The Workstation Upgrade Program (WUP) is a bulk computer purchase program that achieves standards and savings for the university and participating members of The Texas A&M University System. In the Open Access Labs, one-third of computers are replaced every year through this program.

Texas A&M Information Technology evaluated several desktop manufacturers and chose Hewlett-Packard as this year's vendor. This year's unit costs for standard desktop configurations average $50 less than last year's prices.

Texas A&M Information Technology is coordinating with Procurement Services to offer these negotiated prices to other university departments and A&M System members. Through these efforts in fiscal year 2008, WUP purchases from last year's vendor, Dell, Inc., achieved a 52 percent average discount beyond the single unit price. Last year, a total of 1,362 desktop PCs were ordered from Dell at a value of $1.1 million.