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1. What is WCTS?
Whitman College Technology Services. We manage and support Whitman College's shared technology resources. See our Web page About WCTS.
Our main office and Help Desk are located in Olin 168, with several other offices around campus. WCTS maintain an extensive web site that includes everything from information about the staff and technology-related College policies, to detailed instructions for using many of the technology resources and software on campus. We encourage you to browse our site at http://wcts.whitman.edu
2. Who should I call if I have a problem or a question about my office computer?If you have a problem or general question about your computer or software, or if you aren't sure who to ask call the WCTS Help Desk at 527-4976 (x4976 spells "gyro"). You can also email helpdesk@whitman.edu. The Help Desk consultant will either answer your question or forward your inquiry to the subject expert. You may also submit a Service Request online any time via our web site at http://wcts.whitman.edu/service.cgi.
If you are an administrative user and have questions about computer upgrades, hardware purchasing or software please contact Michael Quiner, Director of Administrative Technology at x4975 or quinerm@whitman.edu.If you are from an academic office, contact Joelle Chavre, Assistant Director, Support Services at x4714 or chavrejc@whitman.edu.
3. How do I get a Whitman network and/or email account?All staff members automatically receive computing accounts, including a UNIX email account, access to Internet, and a campus network account for access to networked fileservers and printers. Once your account is created, you must visit https://secureserver.whitman.edu/activate to activate your accounts. You will also receive some basic information about your username and password as well as server information for connecting to your new email account. Contact the Help Desk (x4976) or visit the Whitman College Technology Services (WCTS) office in 168 Olin Hall for information about accessing and using your accounts.
4. How do I "Log On" to my office computer?Your office computer will be running either WindowsXP Professional, or Mac OSX.
If you have an Windows computer, you are required to "log on" to get to the resources on your computer or the network. You must use the username and password provided when you activated your computing account. This username and password are 'case sensitive' so capital letters must be entered as capitals. If you do not remember this password, contact the Help Desk (x4976) for assistance in resetting your password. This log on process will also be required to access lab, library, and many smart classroom computers.
5. What are the basics for using my computer?When you log in to your computer, you will have access to your files stored on that computer, as well as to those stored in NetFiles, Whitman's network-based file storage system. You have a private folder in NetFiles; depending on your department, you may also have a shared folder for your office or department. See Storing Files on the Whitman Network for more information about using Netfiles and other network storage resources.
6. How do I use email?On a PC, you will have Mozilla Thunderbird already pre-configured to connect to your email. Look for an icon to open Thunderbird, either on your desktop, across the bottom in the taskbar, or under Start-->All Programs.
On a Macintosh, the pre-configured mail program is OSX Mail. The icon is in the Dock; it looks like a postage stamp.
Both programs are set up to connect to our campus email directory, so typing a recipient's last name in the "To:" box will get you either several matching names to choose from, or the single matching email address.
7. Can I connect to the network from home via modem?Yes. Modest amount of remote dial-in access is available free of charge to members of the Whitman community through Whitman's pool of thirty-two 33.6kbps modems. To connect to modem, you must first request a remote access account via a web-based request form at https://secureserver.whitman.edu/dialin/.
To ensure fair access to this limited resource, remote connections are limited to 4 hours per session and a maximum of 8 hours per day.
If your computer is already configured for modem use, you may need only the following basic information:
The telephone number for the regular modem pool is 526-4736. Your call will automatically be routed to any available modem.
The protocol for a dial-in connection is PPP ("point-to-point protocol").
The login user name and password will be what was assigned from the web based request form.
If your computer needs to be configured for modem use, complete instructions are available through the WCTS web site here.
8. If I have a problem with my modem connection, will WCTS help?Within limits. WCTS provides some informational documentation and will test the connection on Whitman's end. We do not make house calls, nor do we perform diagnostics on your computer. Options do exist in the Walla Walla community for Internet access with increased technical support, faster modem speeds, or even improved access during peak use periods if you feel such services would better meet your needs. See question 9 below.
9. What if I want a faster connection?You can access the Whitman College network via any ISP (Internet Service provider). See Other Network Connection Options.
10. Can WCTS provide hardware, maintenance, and repair for my home computer?No, WCTS does not provide support for personally-owned equipment, whether located in your home or on campus. We are responsible for the repair and maintenance of College-owned equipment that is part of the WCTS inventory.
11. Is there a special discount for purchasing a computer for home use?Staff can purchase Dell and Apple computers directly from manufacturers at educational pricing over their Web sites. Go to http://wcts.whitman.edu/dell-educationorders/ for information about ordering from Dell, and to Apple Store for Education to purchase from Apple. You can purchase by credit card or check, and have the merchandise sent directly to you.
12. Does WCTS provide hardware maintenance and repair for my office computer?Yes, WCTS supports all College-owned equipment that is purchased and installed by WCTS. We also support equipment purchased by your department, if it is purchased either through, or in consultation with WCTS, and is included in the College's equipment inventory. We do not guarantee support for all types and brands of equipment, which is why it is important to check with us to see if the specific brand or piece of equipment you are thinking of purchasing is something we are able to support.
13. What Software does WCTS support?WCTS provides full support for Whitman's "Standard Software Package", when installed on College-owned computers. Supported software includes the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Powerpoint), as well as a large collection of additional software packages. Contact the Help Desk if you need information about availability and support for specialized software applications.
14. Where can I get access to a scanner or other equipment that I don't have in my own office?Scanners are available in numerous locations around campus, including the WCTS training room (180 Olin) which is available for you as a workspace when workshops are not in session. General access scanners are located in the Olin computer lab (165 Olin), Maxey lab (107 Maxey), Science 127, and the Hunter Multimedia lab. Hunter also offers access to more advanced equipment such as slide scanners, film printers, CD burners, and video editing (see the WCTS packet for details). Some departments have equipment such as scanners and specialized printers available in departmental labs as well. Contact the WCTS Help Desk if you need information about equipment availability
15. How can I get my office computer upgraded?Equipment is normally on a four year replacement cycle. For the time being, the replacement cycle is 5 years for desktop computers and 4 years for laptops. You will be contacted when your machine is slated for replacement. If you have concerns or computer needs, talk to Michael Quiner, he can tell you more about procedures for requesting equipment.
16. Do you have laptop computers that I can check out?Yes. WCTS maintains a small pool of Macintosh and Windows XP loaner laptops." They are available for short term (less than 2 weeks) checkout for Whitman-related use, on a "first-reserve, first-pickup" basis. Contact Ronnelle Partlow in WCTS (x5415) or the Help Desk (x4976) to request a laptop loan.
17. Do you offer workshops or training on using certain programs or creating web pages?WCTS offers training workshops on a regular basis. The workshop schedule is on-line through the WCTS web page at http://wcts.whitman.edu/training/. You can register for workshops, or arrange for individual one-on-one consultation.
18.Can I connect a fax machine or a conference phone to my phone line?Some phone lines on campus are 'analog' lines, which are safe for a conventional conference phone or fax machine. Many, however are VoIP lines and cannot be used with regular regular phone and fax equipment. Contact Mike Hubbard (x4705 or email hubbard@whitman.edu).
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