Supported and Required Technology at Emmanuel

 

Using A Computer At Emmanuel

Emmanuel College provides public computer labs available to all students, but most students bring their own computers to campus.  While Information Technology does not provide hardware support for students’ personal computers, software and network assistance is available for supported products through the IT Help Desk located in the basement of the Administration Building (Admin-024).  You can contact the Helpdesk at 617-735-9966 or at helpdesk@emmanuel.edu.

 

 

 

 

Supported Software

To ensure that your computer is compatible with our campus computing environment, below is a list of the most commonly used and supported software products on campus.   Students are free to use any software they choose, but technical assistance is available only for those products listed in each category.  If you are planning to purchase a computer, any reputable computer retailer can assist you with the recommended hardware requirements to run these software packages.  Also, some students may use specialized software and hardware as part of specific majors.  Faculty within the department can advise you on the details.

 

 

**  Available free of charge to students through the Information Technology Help Desk

*** Emmanuel College requires all computers connecting to the campus network to have  active and up-to-date antivirus software.

 

E-Mail and Conferencing System

Emmanuel College uses FirstClass as its e-mail system.  This system is also used extensively for campus communication and coursework.  The software includes such features as conferencing and private chats. FirstClass software is available free of charge. Your e-mail account, training on using FirstClass, as well as instructions for downloading and installing FirstClass will be provided to you during orientation.

 

 

Connecting to the Emmanuel College Campus Network

If you are living on campus, network connections are installed in every room in the residence halls. These connections provide fast and reliable Internet service. This eliminates the need for a modem to access e-mail and the Internet.  To take advantage of these services, however, your computer must be equipped with a network card and a network patch cable, with the following specifications:

10/100 Base-T, NE2000 compliant, with RJ-45 connector

Network patch cable with RJ-45 connectors

 

Emmanuel College has installed wireless access points in numerous locations around campus. We are also going to continue extending the coverage of our wireless network during the summer. This wireless network is available to all Emmanuel students who own a laptop computer equipped with a wireless networking card that meets the following specifications:

Any wireless (WiFi) enabled network card that complies with the

802.11 b/g Wireless Networking Standard

 

Once again a reputable retailer can assist you with selection and installation of the appropriate card for your computer.  Because of liability, Information Technology cannot install these cards for you.  When you arrive on campus, network configuration information will be provided to you.  Please note that since there is no need for a modem on campus their use is strictly prohibited in the residence halls

 

 

Cisco Clean Access

In order to secure and maintain the integrity of the Emmanuel College Network, the Emmanuel Information Technology Department has installed the Cisco Clean Access network security system in all residence halls. All students who bring computers to campus running any WINDOWS operating system must install and run the Cisco Clean Access Security Agent before you will be allowed to connect to the Emmanuel College Network.

 

The main features of this system include user authentication, vulnerability assessment and remediation. In other words, the system requires students to log in and checks the PC for computer viruses and other vulnerabilities before granting full network access.

 

A description of the system and full instructions for installing and running the Agent can be found by visiting the link below.

 

http://www1.emmanuel.edu/helpdesk/cleanaccess/cleanaccessinstall.html

 

You will not be able to access the internet until the Cisco Clean Access Agent is installed and has run a complete check of your PC during your first attempt to connect to the Emmanuel Network. However you can download the Agent and install it on your Windows PC before coming to Emmanuel. Then once on campus, when you attempt to connect to the Emmanuel College Network the Agent will run and unless there are any necessary updates or remediation required, you will be able to access the network.  FirstClass Email, Online Academic Resources and WebCT will always be available.

 

Antivirus Software

Emmanuel College requires all computers that will be connecting to the campus network have active and up-to-date Antivirus software. If your machine is infected, and the Helpdesk disables the network connection to your room, the network connection will not be re-enabled until an Antivirus application is installed, updated, run and the Helpdesk verifies your machine is clean.

For a complete list of acceptable Antivirus applications and versions you can visit the following website:

http://www1.emmanuel.edu/helpdesk/cleanaccess/antivirusinfo.html

If you have any questions regarding his policy, and or the information provided below please contact the Helpdesk at (617) 735-9966 or via email at helpdesk@emmanuel.edu.

 

Other Technology at Emmanuel

 

Telephone & Voicemail Service In The Residence Halls

 

The Emmanuel College Information Technology Department would like to remind all students living in the Residence Halls that: as of the 2008-2009 academic year Emmanuel College will no longer be offering telephone or voicemail service in the Residence Halls.

 

Students have consistently and in increasing numbers been choosing to use their cellphones as their primary means of voice communication. The College has also been making the transition away from standard analog phone services to a new campus-wide VOIP (Voice Over I.P.) telephone system. As a result of these two facts we have decided to no longer provide standard voice services to students. On special request for voice services (based on approval by the Information Technology Dept.) we will provide students living in the Residence Halls access to Cisco IP Communicator software which is a VOIP application for your PC. You can install this software on your PC and in conjunction with a microphone & headset (that you provide) make local telephone calls from your PC.

 

Situations that would merit the distribution of the Cisco IP Communicator software to a student would include, but not be limited to: a student not owning a cellphone, an international student who may have restrictions on their cellphone plan, students whose only means of making long distance calls are by pre-paid calling cards and cannot use those cards with their cellphone plan.

 

If you need to request the Cisco IP Communicator software  for your PC then please send an email to helpdesk@emmanuel.edu and include “IP COMMUNICATOR” in the email subject line. Also include in the body of the email a brief description of why you are requesting the software, your full name, your dorm and room number.

 

 

As stated above the Cisco IP Communicator Software would run on your Windows computer (software not available for Apple computers at this time) and requires that you have a working microphone and speakers. You may also purchase a headset to use with the software. Some recommendations for headsets are listed below as well as links to more information on the product.

 

 

 

Headset Options:

 

            Microsoft LifeChat LX-3000 USB Digital Stereo Headset                     

                         Walmart:        $25.88  (online only)

            http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=8216517

 

           

            Dynex DX-840 USB Headset         

                         Bestbuy:         $30.99  (In store or online, check availability)

            http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8525651&st=usb+headset&lp=1&type=product&cp=1&id=1186007538579

 

                                    

            Logitech 981-000099 USB Headset        

            Newegg.com:            $19.99 (online only)

 

            http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826104223

 

 

Cable Television

Emmanuel College provides a selection of approximately 90 cable channels in the dorms. Students can connect a standard coaxial cable from their cable-ready television to the cable jack located in each room of the residence halls. Since the exact instructions for programming a television to receive cable varies from model to model, students should consult the specific instruction manual that came with their particular television. Look for the directions that detail how to prepare the TV for cable reception (CATV) and how to program channels into memory.

 

 

Other Devices

Many students are bringing other types of networked technology to school with them such as: X-box 360s, Wii, iPods and iPhones, and Wifi enabled cell phones. The Information Technology Department is constantly reviewing the impact of these devices on both the integrity and security of the Emmanuel College Network. We are in the process of formulating a comprehensive policy regarding the use of these devices on the Emmanuel College Network. This policy will be finished over the summer and distributed to students though their FirstClass account at the end of the summer.

 

 

Staying Up To Date

We are also constantly updating the Information Technology Department’s section of the Emmanuel Web Site. It can be reached by visiting:

 

http://www1.emmanuel.edu

 

All the information in this document, as well as updates to existing policies and new information will be posted to this site over the course of the summer. We recommend that all students visit the site regularly to stay on top of the latest information regarding the use of technology at Emmanuel College.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Emmanuel College

Information Technology Helpdesk

Monday-Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm

Phone: (617) 735-9966