School of Earth and Environment

The purpose of this scheme is to standardise, rationalise and streamline resources and processes to maintain efficiencies in the utilisation of financial, physical and human resources.

The Scheme devices a common core operations support strategy that provides operational support staff with base infrastructure as part of the School’s overall management of regular operations. The specific items incorporated within the strategy are:

1. Desktop computing hardware
2. Communications facilities
3. Printing/Scanning/Faxing facilities
4. Research and Management funding

The definition of operational support staff will, in the first instance, be limited to academic and general staff supported by:

• Faculty Funding Model and associated funding sources,
• Employment primarily within the core operational activities of the School,
• Employment on national competitive research grants that explicitly return quantum funding to the School and where the funding body expects the University to provide basic infrastructure. 
  

Desktop computing (including laptops)

The School will provide desktop computing support by implementing a computer replacement programme that ensures that no computer within the programme will be greater than three years of age. Under the scheme of arrangements the School will aim to replace about one third of the desktop computers in each year of operations. Policy will be developed to address the timing and financing of computers, handling of preferred/non-preferred supplier acquisitions, the consequences of non-SOE machines, and resale of computers. The proposed level of support for the desktop computers is initially a budget of $767 per annum ($2,300 per system).

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Communications

The School will provide an annual allocation to support telephone communications functions and internet communication function to a set limit. The proposed level of support for communications is $240 per annum (average $20 per month) for internet charges and $360 per annum (average $30 per month) for telephone charges.

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Printing/photocopying/Scanning /Faxing

The School will provide communal multifunction devices (MFDs) that will serve as high-speed printers, photocopiers, scanners and fax stations at distributed locations within the School to allow convenient communal access to devices from staff work stations. Policies will be developed to encourage the use of communal facilities in place of captive devices where possible. It is anticipated that MFDs will cost in the vicinity of $12,000 each with a lifetime of five years ($2,400 pa). The School would be served with four high end machines and four light machines at a cost of approximately $12,000 per year. A major advantage of MFDs are reduced printing charges of 1.75 cents per page (including paper), provision of a full maintenance schedule with breakdown services, reduction potential of the number of hardware devices and associated maintenance costs.

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Research and Management

The School will provide academic staff with research annums to be used for the purpose of direct research support. Non-academic management staff will be provided with management annums to directly support management of their area of responsibility. It is proposed that the annums be set initially at $2,000 with annual revisions in consideration of the School’s financial position. Policy will be developed to dictate allowable expenditure and the terms of arrangements for the provision of annums.

 

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