We encourage you to contact us with any questions or concerns.
Burke Library - 3rd Floor
helpdesk@hamilton.edu
859-4181
859-4185 - fax
1.) What telephone/computer/cable television services are provided for students?
2.) What help is available on campus for students using computers?
3.) Does everyone get a free e-mail account?
4.) If I bring a computer to campus, can I connect it to the Internet?
5.) How do I connect my computer to the Internet?
6.) I want to buy a computer to use on campus. What should I get?
7.) Do I need to have my own computer to get E-mail or use the Internet?
8.) How will I use computing in connection with my classes?
9.) What kind of electronic storage do students get?
10.) Can I register, or access additional academic information online?
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1.) What telephone/computer/cable television services are provided for students?
In residence hall rooms, each student is provided with telephone service, a high-speed connection to the campus network, and cable television service. Students provide their own telephones, computers, and televisions with coaxial cable for in-room access. Forty-nine cable channels, including foreign language broadcasts, are provided free-of-charge. Premium channels are available for an additional fee. Telephone service includes a free on-campus phone line, free local calling, and a voice mailbox to receive messages. Long-distance calling is accomplished through toll-free access calling cards or your personal cell phone.
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2.) What help is available on campus for students using computers?
There are online and printed user guides and phone-in or e-mail helpdesk support. Appointments with support staff are also available. Technical support focuses on the Hamilton "standard" software: Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint); Thunderbird (for e-mail); Communications Express (web mail); Internet Explorer and Firefox (web browsing); FileMaker Pro, and Dreamweaver. In addition, there are instructor led workshops and Student Technology Consultants available in the public computing labs. This support covers the Hamilton "standard" software, but also training and help with other applications that are used broadly across the curriculum, such as multimedia editors.
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3.) Does everyone get a free e-mail account?
Yes, all students are provided with an e-mail account. There is no charge for this service. Electronic mail is used heavily on campus for communicating all kinds of information. Hamilton e-mail can be accessed directly from the web or through mail client software such as Thunderbird or Outlook Express.
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4.) If I bring a computer to campus, can I connect it to the Internet?
Hamilton has a high-speed ethernet and wireless network. In each residence hall room, each student has his or her own ethernet connection. There are also connections in all classrooms, public spaces, and offices. Most computers purchased in the last few years can easily connect to this network. You won't need a modem, but rather an Ethernet network card in your computer - and there isn't any monthly charge for your Internet usage! Updated guidelines for connecting to the Hamilton Network will be available by May 1st on our website. You will be able to connect to the wireless network with any 802.11g Network card. Please call the Help Desk (315-859-4181) with any questions.
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5.) How do I connect my computer to the Internet?
You will receive a connection packet when you arrive on campus that includes a network cable and instructions on how to connect to the network. A team of students will also be available to assist you in connecting your computer to the network during orientation. Last fall, over 80% of the new students did the network installation themselves.
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6.) I want to buy a computer to use on campus. What should I get?
Both Windows and Macintosh computer systems are supported on campus, and, if properly configured, any of them can be connected with the network. Laptops are increasingly popular among students since Hamilton is "completely wired" and students can use their laptops in every building. Wireless access is available universally across campus. The advantages of a laptop are: you can use it wherever you are on campus, you can take it home during breaks to continue your work, the small space it takes up in your room, and you can use it on our wireless network when you equip it with the appropriate wireless adaptor. There are disadvantages of laptops as well: they are easier to damage if you drop them, laptops are subject to theft if you leave them unattended, and they can take longer to fix if they need repair because they generally have to be sent back to the manufacturer. The choice is yours, but increasingly students are opting for laptops.
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7.) Do I need to have my own computer to get E-mail or use the Internet?
You do not need to own a computer. More than 125 computers are available in public computer labs. Most of these labs are open over 100 hours each week and the Beinecke lab is open 24 hours per day. In addition, there are many more computers in departmental labs available to students.
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8.) How will I use computing in connection with my classes?
Computing is widely used in connection with Hamilton courses and covers a wide range of applications and activities. Hamilton has 8 different computer lab/classrooms, including the Multimedia Presentation Center. These rooms have computers at every student seat. In addition, 80% of the classrooms have computer lecterns, data projectors, and state of the art audio-visual equipment to support in-class presentations.
One of the most widely used applications is Blackboard, a web-based course communication system that is integrated in the My Hamilton web portal. This application provides e-mail lists, discussion boards, calendars, course documents and eReserve access in one convenient, password protected location that can be accessed by any web browser, at anytime, from anywhere.
Faculty and students have access to a great variety of technology resources and use them in creative ways to enhance the teaching and learning process. Hamilton courses develop students' understanding of discipline-specific content and ways of thinking, and develop students' communications and critical thinking skills. Technology resources are a significant component of this development.
An example of how technology is used in courses can be found at Professor Patricia O'Neill's Art of Cinema website, with examples of student videos.
Instructional Technology Support and the ITS Training Coordinator collaborate with faculty, librarians, and Oral Communication on HILLGroup projects. They assist faculty in the design of course projects that integrate library and technical resources in a manner that will effectively enhance learning. Examples of courses that have been assisted in this way can be found at http://my.hamilton.edu/academics/hillgroup/practices.html
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9.) What kind of electronic storage do students get?
All students can obtain space on the college Web server for their personal web page or for course-related work. In addition, all students receive 200MB of network storage for backing up critical files, or as temporary storage. There is no charge for these resources.
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10.) Can I register, or access additional academic information online?
My Hamilton http://my.hamilton.edu is the starting point for access to a variety of information and services on the Web. Most of the information you will need to navigate your academic program is already available there (e.g. calendars, library catalog, course descriptions). Students can access their grades, transcripts and schedules, and register for classes on the Web by using the WebAdvisor? channel in My Hamilton. A variety of materials, including textbooks, can be purchased online from the College Store.
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Still need more info? Send your E-mail to: helpdesk@hamilton.edu Or call: (315) 859-4181 |
