Overview
The majority of instructional computer labs within the Grainger College of Engineering are managed and maintained by Engineering IT. Lab management includes the management and provisioning of hardware, software and printing services. This currently includes more than 1,450 workstations in 109 locations.
Within this area, there are two basic types of labs: the traditional Engineering WorkStations (EWS) labs that are open for general use/class instruction; and departmental instructional labs, where use is limited to one or more particular classes.
Covers
This document focuses on general use EWS labs. For specific locations covered see: Lab Hours and Locations
Features
The following are the primary features of EWS Labs:
- High-performance workstations with 3D graphics acceleration and dual monitors.
- Diverse array of Engineering-specific software packages along with common everyday applications.
- Consistent user experience (storage, printing, software) across multiple lab locations.
- Reliable instructional environment ready for teaching.
- Prompt and consistent patching/maintenance of workstations.
- Lab workstation replacement on a four-year cycle.
- Consulting for instructors to evaluate software and hardware needs.
- Most labs available 24/7 to students during Fall & Spring semesters. A detailed schedule is available. Labs can be reserved for course/RSO use.
Available to
Login access to instructional labs is restricted to registered students within the Grainger College of Engineering and non-engineering students taking Engineering courses, as well as Grainger College faculty and staff.
Labs are supported for undergraduate instruction only, research use of EWS labs is not supported, or permitted by many software licenses.
Service Hours
Requests will receive a response within one business day, Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm, excluding University holidays.
Support Contacts
Email: ews@illinois.edu
Time Critical Support: 217-333-1313
Cost
For the most part, Engineering IT instructional labs are a service funded by the Engineering Surcharge fee paid by Engineering students. As such, EWS labs are open for use by anyone listed in the “available to” section of this document, free of charge.
Special, non-standard hardware and software requests are funded by the requesting department.
Service Terms
Users of this service agree to the following:
- Engineering IT reserves a maintenance window between 5am and 7am DAILY for as-needed patching, updates and reboots.
- Engineering IT reserves a WEEKLY major patch window every Monday morning between midnight and 5am for scheduled patching and a reboot.
- Additional EWS lab policies are located on the EWS Policies page.
- Workstations are re-imaged as needed (minimum annually) to install new software or fix bugs.
- Engineering IT reserves the right to refuse support on hardware (including peripherals) or software that is significantly past end-of-life.