IET Pilot Program to Expand Campus Computer Lab Access and Improve Sustainability

Article updated February 5, 2026 with reference to the IET Virtual Computer Lab Pilot. 

UC Davis Information and Educational Technology (IET) is redesigning support for campus open-access computer labs to better meet student needs, address declining usage patterns and ensure financial sustainability. While the eighteen campus computer classrooms remain heavily used for instruction, the four computer labs have seen significantly reduced traffic over the past few years. Students have also reported that current lab hours, especially on weekends and after hours, do not provide enough flexibility.

To address this, IET will launch a pilot program testing a new support model that aims to expand access hours while using resources more efficiently. The initiative will maintain access to specialized software, printing and computing environments essential for coursework. Student and faculty feedback will be collected during the pilot to ensure the new approach effectively increases access without compromising service quality.

The campus computer labs will continue operating through June 2026. The campus computer labs are located at 91 Shields, 78 Hutchison (IET Media Lab), 15 Olson and 2214 Teaching and Learning Complex.

Updates and next steps are expected in spring 2026, with the goal of creating a more flexible and financially sustainable computer lab system that better supports teaching and learning at UC Davis. If you have questions or feedback, please reach out to IET via this form.