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The University is committed to providing our students access to computers and technology. Across our campus, auditoriums and “smart” classrooms are equipped with state-of-the-art computers and multimedia presentation systems. A large, diverse group of computer laboratories exists for students to conveniently access personal computers and workstations in their academic pursuits. General computing facilities located across campus are open to all students and are available at a variety of times and schedules including evenings and weekends. Select locations are open 24 hours a day during the academic semester.
These labs contain a variety of computers running Microsoft Windows, Sun Solaris, Apple MacOS and Linux operating systems. A wide selection of application software is available from word processing, database, and spreadsheets, to very specialized domain-specific tools. Internet access and printing is available in all general purpose labs. Several limited-access high performance computer clusters are also available to qualified users.
The Student Technology Enhancement Program (STEP) initiative has been the engine driving the deployment of a University Wireless Information Network (UWIN). Supporting both 802.11B and 802.11G connections, UWIN is being deployed to support students in academic buildings some housing units, and outside areas. UWIN supports visitors to campus, has a “coffee shop” mode of operation and a secure mode of operation. Wireless network connectivity allows users to access computing resources from a bench outside of the building or while waiting in the hallway to their next class making use of every minute of a student’s busy day. Select older housing units, that were constructed long before electronic computers existed, are being updated with UWIN to provide computer connectivity. Select new classrooms are also covered by UWIN so students can use their wireless laptops in class.
The Help Desk provides assistance to students, faculty, and staff who are using computers for academic pursuits. The most widely recognized activity of the Help Desk is UCS account activation. The Help Desk provides self-help guides (available as printed handouts and as online documents), as well as one-on-one user instruction. The Help Desk also provides limited assistance for software applications in common use on personal computers (Windows and Mac). Other topics frequently addressed by the Help Desk include changing passwords, statistical analysis software, receiving e-mail, forwarding e-mail, and establishing e-mail aliases. For more information, visit http://helpdesk.louisiana.edu/.
The University provides several computer-based services which are available to all students, faculty and staff. Two of the most important are Moodle and UPortal. Moodle is an online course management system which allows professors to create effective online learning communities. UPortal is the University’s online information system. Through UPortal users are allowed to send and receive University e-mail, access the online course registration system, view and print unofficial course transcripts view and print class and final exam schedules, and access other student academic tools and resources.
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