Technology Lending

The SCS Help Desk offers technology lending to SCS account-holders, including:

• Loaner laptops (during repair, or for general limited-term use)
• Video adapters (for connecting to VGA or HDMI projectors)
• USB Optical drives for PC and Mac
• Installation discs for select software
• Conference phones

Conference phones and all other smaller items can be loaned out for a maximum of three business days. All equipment loan reservations can be submitted via our Help Desk Technology Reservation Request page.

Loaner laptops require agreement to the following terms:

Laptop Loan Policy

Updated 4/12/24

The School of Computer Science Computing Facilities Help Desk currently loans laptops to SCS Faculty, Staff and Ph.D. students who have an active SCS user account. 

Requirements

The laptop loaner program is intended for job related academic and business use by SCS Faculty, Staff and Ph.D. students who have an active SCS user account. These laptops should only be used by the listed borrower. 

Models include Apple MacBook Air, Apple MacBook Pro, and Dell Latitudes.

Please note that loaner laptops do not come with CD/DVD drives. All laptops are equipped with wireless network connections.

Installed Software

macOS Laptops

• macOS Sonoma or latest available OS for that model
• SCS Self Service App (JAMF)
• Microsoft Office
• Adobe Acrobat Reader
• Mozilla Firefox
• Cisco AnyConnect VPN

Windows Laptops

• Microsoft Windows 10 or 11 Enterprise x64
• SCS Self Service App
• Windows Defender
• Microsoft Office 
• Adobe Acrobat Reader
• Mozilla Firefox
• Cisco AnyConnect VPN

Lending Policy

• Priority will be given to:
  1. People whose assigned SCS laptop is being repaired (top priority).
  2. People who reserved a laptop in advance.
• Laptops are available for periods of one day to a maximum of two weeks (14 consecutive days). They must be returned on time in order to maintain acceptable inventory levels.
• For repairs, the loaner laptop is due back within two full business days of the completion of the repair.
• A valid active Oracle string must be on file to borrow a laptop and any adapters.
  1. There is no fee to borrow the laptop for a scheduled period of time.
  2. Repairs necessary after you return the laptop will be charged to your advisor or department business manager. You will be notified if this is necessary.
  3. Please return the laptop on the agreed upon date. Failure to do so will result in the loss of privilege to borrow laptops in the future; the full purchase price of the laptop will be charged to your advisor or business manager on the 6th business day beyond the original agreed upon return date.
  4. Once the replacement cost has been charged for the full cost of the laptop, you (or your department) now own the laptop you borrowed and do not need to return it to the Help Desk.
• Be sure to backup any personal data from the laptop - all data will be erased immediately upon the return of the laptop. SCS Computing Facilities is NOT responsible for any data left on the device.
• This service is like a library program where laptops are available for checkout only if they are in inventory. Laptops requested without a prior reservation (walk-ins) will only be given out based on availability.
• Immediately notify the SCS Help Desk at (412) 268-4231 regarding ANY problems with the laptop.

Notices

1. You will receive the following reminders: the day before it's due, the due date, 1 day past due and 5 business days past due, via email to your SCS email address.
2. Two past due reminders will be sent to you and copied to your business manager on the day after the agreed upon due date, and when still outstanding at 5 business days your advisor or business manager will incur the cost of the laptop if you do not return it within 24 hours of the final reminder.
3. If you do not return the borrowed laptop (including adapters) before the 6th business day beyond the originally agreed upon return date you and your business manager or advisor will receive an email confirming that you will be charged the purchase price of the laptop.

Lending Process

• To reserve a laptop, submit a request via our webform, call the SCS Help Desk at (412) 268-4231, or email help@cs.cmu.edu at least 1 business day in advance. (Reminder we cannot guarantee availability for last minute requests)
• The SCS Help Desk will usually confirm availability of a laptop for your request immediately but may take up to an hour.
• Laptops can only be picked up and dropped off at the SCS Help Desk. We are located in the Gates/Hillman building, room 4203. We are open Monday through Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm.
  1. Please pick up the laptop on the day of your original request. If you don't pick it up we will hold it through the second day of your original reservation but will cancel the full reservation on the third day.
  2. The person picking up the laptop must have a CMU ID card in order to borrow a laptop.
  3. The person using the laptop must log in to the system while it is on the CMU network so the system can create a local administrator account. The Help Desk staff can assist you with this process when the laptop is picked up.
• Return the laptop on the agreed upon date. See above for more details on late returns.
• Be sure to backup any personal data from the laptop before returning it. All data will be erased by an SCS technician promptly upon the return.

Identity Verification

When coming to the SCS Help Desk to pick up a loaner laptop:

1. Provide the Help Desk staff your SCS User ID
2. Present your CMU photo ID
3. Provide the dates that you will need the laptop (from the day you will pick up the laptop to the day you will return it, two week maximum).
4. The type of laptop that you prefer (Mac or Windows).