Project Title: Chromebooks for extended checkout

Project Lead's Name: Kris Abney

Project Lead's Email: abneykl@MiamiOH.edu

Project Lead's Phone: 513-529-2434

Project Lead's Division: ULB

Other Team Members and their emails:

• Mike Bomholt: bomholmm@MiamiOH.edu
• Sabrina Smith: smiths28@MiamiOH.edu

List Departments Benefiting or Affected by this proposal: Chromebook checkouts include students from all departments. In the 2017-18 academic year, grads and undergrads checked out digital equipment of various types over 33,000 times.

Estimated Number of Under-Graduate students affected per year (should be number who will actually use solution, not just who is it available to): 5,000

Estimated Number of Graduate students affected per year (should be number who will actually use solution, not just who is it available to): 100

Describe the problem you are attempting to solve and your approach for solving that problem:

1. Problem description: The libraries current laptops checkout for 3 hours at a time and work best when they are in the building. ipads for 24 hour checkout are available but they are not always big enough for doing course work. While most students have smartphones, they are not an ideal medium to access online resources (e.g., syllabi, e-books, e-journals, and research materials), take notes, or fully meet the needs of daily life at an academic institutions. The libraries are frequently approached by students who need a full-sized computer, either because their personal computer is undergoing repair over a period of days / weeks, or because they lack a laptop, but need a computer for an extended period of time while they are participating in out-of-town events such (e.g., athletes playing in sporting events; students attending a conference; or students in short study-abroad programs; or students who are student teaching outside of Oxford.
2. Approach to solving problem: An ideal solution would be ChromeBooks. Chrome OS was built from the ground up to run over the internet. User authentication, OS updates and app deployment are all done over the internet. Windows and macOS on the other hand rely more on connecting to the campus network to receive updates and authenticate to our local directory servers. The Web first approach of Chrome will mean far less downtime and maintenance. ChromeBooks would be checked out for 3 days, and could be extended up to 2 weeks. Access to these resources would help to ensure that students who are out of town for a curricular or co-curricular event, or those who are awaiting the repair of a computer, would have equitable access to the kinds of equipment that have become a part of daily life at Miami University.

How would you describe the innovation and/or the significance of your project: A significant portion of current undergrads used Chrome OS and Chromebooks in their K12 school experience. Last year 60% of mobile devices shipped to K12 schools in the US were Chromebooks. This project will leverage students familiarity and comfort with Chromebooks and Chrome OS to better serve students.

How will you assess the success of the project: The assessment will be based on the number of times the laptops get checked out or renewed by students

Total Amount Requested: $22,220

Budget Details:

• 20 pixelbooks @$999 Total $19,980
• 20 ProCase14 - 15.6 inch laptop sleeve case protective bags @ $18 Total $360
• 20 perpetual Chrome OS management licenses @$35 Total $700
• 20 extra power cords for charging in cabinet @$59 Total $1,180
• Total cost $22,220

Is this a multi-year request: No