MEnet Laboratory Computer Support Policy

1. Faculty office computers.
   
   Basic computer support will be provided in faculty offices at no charge to the faculty, as has been done in the past.
   
   
2. Network connectivity for Mechanical Engineering Department computers.
   
   Basic network connectivity will be provided for all Mechanical Engineering Department computers at no charge, subject to availability of wiring and networking hardware. Computers connected to MEnet must comply with Enet policies, available at: Enet Computer and Network Usage Policies.
   
   
3. Definition of computers requiring support by principal investigators.
   
   Four types of labs containing computers are available in the Mechanical Engineering Department:
   
   
   1. Open MEnet labs.
      
      Open labs are open to all registered users of MEnet. Open labs are available in Rooms ME 10 and ME 472. The open labs are not intended for teaching support, as support for instructional computing is provided through the Instructional Computing Labs (see item (C) below).
   
   
   2. Research labs.
      
      Research labs are faculty research labs, regardless of whether they are intended primarily for computation or other uses. Research labs are not open to all registered users of MEnet.
   
   
   3. Instructional computing labs.
      
      Instructional computing labs are administered by an Institute of Technology Instructional Computing Committee contractor rather than MEnet. Instructional computing labs are intended to provide instructional support for all mechanical and industrial engineering classes. An instructional computing lab is available in ME 308.
   
   
   4. General instructional labs.
      
      General instructional labs are not computing laboratories. Rather, they are general laboratories established exclusively for instruction. Some of these laboratories require specialized computers for data acquisition. These computers can therefore not be located in the Institute of Technology Instructional Computing Laboratories, which generally provide instructional computing support. Examples include the Measurements Laboratories in ME 370-388 and the Materials Processing Laboratory in ME 50.

Only computers in research labs (Type "B" above) require support by principal investigators. However, support for the Open MEnet labs is welcomed.


4. MEnet charges.
   
   MEnet charges for staff time for hardware and software installation, configuration, and support.
   
   For example, principal investigators may wish to utilize MEnet staff to install and set up new WINDOWS or UNIX workstations which they purchase for research labs. Principal investigators are encouraged to exploit available MEnet template software configurations where possible, as they typically result in substantial savings in comparison to custom configurations. Virus removal constitutes an example of support. Time to answer routine questions will not typically be charged.
   
   Purchases of hardware and software for research labs is the responsibility of the principal investigator; however, consultation with MEnet staff prior to purchases is strongly advised to ensure compatibility with MEnet resources.
   
   
5. Current rate for funding MEnet services.
   
   The cost of MEnet support for the fiscal year 2006 to 2007 is $38.85 per hour.
   
   
6. Mechanisms for expensing MEnet services. (MEnet Service Request Forms)
   
   Two mechanisms are available for expensing MEnet services. Both sponsored or non-sponsored funds can be used for either mechanism. Either mechanism can be used for both one-time special projects or recurring management services.
   
   
   1. MEnet services expensed as salary and fringe benefits.
      
      MEnet services can be included in a grant proposal as salary and fringe benefits for a computer technician. The number of hours expected for the service times the hourly compensation rate and the appropriate fringe benefit rate should be calculated. The principal investigator communicates this information to the MEnet manager.
      
      Effort certification is required for salary and fringe benefits charged to a sponsored account.
   
   
   2. MEnet services expensed as a service rate (CUFS object 7321-90).
      
      MEnet services can be expensed as a service rate. The principal investigator notifies the MEnet manager of the CUFS account of the project and the faculty, staff and students associated with the project. MEnet will log the number of hours to be billed and the CUFS account and ME Accounting Services will bill accounts monthly.