DoIT Computer Lending Program - General Information
Eligibility
To be eligible to check out equipment from the DoIT Computer Lending Program, you must have:
- A valid Wiscard
- A valid NetID
Faculty/Staff: If the program has computer availability and the customer is a faculty/staff member traveling abroad, they are eligible for a loaner computer without having to contact their local IT.
Policies
Checkouts are only available during the DoIT Help Desk's Walk-In hours (Monday through Friday, 7:45am to 5pm). Please see Get Help from DoIT for the most up-to-date hours.
Customers can check out one of each item per checkout term. Requests for more than one item per term are subject to approval.
All equipment for the program operates on a first-come, first-serve basis. The Computer Lending Program does not take individual reservation requests. There is a limited supply of equipment and availability is not guaranteed.
Customers must return equipment on or before the agreed due date within the DoIT Help Desk's Walk-In hours. If equipment is not returned as such, a hold may be placed on student records until the matter is resolved.
The DoIT Walk-In Help Desk can not assist with non-university licensed, third-party owned software. Any assistance is best effort and up to the discretion of the willing agent.
The DoIT Walk-In Help Desk and Computer Lending Program are not responsible for customer data. Customers are recommended to independently back up their data. The university provides many cost-free resources such as the GSuite and Microsoft OneDrive for data backup.
Customers are responsible for any shipping costs associated with returning equipment.
The Computer Lending Program is not able to sell equipment from the program for personal obtainment.
Equipment from the Computer Lending Program is not meant for personal or permanent use or ownership. Use of equipment must follow the university's Acceptable Use of Information Technology Resources Policy.
Long-Term Laptop Checkout Calendar
The following is the checkout calendar for laptop checkouts during the 2022-23 and 2023-24 Academic Year. Laptops will not be extended past the term they are due. If a laptop is needed for the following term, customers must return their current laptop on or before the due date. Checkouts for the following term are not available until the dates listed in the table below.
| Term: | Checkouts Begin: | Due Date: |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 Summer | 5/2/2022 | 8/26/2022 |
| 2022 Fall | 8/15/2022 | 12/23/2022 |
| 2023 Spring | 12/12/2022 | 5/12/2023 |
| 2023 Summer | 5/1/2023 | 8/25/2023 |
| Term: | Checkouts Begin: | Due Date: |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 Fall | 8/14/2023 | 12/21/2023 |
| 2024 Spring | 12/04/2023 | 5/17/2024 |
| 2024 Summer | 05/13/2024 | 8/23/2024 |
Equipment
The following describes the equipment that the Computer Lending Program provides.
NOTE: We do not take individual reservation requests for equipment and can not guarantee device availability. Any inquiries can be directed to the DoIT Computer Lending Program request form.
Dell Laptops
Lending Term: One Semester or Less
Models: Dell Latitude 7410, Latitude 7490, Latitude 3510
- Minimum Specifications: Intel Core i5-10310U 1.7GHz (4.4GHz boost), 8GB ram, 1024x768p resolution, 14" screen, 256GB SSD
- Software: Windows 10 64-bit with Microsoft Microsoft 365, Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, InDesign, Lightroom, Illustrator, Acrobat, Bridge, and Edge Animate), Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Skype, and more.
- Software and Data Policy: Customers are free to install any other software that they require. Please note that we do not support customer-installed software, and all software and data will be erased from the computer at the end of the rental period.
MacBook Laptops
Lending Term: One Semester or Less
Models: MacBook Air Mid-2013
- Minimum Specifications: Intel Core i5-5250U 1.6GHz (2.7GHz boost), 4GB ram, 1440x900p resolution, 13" screen, 128GB SSD
- Software: Mac OS X 10.13 with Microsoft Microsoft 365, Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, InDesign, Lightroom, Illustrator, Acrobat, Bridge, and Edge Animate), Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Skype, and more.
- Software and Data Policy: Customers are free to install any other software that they require. Please note that we do not support customer-installed software, and all software and data will be erased from the computer at the end of the rental period.
Hot Spot Modems
Lending Term: 7-Days or Less
Wireless Hot Spot Modems are not available for renewal. These modems are not intended for primary internet usage or HD video streaming and have a cap of 20GB of high-speed data. Data coverage is not guaranteed and is based on Verizon's coverage map. These are not meant to be used internationally or outside of continental US.
- Models:
Verizon Jetpack MiFi 8820L
- Setup and Troubleshooting: For setup and troubleshooting, please refer to Verizon's documentation at one of the links below, pertaining to the model that you have:
Alternative Campus Resources
Listed below is a comparison of the Infolabs and the Computer Lending Program. The programs operate separately to help support campus needs for equipment.
| Short-term Loaners (InfoLab Program) | Long-term Loaners (Computer Lending Program) |
|---|---|
|
|
MacBook Passwords
Models: MacBook Air 2022
Remote Management: The new MacBook Air 2022 models have remote management on them so that we can locate them if they are lost of stolen. Installing the remote management profile on these devices when we re-image them requires us to input a default password.
- Default password: "doit" in all lowercase.
- Password Modification: Customers do have the option to change the password once they have the device.
FAQ
Where can I contact the DoIT Computer Lending Program?
The DoIT Computer Lending Program is managed by the Walk-In Help Desk. Customers can either submit a ticket with us through the DoIT Computer Lending Program Request Form or physically come in to our Walk-In space at 1210 W Dayton Street in the Computer Sciences Building. We are open Monday through Friday from 7:45am to 5pm.
Where do I return my DoIT Computer Lending Program device?
Devices from the DoIT Computer Lending Program can be returned to the Walk-In Help Desk. We are located at 1210 W Dayton Street, Madison, WI 53706 in the Computer Sciences building. If a customer enters from the main doors on W Dayton Street, the Walk-In Help Desk is in the offices directly to the right of the atrium space. We also have lockers that are available upon request for customers that may not be able to return devices during Walk-In hours. Requests for lockers can be escalated to the Service Desk.
We do not take returns for any of the Infolabs/Libraries equipment. Customers need to return the equipment to the locations where they picked up.
Devices may be shipped to the Walk-In Help Desk. Please see Shipping to the DoIT Help Desk: Computer Repair and Loaner Equipment for more information on shipping loaner devices to the DoIT Help Desk. DoIT highly recommends to purchase insurance with the shipping provider for the package. If items are damaged or lost in transit, the customer is responsible for either a repair or replacement of the device as it states in their checkout agreement. Customers must email repair@doit.wisc.edu to notify that their device is being shipped back along with any tracking information. If customers have any other questions or concerns, they can fill out the DoIT Computer Lending Program request form.
Can my friend or someone else return my laptop for me?
Yes, however you are still held responsible if there are any missing or damaged parts of the loaner bundle. We reserve the right to place a hold on your student records if the equipment was not returned to us or is returned with missing or damaged parts.
Can I reserve a laptop ahead of time?
No. The DoIT Computer Lending Program is not able to provide individual reservations ahead of time. Customers are only eligible to check out one laptop and/or one hot spot at a time. Checkout requests for more than one of each item are subject to approval.
Is there a waitlist I can be added to for a laptop?
No. The Computer Lending Program operates on a first-come, first-serve basis due to the limited number of laptops we have available in our inventory.
Can I renew my device?
The DoIT Computer Lending Program will no longer extend currently checked-out equipment past the term that items are due. If a customer needs equipment past their current due date, they will need to come in to the DoIT Walk-In Help Desk to return their current item and check out a new one if available.
For any questions concerning this policy, please submit a request through the DoIT Computer Lending Program Request Form.
How much does it cost to rent a computer, and how long can I rent one for?
Our loaner equipment is cost-free for students enrolled at UW-Madison. Laptops are available for semester-long checkouts and hot spots are available one week at a time.
I'm having an issue with a loaner computer. Can I call or email for help?
Yes. The DoIT Help Desk will provide best effort support for issues with the physical devices that customers have checked out. If an issue cannot be fixed over the phone or through email, the DoIT Help Desk may direct customers to return the device to the Walk-In Help Desk at their earliest convenience to swap it for another one if we have laptops available.