Information Technology Services will spend $430,000 to purchase 260 new replacement computers after receiving approval for funding from the NIU Board of Trustees last week.

The new computers will be placed in Graham and Reavis halls and the Neptune Hall computer lab during the summer.

“I think those are the oldest ones in the residence halls right now,” said Jan Gerenstein, coordinator of Residential Technology. “They are on a four-year replacement cycle.”

The replacement schedule currently is two years behind schedule, with about 500 computers beyond the cycle. Computers were not purchased the past two years because of budget cuts.

“Last year we were just struggling, fixing the ones we had,” said Elizabeth Leake, associate director of computer services. “We are happy to be getting them now.”

The new computers in Neptune Hall will aid in the replacement of 22 computer terminals placed in the lobbies of the residence halls as well. The older computers will replace the current terminals, which are public computers featuring Microsoft Office but lacking printing capabilities.

While there are no plans to expand the number of terminals now, the option of adding more is a possibility. The computers have a built-in counter that tracks how many uses the terminals receive.

“We added four more last year,” Gerenstein said. “People can just contact me or their area coordinator, and we can get more terminals set up.”

When the new computers are purchased, they come with a one-year warranty, and the university purchases a three-year extended warranty.

“That fourth year, our computers are not under warranty,” Gerenstein said. “We use old computers for parts during that fourth year.”

Computers are currently in the process of being ordered, with a delivery expected shortly after school ends for the semester.

“We usually do the purchase now,” Gerenstein said. “We are expecting a shipment approximately May 15.”