Non-Supported Software
Information Resources encourages the campus to use supported software whenever possible. However, software that is not supported by Information Resources may be ordered and installed in compliance with the following guidelines:
- Non-supported software will be ordered only after consultation with a technologist in Information (Refer to Software Compatibility Issues below).
- Departments are responsible for funding for this software.
- Support is limited to initial installation and upgrades. There will be no additional training or assistance from Information Resources.
- Academic Computing Services will order the software, which should be requested on a Software Request Form. PC Services is responsible for installing software for PC's; Macintosh Services is responsible for installing software on Macintoshes, and Classroom Media Services is responsible for installing on classroom PC's.
- Academic Computing Services will make arrangements for installation, and will retain the installation media in the ACS office.
- When the order is placed and when the software is installed, individuals will be told that they cannot expect to receive campus technical assistance with the software. It will not be automatically be available on technology classroom computers.
- The Academic Computing Services Secretary will enter a record of the software in the inventory database and send a copy of the completed form to the Associate Provost for Information Resources Secretary to initiate the department charge-back process.
Software Compatibility Issues
While Information Resources staff make every effort to fulfill software installation requests, occasionally a request cannot be approved based on the software's incompatibility with our systems, the system support it required, or its damaging effects to the computing or networking environment. Below are common issues that cause software to be considered incompatible and therefore ineligible for installation.
- Application is outdated or requires back-level version of another application
- Requires hardware copy protection or uses invasive copy detection methods
- Application is a beta version
- Requires write/delete privileges on servers or local operating systems
- Has a malicious effect on other installed computer software
- Is especially demanding of system resources
- Use violates existing law, such as copyrights
- Violates University policy