpdesk helpdesk@utep.edu.
Purchase
- Departments and programs of the College of Liberal Arts are required to consult with the Technology Implementation Manager (TIM) for purchasing of computing equipment (desktop/laptop computers, printers, projectors, etc.) The TIM can properly advise on hardware/software purchases to maximize usability and ROIs. Consultations are mandatory and free of charge.
- All computing equipment purchases should be made through UTEP's official purchasing solution Miner Mall unless there is a very specific reason not to. Again, all purchases are to be consulted with the TIM.
- Current Computer Standards for Liberal Arts:
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Standards for Liberal Arts (UTEP sign-in required due to pricing information)
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Borrow
- If you need to borrow computing equipment (desktop/laptop computers, projectors) please visit the Loaner Technology section for details.
Configuration
- When you receive a new computer, please contact the LACIT Computer Lab in LART 405 to have your computer properly configured to access UTEP systems.
- The Technology Personnel will configure your desktop and/or laptop computer (Dell/Windows or Apple/macOS) for use on the MINERS (utep.edu) domain as an office computer.
- If you need something custom (lab images, non-domain computers, etc.), please contact the UTEP Helpdesk helpdesk@utep.edu.
Service
- If you need service for your computer, please contact the Technology Personnel with your UTEP/LART tag number and a description of the service you need.
- Administrator Rights are not given to end users. (see FAQ: Computers, questions #9 through #12)
- Users circumventing the acquisition of admin rights by 3rd party means will have their system be renounced and considered Unsupported by the College.
- Computing Equipment is configured as office computers for departmental/program use with Liberal Arts management in addition to UTEP management.
- If Liberal Arts management is not retained or it is circumvented by 3rd party means, the College will renounce responsibility of said system and it will be considered Unsupported. All service will be routed to the UTEP Helpdesk.
- For software installations, please visit the FAQ: Software section.
- For software self-installations, launch "Software Center" on Windows or "Self Service" on macOS and install the software you need. You don't need admin rights to install software from these two solutions.
- If your computer is running slow, it may need reimaging . Please contact the Technology Personnel to have your computer reimaged.
- If your computer is running slow, it may benefit from upgraded parts. Please see the Upgrade / Extra Peripherals section below.
Repair
If your computer has failing components and:
- the computer is still under warranty (check your Dell or Apple coverage), the part(s) may be exchanged free of charge. Please contact the Technology Personnel to make arrangements.
- the computer is out of warranty, the college has access to older spare parts free of charge. If the required part is not available (or you need something custom), it will have to be purchased at departmental cost. (see FAQ: Computers, question #17)
You may at this point opt to have components upgraded. See the Upgrade / Extra Peripherals section below.
Upgrade / Extra Peripherals
The Technology Personnel will install upgrade parts and/or provide extra peripherals (dongles, specialty cables, etc.) at cost (no service fee) for computers who need it and whose departments have agreed to pay for the cost of the parts. Parts available include:
- Memory modules
- Solid State drives (SSDs)
- USB-C to USB-A adapters
- USB-C to Ethernet adapters
- USB-C to HDMI cables
- DisplayPort and HDMI cables
For a listing of available parts and their approximate cost, please see the Upgrade Costs page.
Replacement
There are several options for replacing your currently-assigned computer:
- If your department/program is willing and able to purchase a new computer for you, the TIM can assist you with a consultation (see Purchasing section above and FAQ: Computers, question #4).
- If your computer is older than 4 years old, it might be eligible for UTEP's PC Replacement program (see FAQ: Computers, question #19). Note: the normal PC Replacement program was not funded for Fiscal year 2020-2021.
- If a computer cannot be purchased for you, the college has access to older systems, free of charge. Please contact the TIM for a consultation. (see FAQ: Computers, question #4)
Disposal
If you no longer need your computer (or you are separating from the university), please follow these procedures:
- if you are a tenure-track faculty and you received your computer from the Technology Support department when you joined UTEP and are separating after being at UTEP for less than three years, please return you laptop to the Equipment Checkout Center (Library room 300). Email equipmentcheckout@utep.edu with questions. If you have been a tenure track faculty at UTEP for more than 3 years, then your computer is property of your department so they may determine whether to re-assign it or dispose of it.
- if you are faculty/staff who is separating, please contact your department or program's Chair, Director and Administrative Assistant to make sure you turn in your equipment as needed.
- If you are a non-tenure track faculty (visiting professor, clinical, research, practice, lecturer, etc) and have a checkout laptop from Technology Support’s Equipment Checkout Center, please return in to them directly. If you are not sure, email EquipmentCheckout@utep.edu to verify.
- if your computer is being replaced by the College, please contact the Technology Personnel so that the old equipment is picked up and taken back to the college. The equipment will be evaluated and used in another area of your department, used as Loaner Technology, be transferred to another department, or it will be surplused.
- if you computer is being replaced or has been replaced by Technology Support, it MUST be Surplussed within 60 days of receipt of the new computer. The Surplus process starts by entering a Transfer to Surplus request in PeopleSoft under Asset Management. The process includes Technology Support wiping the drive and returning the computer to your department where Surplus will then pick it up.
Departments and Programs cannot unilaterally dispose of any UTEP-owned technology. If equipment is no longer needed, it must properly surplused. Visit the Transfer to Surplus page for details. Please contact the TIM with any questions.
Inventory
- If your assigned technology (desktop and/or laptop computer, projector, etc.) has a UTEP tag number, it must be scanned by UTEP Inventory every fiscal year. Please coordinate with the person designated by your department (Chair, Director, Administrative Assistant, etc.) to ensure your assigned technology is scanned by Inventory. (see FAQ: Inventory, question #1)
- If you have mobile technology assigned to you (laptops, tablets, projectors, etc.) and you take it off-campus, you must fill out an "Authorization to Remove Equipment Off Campus" form (you can download a copy from the Loaner Technology page). Please have your Chair, Director or Dean sign it. The completed and signed form must be kept on file by your department or program.
- If your technology was stolen and/or is missing, please see FAQ: Inventory, question #2
For more information, please visit the Inventory page of the Technology Resources section of the Liberal Arts website.