The University of Northern Iowa is committed to maintaining an accessible, secure, usable, and integrated user experience across its technology systems and services. When purchasing technology resources whether they are hardware, software, or cloud-based applications, departments and employees should understand the overall wider impact each individual piece has on the larger environment at UNI including those with disabilities - both inside and outside of the university. To that end, Information Technology (IT) is involved in the procurement process for technology to vet each purchase through the lenses of accessibility, security, supportability, and how each new system or device fits into the existing environment.

Definition of Technology

IT defines "technology" as it relates to the procurement process as anything – equipment, software, or system – that creates, aids in the creation of, or otherwise integrates with, data, information, or existing systems here at UNI. Examples might include (but are not limited to):

• telecommunications products (desk phones, mobile phones, walkie-talkies and accessories)

• information kiosks and transaction machines

• Internet and intranet websites

• web-delivered content

• software

• online/cloud-based apps and systems

• electronic books and e-book reading systems

• search engines and databases

• classroom technology

• scanners, printers, multi-function devices and related office equipment

• desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and smart phones

• computer and tablet accessories such as webcams, microphones and input devices

• anything that will connect to the UNI network (wireless or wired)

Purchasing Technology

If you know exactly what you want to purchase, complete the Purchase Request in the OBO Hub. Business Operations will review the request and include Information Technology departments for their appropriate reviews. Once you have submitted the form, IT might perform some combination of these different evaluations to ensure the purchase can and should proceed:

• Accessibility Review. Information Accessibility experts within IT will review any relevant information about your purchase to rate it on how it meets accessibility requirements to which the University is held. This could include (but is not limited to) whether the software or system works well with a screen reader, is navigable solely by keyboard shortcuts, or has proper color contrast ratios).

• IT Security Review. Information Security experts will review the purchase to ensure the system meets current acceptable security guidelines for handling of data or other information or won't be a nuisance if connected to the UNI network.

• Data ownership. Software or web applications will be reviewed for how data is owned by the vendor or University.

• IT Supportability Review. Information Technology support professionals will review your purchase to ensure it meets the criteria to be supported here at UNI. For software and systems this might include whether or not the vendor supports integration with our CatID single sign on platform or not. For computers or other peripherals or pieces of hardware this could include if the device meets current configuration guidelines for operability and manageability with the systems in place to manage such devices.

All through the process your Service Hub request will be updated, and you will be able to check the status of the request or ask questions as needed.

After approval

If a technology purchase passes all reviews, Business Operations will perform any additional reviews needed such as legal/contractual reviews and finalize any additional details regarding the purchasing process and communicate any additional steps or information needed.