Some Boston University students said they are disappointed that University Computers will be closing this summer, leaving them with only one technological support option next year.’
University Computers will close down its Kenmore Square office and merge with the Personal Computing Support Center located on 111 Cummington St., according to a BU press release.’
The shuttering of University Computers will occur in accordance with President Robert Brown’s reorganization plan, in which eight offices ‘-‘- including Information Technology ‘-‘- will need to consolidate to bridge the $10 million budget gap that BU officials predicted for fiscal year 2010. Brown announced the reorganization plans in a town hall meeting for staff and faculty in January.
Information Technology Interim Vice President Michael Krugman said in a press release that the decision to close University Computers was made in an effort to avoid further detriment by the unstable economy.
‘It’s motivated by a sense of how we do business and how we’re going to do it better by integrating these two services together in one location,’ he said.’ ‘To run a retail operation in this economy is more challenging than ever, and what we’re trying to do is put ourselves out of harm’s way.’
College of Communication sophomore Shannon Lerch recalled an incident in which PCSC was unable to fix her crashed computer, but University Computers did.
‘Tech support seems to be more about programming, but as far as motherboard crashing, University Computers was the one who helped,’ Lerch said. ‘As far as merging, I don’t know if they’re going to merge what they’re both responsible for. I’m a little confused as to who is going to take care of what problems.’
The PCSC building will include a sales department, where student shoppers can test different computers at a new demonstration station, according to the press release. Administrators will launch a website over the summer for the BU community to place computer orders.
Of the 15 people University Computers currently employs, five repair technicians will continue working at IT, and 10 positions will gradually be eliminated over the next five months.
Staff writer Eileen Reslen contributed to the reporting of this story.
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