Proposal

Narrative

The FAU Libraries’ Research Hub is an essential academic space that serves a growing population of graduate students, doctoral candidates, postdoctoral researchers, and faculty engaged in advanced research and scholarly activity. As Florida Atlantic University continues to expand its graduate programs and strengthen its research profile, the demand for high-quality academic support services and collaborative research environments has increased significantly. To meet this need and advance FAU’s institutional priorities of student success, research innovation, and experiential learning, we propose the installation of a charging kiosk equipped with laptops in the Research Hub. Access to reliable technology is critical for graduate-level academic work and collaborative research. Providing laptops and charging access within the Research Hub will: Enhance collaborative research opportunities by supporting group projects, data analysis, and shared writing activities. Increase equitable access to technology for graduate students who may not have consistent access to high-performance computing resources. Support experiential learning initiatives by enabling students to engage in hands-on research activities during workshops, peer learning sessions, and faculty-led projects. Strengthen instructional support for research-focused workshops on topics such as literature reviews, citation management, data tools, and scholarly publishing. Advance student academic success and retention by reducing barriers to research productivity and supporting timely degree completion. Investment in this enhancement will have a broad and lasting impact on graduate education at FAU by improving access, supporting scholarly excellence, and creating a more inclusive and productive research community. For these reasons, funding for this initiative is both a strategic and necessary step in continuing to elevate FAU’s support for its graduate and research population.

Facilities

Hardware Requirements

Laptops Anytime Kiosk - 18bay Combo Laptop/Charging Kiosk w/th Chargers and x6 bays for Laptops - includes all installation, proprietary software with integration into Alma system & shipping costs - $37,444.00 Dell Pro 14 (PC14250) XCTO Laptops x6 - $5,820 TOTAL = $43,264.00 | WHOLE DOLLAR = $43,265.00

Software Requirements

None

Personnel Costs

None

Other Costs

None

Timeline

The hardware can be purchased and installed as soon as funds are available. Estimated time to install will be about 6-8 weeks

Sustainability

The hardware will have to be maintained and replaced as necessary with Tech Fee funding or library funds.

Resource Matching

None

Implementing Organization

FAU Libraries Information Technology Services Department