There is increased wear and tear associated with running a computer. However - in university environments, this may not matter.
At the university where I did my undergrad work, and
now at the current one where I work, all general student-use computers in labs are replaced on a three-year basis. At any one time, there is a huge glut of just-barely-not-newest computers to be had. So shortening the lifespan of these machines really won't matter. The lab boxes are on most of the time anyway, and will be rotated out before they break.
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There is increased wear and tear associated with running a computer. However - in university environments, this may not matter. At the university where I did my undergrad work, and now at the current one where I work, all general student-use computers in labs are replaced on a three-year basis. At any one time, there is a huge glut of just-barely-not-newest computers to be had. So shortening the lifespan of these machines really won't matter. The lab boxes are on most of the time anyway, and will be rotated out before they break.