CIS charging policy

Computing and Information Services is resourced and funded to provide and manage the University IT infrastructure and core IT facilities for teaching and research for the whole University. CIS also provide advice, guidance and training for staff. However, the resource available does not cover the support of Departmental and College facilities.

When CIS are asked to provide services outside our core remit ,then a charge will apply for whatever service is provided. Colleges and Departments can enter into one of the number of support contract arrangements available from CIS or they can pay for the service on a 'time and materials' basis.

This note explains the services covered, services for which a charge would be made and pointers to the support contracts available.

Core Infrastructure and Services with no charges

Timesharing servers
Web servers
email infrastructure
High Performance computing
Learning environment (duo)
Computers and workstations in classrooms and open access areas.

Systems software on all the above services.

Provision of a wide portfolio of applications software on the above services and, where licensing allows, for staff home use.

Help, consultancy and advice in using the above in person, by telephone and email via the Service Desks.

Advertised training programme open to all.

Core Infrastructure and Services with charges

Network infrastructure - charges for network points and IP addresses

Printing/plotting infrastructure - charges per page printed

Telecoms infrastructure (charges made for equipment, rental and calls)

Charged Services

Purchase and set-up of IT equipment and software for Depts/Colleges

Hardware and software support on departmental and college equipment. This includes visits to departments to fix problems (e.g. problems on machines with no or out-of-date virus protection) or to install software (including add-ons necessary for DUCAS applications).

Hardware and operating system support on student equipment. This includes investigating and where possible fixing hardware problems (a charge for parts will also be applied) and some support for operating system problems e.g. virus or ad/spyware related issues.

Writing and maintenance of Departmental or College software and web pages.

Licensing of specialist software.

Special training courses for Departments or Colleges.

Some printed documentation.

Support Contracts available

Departments can take out contracts for any of the following to insure against unforeseen support problems.

Hardware maintenance contracts

Equipment can be placed on maintenance after any manufacturers warranty has expired to ensure repair by CIS.

Facilities Management contracts

Contracts are available for an identified set of equipment (pcs, workstations, servers, printers etc) to be set up, installed and supported including an agreed portfolio of software with updates.

These could include:

Provision of staff desktop machines running the Managed Desktop Service (MDS) to give a consistent managed interface to the department but with flexibility to tailor to include specialist software.

Networked PC Service (NPCS stations within the Department or College to provide the same interface and software as provided in CIS classrooms - ideal for Departmental undergraduate and postgraduate area where machines are shared.

Housing and maintenance of specialist servers (pc or unix) for departments.

All the above could optionally include hardware maintenance.