Once PDI ended, the Provost formed the Desktop Systems Council to ensure that the standard administrative computing environment be maintained and regularly enhanced for the delivery of the new administrative systems and productivity tools promised through PDI.

Since the end of PDI, each "administrative standard computer" purchased through the Microcomputer Distribution Center and later the Dell Premier Web Site has been configured like the original PDI machines and made a part of DeSC.

Other groups have been encouraged to join DeSC, that is to purchase a DeSC "administrative standard machine" and be configured for the Princeton NT domain. The Provost and the Office of the Dean of the Faculty have supported the acquisition of DeSC computers through the Faculty Computer Program.

The DeSC computer is a particular computer model, running a particular set of central software. The University's decision to establish a standard hardware and software desktop environment stems from the goal of streamlining costs associated with application development, software installation, computing support, system administration, and software licensing. By choosing one hardware model and a standard software suite, the University is positioned to negotiate better pricing and maintenance fees, and computing support staff are better able provide the best possible assistance.

Approved 12/2/98