Services and Fees
	What you pay for and what you get There is a strong connection between the quality of technology services and the associated costs. There is also a wide variation in the ways campuses charge for these services. Find out how the benefits compare to the costs.
	Fees and expenses
		What, if any, technology fee is charged by the campus? What does it cover?
		Students pay a technology fee, which provides a range of services to all students. Services provided by the fee include site licenses for basic productivity software, Support Desk services, network storage space, campus-wide wireless network service, anti-virus and anti-spyware software, discipline-specific software for use while enrolled in a course, and a fund for technology innovation.
		Are students required to purchase a computer?
		Students are strongly encouraged, but not required, to have a personally owned computer. Most of our students do bring their own computer, and many are choosing laptops over desktops. In fact, the University strongly recommends a laptop computer unless a student has a special need or preference for a desktop computer. For students who will be purchasing a new computer, Miami recommends purchasing a laptop through the "Miami Notebook" offering. This program allows students to purchase a Dell or Apple laptop computer at a discounted price. Miami Notebooks come with pre-installed software needed to connect to Miami's network and includes on-campus services and support. Find out more about how a Miami Notebook can make computing hassle-free.
		Does the campus make computing and network access financially affordable? Is special student pricing offered for computers and peripheral equipment?
		Miami makes computing and network access affordable in the following ways: Students considering purchasing a new computer are encouraged to take advantage of the special pricing negotiated with vendors for the Miami Notebook offering. In addition to handling the sales of Miami Notebooks, the Miami University Bookstore provides educational pricing and/or special contract pricing for peripherals and software. Miami's contract with Microsoft allows students to purchase select Microsoft products at significantly reduced prices. Students living on campus have high-speed Internet access through the University network. For students living off campus, the University provides discounted monthly rates for Road Runner high-speed Internet access as well as a no-charge dial-up service. Miami provides access to more than 1,000 public computers in general and departmental labs, many of which include specialized, discipline-specific software.
		Does the campus assess extra fees for network connections in residence hall rooms or for off-campus access?
		For students living in residence halls, a network access fee is built into the room charge. This pays a portion of the costs for the residence hall Ethernet connections, wireless access points, Internet bandwidth, and network maintenance. For off-campus students, the network access fee is incorporated into the student technology fee. The fee covers a portion of the cost associated with maintaining the dial-up service and subsidizing student Road Runner connections to allow for discounted monthly rates.
	Technical support
		What hardware and software standards, if any, does the campus require, recommend, and/or support?
		Miami recommends that incoming students who are purchasing a new computer purchase a laptop through the Miami Notebook offering. However, the Miami Notebook is completely voluntary. Students who wish to purchase or bring another computer should check the recommended and minimum supported configurations. Full network access in the residence halls on a Microsoft Windows computer requires Windows 2000 or XP. Additionally, Windows computers must have McAfee Enterprise Virusscan + Antispyware, which is provided free of charge to all students.
		What kinds of services (e.g., help desk, training, troubleshooting) are provided by the campus, and when are they available?
		Miami provides the following help services for technology-related issues: Miami Knowledge Base—This information source is a searchable online collection of answers to common technology questions, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. IT Services Support Desk—The Support Desk is the central point of contact for technology assistance. Support is offered through the following methods: Telephone (513-529-7900) Email (supportdesk@muohio.edu) Walk-in (324 Gaskill Hall) Technology training—Miami University training opportunities include a number of offerings, such as online tutorials, instructor-led workshops, and for-credit courses.
		Does the campus have a plan for keeping its hardware and software current, and if so, what is the replacement cycle?
		IT Services at Miami engages the entire campus in an annual strategic planning process, ensuring that students, faculty, and staff have the appropriate technology resources. Miami's commitment to providing an up-to-date computing environment that supports the educational process is demonstrated in the following ways: Miami network electronics provide 100 Mb/s Ethernet to all network jacks. Network electronics are upgraded every 3 to 5 years. All Miami University buildings have wireless network service. Wireless network equipment is upgraded every 3 to 5 years. Computers are replaced every three years in our centrally supported computer lab.
		What kind of technical support does the campus offer for students who bring their own computer to school?
		The IT Services Support Desk provides telephone and walk-in support for MUnet software installation and use, virus removal, installation of virus protection software, and use of all Miami-supported technologies. Solutions to network connectivity problems require different approaches, depending upon the complexity of the problem. Support is available through the following means: The Support Desk can offer assistance over the telephone. ResNet technicians are available by appointment to visit residence hall rooms. Off-campus students can schedule an appointment to bring in their computer. Miami also offers warranty repair services for many models of Apple, Dell, and IBM hardware.
	Other services
		How does the campus support printing for students? Is there a charge for this service?
		Both black and white and color printers are available in the academic division labs at King Library and in the centrally supported computer labs. The IT Services Print Center also provides color and high-volume black and white printing services. There is a per-page fee for printing in the labs and at the Print Center.
		Does the campus provide wireless network coverage? If so, how much of the campus has wireless connectivity?
		Wireless access is available in all buildings as well as many outdoor common areas.