Project Goals

Through the years the number of computers at CCSF increased without an overarching structure to the purchase and implementation of technology.  With the Desktop Upgrade project, ITS and the Chancellor aimed to create an environment in which faculty and staff could use technology in an efficient and effective way.  Unifying the hardware, operating system and applications is the basis of the evolution.  This level of standardization will allow information and data to be shared more readily between offices and focus IT support, help desk and training efforts.

Desktop Upgrade Overview: document

User Notification Letter: historical document
  This letter was sent to department representatives for distribution to those receiving computers.  It provides a summary of what you need to do before deployment. 

1. Notification to Chair/Supervisor with cc to Dean and Needs Assessment Form were sent approximately three weeks prior to delivery.  This notification also included the URL for the Desktop Upgrade  Web site.

2. Chairs/Supervisors usually designated a department contact person for the deployment, and polled staff on software, hardware, printer, network, location, electrical and shared computer needs in preparation for the next step.  Getting input from the staff in advance of the needs assessment interview was very important.  The Needs Assessment Form provided a road map so that ITS could help make a smooth transition to the new system.

3. The Needs Assessment team made an appointment by phone to meet with the Chair/Supervisor and department contact person approximately two weeks prior to delivery.  The ITS representatives helped the department fill in the Needs Assessment form.

4. ITS sent notifications to individual users, but it turned out to be helpful if the department advised staff as soon as possible to visit the Desktop Rollout Web site for information on what they personally needed to do to prepare their workspace, backup their documents, and for information on the three-hour orientation to the new system.  This allowed individual users time to ask questions and advise the department of special needs.

5. User Notification:  Each person who received a new/refurbished computer received a card by mail indicating the date of installation and scheduled dates for the required three-hour orientation to the new system.

6. Before delivery, it worked best if a department representative made sure everyone involved was ready to receive their computer, and notified the deployment contact of problems.

7. Pre-deployment:  a team visited a department prior to delivery to:

8. Deployment:   5-9pm, three ITS staff and, in some cases, a designated department contact, performed these tasks:

9. Post-deployment:  Three ITS staff performed these tasks: