UNI Student Technology Check List - Introduction
This document contains information about UNI's networks, telephone usage, and internet access. It includes links to web pages that you can visit for downloadable software, installation help, and tips for a successful computing experience. Critical information is contained on the CD new students receive at orientation. Links to non-critical information are provided, but, obviously, won't be accessible until you have an internet connection.
See The Most Current Version of this Document at: http://www.uni.edu/students/checklist
Please Remember Your Username and Passwords ! ! !
1) Getting into MyUNIverse the First Time (recommended you do this before orientation)
See https://access.uni.edu/help/new_stdt.html Remember your new CatID password as you will need this often. Also note, this password is the same password for your Email account. Our observation has been that parents often set this MyUNIverse password for their student and subsequently the student doesn’t know what it is when they get to campus. Orientation will go much better if you have already selected your new CatID password (but remember it and keep it handy as you’ll need it at orientation) BEFORE you get to campus.
2) Select Your Username (also your UNI email identity; recommended you do this before orientation)
In addition to setting your MyUNIverse password you will be much better off and save time if you have already selected your UNI Username. This Username becomes your UNI email identity (i.e., Username@uni.edu). It is very important you select professionally as you are not permitted to change this once selected except in extreme circumstances. See http://www.uni.edu/its/us/email/FAQs/FirstTimeUsers.htm
3) Difference Between MyUNIverse System and Email System
Upon coming to UNI there are two initial systems that students must keep separate. The first is MyUNIverse (http://my.uni.edu or http://myuniverse.uni.edu), the student portal that is used for class registration, checking university billing (E-bill) and other business functions. This system is signed onto with the student’s CatID Username and password. A separate access system (Active Directory) is used for the public computers sign in. This is with the same Username but separate password (NOT CatID password) which is created by the individual the first time they use the public computers.
4) Finding Your Identity
Your University ID number and CatID is provided from the Admissions office in writing twice. The first notification is on your acceptance letter. It is also included when you sign up for orientation.
Once your email account has been created, you can find your current email identity in several ways. You can go to the UNI home page (http://www.uni.edu), click on the directory, and look up your information by name. When you log into your MyUNIverse account, your email identity is displayed in the right column. Or you can go to http://www.uni.edu/its/us/email/FAQs/FirstTimeUsers.htm, where you can look up your current identity and get lots of other useful information. You are able to select a different Username (email identity) one time by selecting the appropriate transaction within the MyUNIverse system.
ResNet - Residential Network Internet Access
ResNet is UNI’s high-speed computer network system, which provides free Internet access to all on-campus residents. Each room has a network port (per occupant) for you to connect your computer to the Internet. In addition, the Department of Residence has student ResNet Computer Consultants (RCCs) to help with any problems you may have when connecting to ResNet. To have Internet access and support, your computer needs three things:
What do I need to connect my computer?
Software:
• You are required to install the anti-virus software provided free by the university to all students. This software is on the orientation CD or can be downloaded from http://www.uni.edu/antivirus
• Computers running Microsoft Windows must have all current critical updates installed.
• For software programs see UNI purchase programs at: http://www.uni.edu/its/us/purchase.
What should I do with my computer before coming to campus?
To avoid virus-related network problems, you are required to have all critical Windows system updates applied BEFORE attaching to the campus network.
How do I get Internet access when I get to campus?
When you arrive on campus, plug your computer’s network cable into the network wall jack in your room, open your browser (Internet Explorer, FireFox, etc.), type in the address (http://www.uni.edu or http://resnet.uni.edu) and press <enter>. The ResNet registration page will appear. Follow the instructions for registering your computer. Until you have registered your computer, access to the full internet is restricted. Once it is registered, you will receive an email confirmation that your registration has been processed, usually within one business day. You can also check your email from any of the SCC’s (Student Computer Center) on campus. Restart your computer and you will be ready to surf the Internet.
What if I have problems connecting?
Please call the CCC (Computer Consulting Center 273-5555) at x35555 from your room and choose the ResNet option for further help. If possible leave a local Cedar Falls number.
For more specific information on ResNet, visit http://resnet.uni.edu
Telephones
1) No direct dial long distance service from Residence Halls
There will be no direct dial (e.g. 1-515-xxx-yyyy) telephone long distance service in the Residence Halls. Options for long distance calling include prepaid phone cards which will be available in Department of Residence convenience stores, 1-800-xxx-yyyy calling, and personal cellular telephones.
1) Don’t Expect Campus Service Areas to Call Long Distance
Do not leave your cellular phone number if it is long distance from UNI when requesting a call back as service areas on campus will only call local numbers.
Buying or Bringing a PC to Campus
1) UNI PC Bid Special Purchasing and Regular Purchase Opportunity
This year when we bid our public Student Computer Centers (SCCs) we were successful in getting the vendor, Dell, to extend the same pricing to our students, faculty and staff through April 30, 2008. See http://www.uni.edu/its/us/purchase for purchasing suggestions and special opportunities from Dell, Gateway, Microsoft and others.
2) Antivirus - UNI Version of Required Antivirus Software
Students bringing computers to campus are *required* to run the UNI version of Symantec (Norton) Corporate Edition Antivirus software already paid for with part of your student computer fee. Any antivirus software pre-existing on your computer must be removed and this version installed. Therefore, purchasing other anti-virus software is unnecessary. Students should download it from http://www.uni.edu/antivirus, using your MyUNIverse Unversity ID and password. Student can utilized this software on all their personal systems as long as they remain currently enrolled at UNI.
3) Other UNI PC Purchasing Programs
In addition to antivirus protection software the university has also entered into agreements with Microsoft so that students can obtain products such as Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Access), Office for the Mac, and Windows XP Professional operating system at greatly reduced pricing. This software can be purchased during your orientation visit so you can load it before coming in the fall. See http://www.uni.edu/its/us/purchase for information.
4) Remove P2P - Peer to Peer (KaZaa, Morpheus, etc.)
Downloading and sharing of copyright protected music and movies is illegal and a violation of University policy. The Recording Industry Association of America and others are focused on high-speed networks like UNI's ResNet for copyright violations. UNI receives multiple complaints per week of copyright violations which results in the loss of network privileges and the potential for university discipline. Delete this software from your computer before you arrive on campus.
Email Configuration
1) UNI Username Selection
You are assigned a Username but you have a onetime option to select a different UNI Username within MyUNIverse. It is important that you select carefully (professionally) as this name also becomes your UNI email identity and will stick with your UNI identify forever. We have many students that wish they hadn’t picked a frivolous Username, particularly when they are sending their email address to prospective employers.
2) Getting into Email the first time
See http://www.uni.edu/its/us/email/FAQs/FirstTimeUsers.htm You have can use MyUNIverse or visit http://www.uni.edu/password to choose a new CatID password at any time. Remember your new password as you will need this often. Also remember, this password is not the same password as the one for public computers; they are two separate systems.
3) How to Configure Email Clients (Thunderbird, Outlook, etc.)
We encourage the use of Thunderbird as it is a robust full featured email clients for email access. Step by step installation details are at http://www.uni.edu/its/us/document/unimail/mozilla. It is important to note that these local clients will fail to work without the proper “SSL enabled” setting.
4) Web Based Email Availability (http://www.uni.edu/email)
Web based access to your UNI Email account is available and is recommended for use. Thunderbird is also readily available for use on computers in all of the ITS Student Computer Centers (SCCs).
5) Forwarding Email
Instructions to forward your UNI email to another account are provided at http://www.uni.edu/its/us/email/FAQs/Forwarding.htm. However, remember that UNI faculty and staff will be emailing to your UNI Email address and it may be more prudent to maintain and check this separate account for your university business than have it combined with your other email.
Campus Wireless Access
1) Public Wireless Locations (Non-Residence Hall Locations)
UNI began implementing a wireless network in the fall of 2004 that provides wireless coverage for most of the university campus
This network is based upon the 802.1x standards (this standard may support some older 802.11 cards as well). Laptop computers, hand-held computers and PDAs that have a compatible wireless adapter can be connected. Other locations on campus will be added over time. Wireless cards should be capable of WPA authentication. More information on UNI’s wireless network can be found at http://www.uni.edu/its/us/faqs/wireless.
All rooms in UNI residence halls are wired for network connectivity. Do NOT bring wireless routers or access points to the residence halls as they are not permitted due to compatibility problems with our campus network environment.
2) Campus Wireless Registration Procedure
All computers using the UNI Wireless network will need to be registered before they will be allowed to connect. The registration procedure requires you to bring your wireless device to the Computer Consulting Center in the ITTC Building Room 36 after August 15th for the registration process. Anti-virus software is required and must be configured to be automatically kept up-to-date before your wireless device will be registered.
Other Software
1) Recommended Free Software
UNI maintains a collection of free common software that students utilize. See http://www.uni.edu/its/us/software
2) Off-Campus Access Secure Software Requirements (SSL, SSH, VPN, etc.)
Access to university servers is restricted to software that has appropriate security built into the software. Software packages commonly falling into this category are email clients, telnet clients and Secure-FTP clients. See the free software page at http://www.uni.edu/its/us/software for links to download these packages.
What Type of Storage to Bring
1) Recommended Storage
Memory sticks (USB devices) are encouraged. Regardless of your media choice, always have at least a primary and a backup copy of your important documents. Tools such as Microsoft's SyncToy have been found to be very useful for Windows users.