UMD ITSS: Evaluating Information Technology on Campus

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Evaluating Information Technology on Campus

What to ask about information technology when choosing a college or university.

Questions taken from the EDUCAUSE Online Guide to Evaluating Information Technology on Campus...

Academic Experience	Administrative Experience
Social Experience	Requirements, Services & Costs

Requirements, Services & Costs

Q: What, if any, technology fee is charged by the campus and what does it cover?
A: All UMD students are required to pay a Basic Access fee each semester. This fee provides the student with an email account, modem access from off campus, ethernet access for all students living within the residence halls, web and email devices including 325 SunRay stations at various locations around campus, a moderate amount of central system disk storage, basic office tools, and access to network printing (with extra page charges).

About half of UMD students pay an additional fee for Full Lab Access. This level of access includes use of over 270 Windows computers, over 75 Macintosh computers, hundreds of general and specialized academic software packages, Scanners, CD Burners, additional central system disk storage, and access to network laser printers (with extra page charges). This fee is required of students who have classes in a computer lab and is optional for students who want to use these expanded resources. Further information can be found at the Student Computing website.

The collegiate units also charge special technology fees to support specialized technology needs within the academic disciplines. See our tuition and fees schedule for complete information on fees.

Q: Are students required to purchase their own computers?
A: There is no universal requirement at UMD for students to purchase their own computers. Extensive computer resources are available on campus. Further information can be found at the Student Computing website. Nevertheless, students are encouraged to bring their own computers to campus, or to purchase computers once they have arrived. Read on for more information about support for students with their own computers.

Students in four UMD programs are participating in a laptop pilot program in which they are issued a laptop computer for their use during the academic year. Students in selected majors in the College of Science and Engineering receive handheld PocketPC computers with wireless connectivity for additional fees.

Q: How does the campus make computing and network access financially available to all students? A: The Basic Access fee, because it is charged to all students, is used in the determination of costs that can be covered by financial aid.

Q: Does the campus assess extra fees for network connections in the dorms or for off-campus access? A: All students pay the same fee for Basic Access which includes network connections for on-campus residents as well as a dial-in modem pool.

Q: If I bring my own computer equipment to school, what kind of support can I expect from the campus?
A: If you live in a campus residence, UMD provides support for connecting student computers to the Residence Hall Network. See our ResNet web site for more information. All UMD residence halls are networked so that each resident has an individual network connection.

If you live in an off-campus residence, UMD provides support for connecting computers to the modem pool. See our dial-up networking site for more information.

Technical support and a repair and maintenance service are available to all students.

Q: What hardware and software standards, if any, does the campus require, recommend, and/or support? A: UMD Information Technology Systems and Services does offer recommended solutions for hardware and software. Further information can be found at the Recommended Solutions website. See also the hardware information at the ResNet web site and our web page about bringing a computer to campus.

Q: What kinds of services (help desk, training, troubleshooting) are provided by the campus, and during what hours of operation?
A: UMD Information Technology Systems and Services provides technical support via phone 8:00-4:30 Monday - Friday. Students on campus can obtain assistance in our full-service labs from student lab consultants whenever labs are open.

Warranty certified hardware maintenance and other technical services are also available. Further information can be found at the ITSS Service Requests and Support website.

Q: Does the campus have a plan for keeping the hardware current, and if so, what is the replacement cycle? A: The student computer labs are on a 3-year replacement schedule.

Q: How does the campus support printing for students, and is there a charge for this? A: Black-and-white and color laser printers are available to all students at an additional per-page cost using the UCard debit function. Further information and rates can be found at the printing in the labs website.

Requirements, Services & Costs
Q: What, if any, technology fee is charged by the campus and what does it cover?	A: All UMD students are required to pay a Basic Access fee each semester. This fee provides the student with an email account, modem access from off campus, ethernet access for all students living within the residence halls, web and email devices including 325 SunRay stations at various locations around campus, a moderate amount of central system disk storage, basic office tools, and access to network printing (with extra page charges). About half of UMD students pay an additional fee for Full Lab Access. This level of access includes use of over 270 Windows computers, over 75 Macintosh computers, hundreds of general and specialized academic software packages, Scanners, CD Burners, additional central system disk storage, and access to network laser printers (with extra page charges). This fee is required of students who have classes in a computer lab and is optional for students who want to use these expanded resources. Further information can be found at the Student Computing website. The collegiate units also charge special technology fees to support specialized technology needs within the academic disciplines. See our tuition and fees schedule for complete information on fees.
Q: Are students required to purchase their own computers?	A: There is no universal requirement at UMD for students to purchase their own computers. Extensive computer resources are available on campus. Further information can be found at the Student Computing website. Nevertheless, students are encouraged to bring their own computers to campus, or to purchase computers once they have arrived. Read on for more information about support for students with their own computers. Students in four UMD programs are participating in a laptop pilot program in which they are issued a laptop computer for their use during the academic year. Students in selected majors in the College of Science and Engineering receive handheld PocketPC computers with wireless connectivity for additional fees.
Q: How does the campus make computing and network access financially available to all students?	A: The Basic Access fee, because it is charged to all students, is used in the determination of costs that can be covered by financial aid.
Q: Does the campus assess extra fees for network connections in the dorms or for off-campus access?	A: All students pay the same fee for Basic Access which includes network connections for on-campus residents as well as a dial-in modem pool.
Q: If I bring my own computer equipment to school, what kind of support can I expect from the campus?	A: If you live in a campus residence, UMD provides support for connecting student computers to the Residence Hall Network. See our ResNet web site for more information. All UMD residence halls are networked so that each resident has an individual network connection. If you live in an off-campus residence, UMD provides support for connecting computers to the modem pool. See our dial-up networking site for more information. Technical support and a repair and maintenance service are available to all students.
Q: What hardware and software standards, if any, does the campus require, recommend, and/or support?	A: UMD Information Technology Systems and Services does offer recommended solutions for hardware and software. Further information can be found at the Recommended Solutions website. See also the hardware information at the ResNet web site and our web page about bringing a computer to campus.
Q: What kinds of services (help desk, training, troubleshooting) are provided by the campus, and during what hours of operation?	A: UMD Information Technology Systems and Services provides technical support via phone 8:00-4:30 Monday - Friday. Students on campus can obtain assistance in our full-service labs from student lab consultants whenever labs are open. Warranty certified hardware maintenance and other technical services are also available. Further information can be found at the ITSS Service Requests and Support website.
Q: Does the campus have a plan for keeping the hardware current, and if so, what is the replacement cycle?	A: The student computer labs are on a 3-year replacement schedule.
Q: How does the campus support printing for students, and is there a charge for this?	A: Black-and-white and color laser printers are available to all students at an additional per-page cost using the UCard debit function. Further information and rates can be found at the printing in the labs website.

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©2003 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer.
Last modified on 03/08/06 Contact ITSS | Privacy

Did you find what you were looking for? YES NO
©2003 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved. The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer. Last modified on 03/08/06	Contact ITSS \| Privacy