by Randy Hollowell, IT Services

Earlier this year, the MiTech technology store closed its doors in the Shriver Center. However, management of the support functions transitioned from Finance and Business Services to IT Services. As part of this move, a new walk-up support center, the Tech Support Lounge, has been established in the space previously occupied by Cafe Lux in the Armstrong Student Center.

Besides a new name and location, there are also changes to the services being provided. Miami is no longer selling computers and computer peripherals. This obviously changes the Miami Notebook program. However, as promised, Miami will continue to honor hardware and loaner support to individuals who have enrolled in the student laptop program and require warrantied repair.

Although Miami will no longer be directly selling computers, we have been highly engaged with all of the academic areas across the University to establish a new program to ensure that Miami faculty, staff, and students have access to computer specs that indicate what machines are best suited for their degree programs or working needs. This has led to a new website that includes a page of computer recommendations for students, broken down by college and program.

The updated website at MiamiOH.edu/miaminotebook also provides information about the Tech Support Lounge, including location, hours, and an explanation of the services being provided. Hours over the summer will be flexible as the renovations of the space continue, and staff get acquainted with their new surroundings. Regular business hours should begin in late July and carry over through the fall semester.

We realize that working technology is essential to student success and that this transition of service will continue to prioritize that success. Where and how the computers are purchased and repaired may be changing, but the underlying need to ensure a student has a working computer when they need it is not.

These changes to walk-up computer support will not affect IT Help, Miami’s primary support service which is available 24x7 via phone at 513-529-7900 and chat at MiamiOH.edu/ITChat.