All computer equipment including hardware, software, computer supplies and PDAs (personal digital assistants) must be purchased through the Computing Department at WWS by contacting the Director of Computing Services who will work to ensure that purchases meet the needs of the faculty/staff member, as well as ensuring compatibility with University and School systems. This is particularly important for a number of reasons:

1. The Computing Department must ensure that they can support the purchased hardware and/or software.
2. The University and the School have introduced numerous safeguards to prevent against viruses and unauthorized access to University information. Purchase through the Computing Department ensures that these safeguards are installed and operational.
3. Due to the volume purchased by the University, the Computing Department can frequently obtain lower prices due to agreements with vendors.
4. By having the Computing Department be responsible for setting up and testing all new equipment and purchases, we can ensure quality control and also tag all capital equipment for inventory purposes, and file all original software licenses.

All equipment and software licenses are owned by Princeton University. Purchases that are not made through the Computing Department and/or with prior approval of the Director of Computing will not be reimbursed.

Whether purchased with University funds, gift funding, endowments, grants or contracts, all equipment and software licenses remain the property of Princeton University. It is presumed that the equipment and licenses will be retained by the School upon the departure of faculty, staff or students and assigned to a replacement employee or area in the School. The one exception to the rule is that certain grants or contracts obtained through the University specifically state that the equipment is the property of the Grantee. In this circumstance, the Grantee may allow the equipment to be transferred to the Faculty member’s new department or place of employment or the Grantee may wish to take possession of the equipment (please contact the Grants Management Manager in the Financial Management Department for further information and procedures).

If the equipment is considered by the School to be out-dated or surplus equipment, University policy requires that surplus equipment be disposed of consistent with the University’s salvage/surplus policies defined by the Purchasing Department. Ownership does not, under any circumstance, transfer to the user, nor can equipment be sold or given by the School to the user or any other employee. This policy applies to all types of equipment including, but not limited to computers, cell phones, fax machines, PDAs (personal digital assistants) and office furniture. All equipment must be surrendered when the individual moves to another department or school at the University or leaves the University due to resignation, firing or retirement. �