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Welcome! This video is intended for the incoming class of 2017. All of the information covered
here was presented during the 2013 New Students Orientation, but you can find it on the OIT
website as well. Let's get started.
Your OIT Account is your key to most computing and technology services on campus. You will
use your NetID and password to:
Access the UMass Google Mail system; Register for classes in SPIRE; Access the campus wireless
network; Download free and discounted software; and more.
By now you probably have activated your OIT Account. If you haven't or if you're having
a problem, you can contact the OIT Help Center for assistance. Once your account is activated,
be sure to set a password reminder in SPIRE. A reminder will jog your memory if you forget
your password. You can set it in SPIRE under My SPIRE, in the Change Your Password area.
Your UMass Amherst Google Mail email address (@umass.edu) is your official email address
while you are a student at UMass Amherst. This means that the University will only send
official email communications to this email address. Examples of official communications
include excess check notices from the Bursar's Office, emergency alerts, or general campus
announcements. It is your responsibility to check your email on a regular basis in order
to stay current with important information.
To check your UMass Amherst email, you can visit apps.umass.edu on the Web; use email
software on your computer such as Mozilla Thunderbird or Apple Mail; or configure your
mobile device to work with Google Mail natively.
You can forward your email to another email address, but then you're losing out on some
of the features of Google Mail. Like, for instance, us! Once the mail leaves our server,
we can't control what your other email provider does with it. They could block it, mark it
as spam, or harvest it for advertisers.
UMass Amherst students are not required to bring a computer to campus, but many choose
to purchase their own. Before you make any purchases, check OIT's recommended specifications
for computer configurations that work best in the UMass Amherst computing environment.
You can find these on the back of your checklist. UMass Amherst allows has a purchasing program
called U$ave. This is a program that provides significant discounts on desktops, laptops,
and other peripherals to all UMass students
You can also purchase a USB wireless adapter to connect to the wireless network; most laptops
and some desktops have one built-in. While many types of adapters will connect successfully,
OIT recommends dual-band adapters that are 5Ghz compatible. If you are purchasing a new
laptop, we recommend one that has a 3x3 internal adapter, such as Intel Centrino Ultimate-N
6300 adapter.
When it comes to printing at UMass, students have a few options. With space in residence
hall rooms at a premium, the most popular printing option available to students is remote
printing to the printers in the Learning Commons. This option is available from anywhere on
campus. You even receive 100 free prints a semester. All you need to do is to download
the remote printing software from the OIT Web site. No worrying about ink cartridges
or paper refills. Students can bring their own printers, of course, but we ask that they
use USB cables to connect to their printers. Wi-Fi enabled printers broadcast a signal
that will degrade network connectivity for a student and those around her or him.
OIT also recommends students bring a backup solution for their data such as an external
hard drive. Students should not bring an Apple Time Capsule to campus as, again, it will
interfere with the campus Wi-Fi and degrade your Internet connection.
Before you purchase any software, check the OIT Web site for free and low cost software
available to students. Operating systems, such as Windows 8 and Windows 7, as well as
MacAfee anti-virus are available at absolutely no cost to students. Microsoft Office programs
such as Word, Excel or PowerPoint are not free. However, the Microsoft Select program
enables students to purchase Microsoft software, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint at a
fraction of the retail price. Similar to Microsoft Select, the Adobe Select program provides
competitive rates on Adobe products such as Adobe Photoshop or InDesign. OIT also provides
links to free software such as Firefox, Thunderbird, and LibreOffice, among others. We even have
a customized Linux distribution for use at UMass, Ubuntu UMass, which is available from
our website.
Wireless connectivity is available in a growing number of buildings and outdoor spaces on
campus, including all residence halls, which are wireless only environments. Again, OIT
recommends purchasing a dual band certified wireless adapter that is compatible with 5Ghz
networks.
When you first turn on your computer or mobile device's Wi-Fi, you will see two network IDs
or SSIDs, UMass and UMass SECURE1X. SECURE1X is an encrypted secure network that automatically
connects once configured. You need only run the XpressConnect wizard once at the beginning
of each semester.
While you will be able to connect many devices to our network, including Android, iOS, and
some gaming consoles, Xboxes will not connect to either UMass or UMass SECURE1X.
Here are a few tips to improve your wireless connection. First, if you have a Wi-Fi enabled
printer, disable the wireless feature and use a USB cable instead. As stated earlier,
the signal from the printer will not only affect your connectivity, but that of those
around you as well. Having too many open tabs and using peer-to-peer software can also inhibit
your connection, so be mindful of how many tabs you have open and refrain from using
peer to peer software. You can also try updating your operating system and wireless adapter
driver software to the latest versions from the developer or manufacturer. You may want
to turn off or move other devices known to slow down wireless connections, including
cordless phones, wireless speakers, microwaves, Bluetooth keyboards, and some wireless gaming
devices, like controllers.
In fact, you may just want to leave those devices at home. Corded controllers, external
hard drives, and printers will not affect your connectivity.
Public computers are available in our Windows and Macintosh computer classrooms across campus.
We also maintain the computers in the Learning Commons, on the lower level of the W.E.B.
Du Bois Library. Go to the OIT Web site to get real-time computer availability in all
our classrooms and the Learning Commons.
All our computer classrooms are equipped with high-end academic software. If a class requires
you to use an expensive piece of software, we may have it available in one of our locations.
Check before you buy. For instance, the all-new Digital Media Lab in the Library has workstations
loaded with high-end multimedia production software, such as Adobe Creative Suite, Final
Cut Pro, and more.
And again, remote printing is available from anywhere on campus to the printers in the
Learning Commons.
Copyright holders heavily target UMass Amherst; we receive hundreds of violations each semester.
Each notice of violation may result in fines, University sanctions, even lawsuits. The DMCA,
or Digital Millennium Copyright Act, provides copyright holders or their representatives
the right to routinely contact the University for alleged violations on the campus network.
Each year, UMass Amherst receives over 2,000 copyright violation notices. When a complaint
is filed with the University, OIT is required to disable the student's network connection.
Each notice carries the potential for fines, University sanctions, even a lawsuit. Out-of-court
settlements, typically paid by students' families, range between $3,000 and $7,500. Recently
UMass has seen a surge in out of court settlements between adult entertainment copyright holders
and UMass students. Students who receive more than one copyright complaint are required
to attend a mandatory copyright awareness class; their names may be forwarded to the
Dean of Students Office for additional sanctions. Additional fees may also apply.
This all stems from downloading and sharing copyrighted materials, which is illegal. Students
can take a few steps to prevent this from happening.
Before coming to campus, uninstall peer-to-peer software such as Bit Torrent or Vuze. These
programs automatically share the contents of their host computer, including files that
may have been acquired legally, but are not intended for distribution. Note: The University
does not prohibit the use of peer-to-peer software. However, OIT strongly recommends
uninstalling these programs to avoid copyright infringement.
Students can use legal alternatives for downloading music, movies, or software. Examples include
Pandora, iTunes, Spotify, and Netflix. Be sure to check the Copyright brochure for additional
information.
Students can also stay current with copyright issues by taking the Copyright Quiz on the
OIT website or by calling the OIT Help Center with questions or concerns.
While there is no 100% safe way to use a computer, we do encourage students to take some "SAFER"
computing steps. The most important steps students can take to secure their computers
are to use OIT's recommended anti-virus software on a regular basis, apply security patches
from Windows Update (for Windows) and Software Update (for Macintosh), keep your applications
up-to-date, and keep your personal firewall on.
We also recommend that students: purchase & use a laptop security cable, back up your
files to a separate location other than just keeping files on your computer hard drive,
have your computer hardware engraved by the police department, and lock your rooms when
you are not in, even if it is just running to the bathroom.
Students should be aware of online Phishing and Identity theft. Don't put your safety
and identity at risk! Be mindful about the information you make available on Facebook
or elsewhere on the Web. Identity theft and cyber-stalking are real issues that have affected
many students on college campuses.
Beware of email scams! Fraudulent emails are 'phishing' for personal information hoping
to steal your identity or infect your computer. It's critical that you don't respond! Phishing
attacks on University campuses have become increasingly sophisticated - emails asking
for personal information appear legitimate and may use terms like NetID, UMail, and other
UMass names. Don't be fooled! Remember that reputable institutions, including OIT, will
never ask for sensitive information via email.
A few other 'good practices': don't share your passwords with anyone, including parents
or roommates. Do not write down user names and passwords, and if you do, make sure you
keep them separate, in secure physical locations, like locking them in your drawer. Purge information
that you no longer need from your computer and your files once every few months.
Go.Umass is a web portal for students. You will be able to see your class schedules,
Moodle courses, campus news, library catalogs, events, athletics schedules, and more, all
in one place available from anywhere with an internet connection, using your computer
smartphone or tablet.
You may already be familiar with SPIRE, UMass's online student management system. What you
may not know are some of SPIRE's features beyond registering for classes. For instance,
you can update your contact information to reflect your local phone or cell phone to
receive important University announcements. You can also add a non-UMass email address
that will enable you to receive a temporary password in case you forget your OIT Account
password.
You can also set up your FERPA Privacy Waiver in SPIRE. Under federal law, the University
cannot discuss information from your records with anyone, including your parents. By setting
up your FERPA Privacy Waiver in SPIRE, you can name up to 4 people who can contact the
University on your behalf. The Waiver only covers your financial and housing information,
and does not apply to your grades. You can add, delete, and change your designees any
time. If you need to share your academic information with your parents, we recommend that you print
an unofficial transcript or a degree progress report in SPIRE. It is against the OIT Acceptable
Use Policy to share your password with anyone.
You can add a preferred first name in SPIRE such as a nickname or your initials. Your
preferred name will appear on all class rosters for instructors to use, but official University
documents will continue to use your primary name.
SPIRE also lets you check the textbooks you'll need for your courses, your class schedules,
and end of the semester grades.
In need of a new cell phone? UMass has negotiated with AT&T& Verizon for exclusive discounts
on phones, plans, and accessories for all UMass Amherst students.
In the case of an emergency, we strongly urge you to call 911 from your dorm phone. This
will help emergency responders locate you much faster than calling from your mobile
phone. Note: Students are responsible for providing your own telephone for their dorm
room.
If you find yourself in an emergency situation while walking around campus, you can use one
of the yellow HELP phones to get in touch with emergency services. There are over 100
HELP phones throughout campus; each residence hall has one. These calls go straight to emergency
responders on campus, expediting response time over mobile phones.
OIT offers a number of other services in addition to those covered here. Moodle is UMass's online
learning management system for online coursework. Google Apps at UMass Amherst includes Google
Mail, but also Docs, Calendar, Sites, Talk, and an iGoogle start page. UDrive is online
storage that you can access from any web browser. You can upload files to your UDrive for download
at a later time, no thumb drives needed! Atomic Learning offers tutorials and trainings on
the use of a wide variety of applications and programs. iClicker is an audience response
system for courses. Not all courses will use iClicker, but for those that do, you'll be
able to respond to instructor's questions in real time. OWL is another web based learning
service used by some departments on campus for online quizzes and other coursework.
If you are having a technology related issue, you may be able to find the information you
need by visiting the OIT Web site. You can also contact the OIT Help Center if you run
into any trouble. Services include general technology support as well as computer repairs,
supported software consulting, and more. Some services may not be free, but most interactions
are. You can contact the Help Center by chatting with us online, calling 413-545-9400, or by
stopping by A109 in the Lederle Graduate Research Center. The OIT Help Center is open weekdays
from 9AM to 445PM.
It's easy to stay informed on current technology news and resources. Just like us on Facebook,
follow us on Twitter, and subscribe to our YouTube channel. You'll find all kinds information
directly from OIT and even be able to interact and ask questions.
Finally, if you are looking for a job, OIT is hiring. We have positions available with
both the Help Center and with Computer Classrooms. Be sure to apply early! OIT offers year round
work and valuable real life experience supporting technology.
All of the information covered here is available on the OIT website at www.oit.umass.edu If
you have any further questions, be sure to get in touch with us. Good luck and welcome
to UMass Amherst!