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Information for New Students

The Information Technology Services department is responsible for all things computer here at Oxy, and we'll do our best to make your technological transition as smooth as possible. If you have any questions, call the Technology Helpdesk at 323-259-2880 or email us at helpdesk@oxy.edu. We look forward to seeing you in August!

The top 5 questions asked by new students:

Will I have access to print or do I need to bring a printer?

You may bring in your own printer if you wish, but you will have access to a number of printers on campus. You can log into any of our lab machines on campus to print to one of the Oxy printers. We also have a multifunction printer/copier/scanner in the computer lab in every dorm as well as multifunction devices on every floor of the Academic Commons, which is open 24/5 throughout the academic year. See printing in the Academic Commons and Res Halls to set up printing on your personal PC or Mac computer.

Can I bring my own wireless access point?

No, unfortunately, you cannot bring in your own wireless access point. They interfere with our own network equipment within the dorms, dirsupting internet access for others in your dorm or sometimes in adjacent dorms. If we determine that there is such a device plugged in we will turn off network access in that location until we receive conformation that the device is no longer plugged into our network.

Does it matter whether I bring a PC or a Mac?

No, all campus network resources are availble for both PCs and Macs.

What support does ITS provide for my computer?

We provide basic support and troubleshooting to ensure that you are able to access campus resources on your personal computers; this includes network connection and configuration, setting up network printing, and offering free antivrus software for your Windows or Mac computer. We are unable to repair hardware problems on your personal machines but we do provide assistance with hardware problem diagnosis.  

How do I set up my xBox, Wii, etc.?

Send an email to the Technology Helpdesk that includes the following information:

  • Your name
  • The type of device
  • Your dorm and room number
  • Your hardware’s MAC address

You will be contacted by a member of ITS when your gaming console has been connected to the Oxy network.

Two other things you really need to know:

Keeping your computer safe from viruses and spyware

Viruses and malware/spyware can be a threat to your data, and will bog down your machine very quickly. We recommend installing anti-virus and spyware on your Macs and PCs (yes, Macs can get infected, too!). We also recommend turning on automatic updates for your OS and your programs so that you always get the latest security patches installed quickly.

ITS provides free anti-virus and anti spyware programs for students. To get a copy, pick up your free USB drive during the Orientation One-Stop Shop, or download the Windows version or the Mac version.

Accessing movies and music online

It is illegal to download or share copyrighted materials such as music, TV shows, books, software, or movies without the permission of the copyright owner. Please be sure to read the letter in your Orientation welcome packet for more detailed information. Read more about sites you can use to access movies and music legally.

 

Mapping Network Drives to your computer:

As you use your computer on Campus, you may choose to map to your personal network drive(G:) and/or to the faculty/student collaboration network drive(S:). Click on the Windows or Mac link below for instructions on mapping network drives to your computer.

Mapping network drives on a Windows computer

Mapping network drives on a Mac