When hiring and managing independent desktop support instead of contracting with central IT, units must fulfill the following mandates:
- Staffing Ratio: Maintain a minimum ratio of 1 Full-Time-Equivalent (FTE) IT support staff per 180 supported FTEs (1 benefited employee = 1 FTE; 10 wage/hourly employees = 1 FTE) for user/desktop support. Systems administration of servers, labs, or other IT assets may necessitate additional FTE.
- Coverage & Continuity: Ensure sufficient staffing to cover gaps during vacancies, leaves, and turnover. Documentation and credentials must remain with the unit when a technician departs.
- Funding: Fully fund competitive salaries, benefits, professional development, training, and tools at sufficient levels. If budget is insufficient, units must reallocate or request additional funds through supervisory channels.
- Supervision: Assign a qualified supervisor who remains familiar with USU IT policies, procedures, and expectations to effectively manage and evaluate IT staff performance, and overall unit compliance.
- Accountability: The college or department bears ultimate operational and financial responsibility for policy compliance, security incidents, and risk mitigation.
- Reporting & Audits: Supervisors must report progress on IT initiatives to their Dean/VP and the IT Service Desk Manager at least annually. Units must provide evidence of compliance for potential audits.
- Ecosystem Coverage: IT staff must support all users and university devices within the unit (workstations, classrooms, labs, conference rooms, servers, etc.) that access university systems and data.
- Asset Lifecycle: Forecast, fund, and track the entire hardware lifecycle—from purchase to compliant data erasure and surplus disposal.
- Deadlines & Community: Meet all USU initiative deadlines. IT staff must actively participate in USU IT community meetings and trainings.
- USU IT - Device/Endpoint Management
- USU IT - Admin Resources
- USU IT - Purchasing
- Presidential Memo (May 13, 2026)
- USU Information Security
- USU IT Policies (5200 Series)