Changing the support model for students’ hardware

In September 2009 Loughborough University launched a PC Clinic service supporting students' own computer hardware. Employing University students for a small number of hours each week to fit around their study commitments, and working in partnership with a local company co-located within the department, the PC Clinic provides initial diagnosis, and either a fix or referral to the hardware support partner which provides a chargeable repair service. The paper will describe the background to the service introduction, practicalities of setting up the PC Clinic, and lessons learnt.