- Getting Started
- Planning Your Move
- Academic Information
All on-campus residences are prewired for telephone, high-speed wired (Ethernet) and wireless data communications, and cable television. The room charge covers the cost of a telephone line and basic CATV channels in each suite, as well as wired and wireless Yale Network access for each resident. Telephone and cable television services are administered by the Information Technology Services (ITS) Network Services Department. Data communications services are administered by the Student Technology Collaborative. You should also carefully review Yale's Information Technology Appropriate Use policy (PDF).
Call back, call forwarding, consultation, last number dialed, and conference calling are included in your common room telephone service. Voice mail service is available upon request. You will be notified of your telephone number during the summer. Yale does not provide telephone sets, so you should plan to bring one with you.
Long distance service is provided by the University's private network, YaleNET. Toll calls can be made using your private toll authorization number (TAN), a six-digit number that allows you to place long distance calls from any telephone on campus.
Basic CATV service consists of approximately 70 channels, seven of them reserved for Yale academic programming. See Yale's cable channel guide for more information. Cable-ready televisions can be plugged into the CATV jack directly; no converter box is required. For more information, see the ITS Cable TV Web site.
Computing is a vital part of life at Yale. You will use computers for e-mail, browsing the Internet, registering for courses, accessing library catalogs, writing papers, submitting assignments for classes, and countless other tasks. Each student is provided with secure network storage space that can be used for data backup and for hosting personal Web pages. All students are required to abide by the University's policies for computer usage.
Your NetID is a unique identifier that gives you access to Yale online resources and e-mail. After you matriculate, you will receive an e-mail with information about activating your NetID, choosing a password, and setting up security questions.
Yale College has no computer ownership requirement or operating system preference. However, over ninety percent of Yale undergraduates own personal computers, with a Windows to Macintosh ratio of about one to one. Students with personal computers can connect to Yale's network from their rooms, using in-room Ethernet connections, or from various locations around campus by means of wired and wireless networks. Information about connecting to Yale's network can be found on the New Students page of the ITS Web site.
If you bring your own computer, bring along all documentation, software media, and warranty information. These materials are essential to connecting to the network and solving computer problems. A method for backing up data, usually to an external hard drive or DVDs, is also recommended.
The Student Technology Collaborative offers technical support to students with personal computers. Each residential college and the Old Campus has its own team of Student Techs (STs) whose job is to assist fellow students with technology issues. Students can also get walk-in or phone assistance at the Technology Troubleshooting Office, located in Bass Library. To get more information or to contact an ST using the online request form, go to the Student Technology Collaborative Web site.
ITS Academic Computing Services supports hundreds of public computers located throughout campus that are intended for use by members of the Yale community. Each residential college has its own computer room, and all students may use the general-purpose computer labs available in Bass Library, Connecticut Hall, Dunham Laboratory, Kline Science Library, and Sterling Chemistry Laboratory. The public computers have a common software image to provide ample access to academic programs; some also have special hardware such as color laser printers and scanners. The major computing facilities are staffed by STs, who can answer questions and help with problems. In addition, ITS provides e-mail kiosks throughout the campus for quick access to e-mail and the Internet.
For more information about Yale's general-access computer clusters, see the ITS Services Web site. Also see the ITS map of service locations, which includes computer labs, kiosks, and help desks.
Many areas on campus, including residential college courtyards and all Yale buildings, offer wireless Internet access for computers with 802.11b/g/n-compatible adapters. All residential college and Old Campus dormitory rooms have wireless access. For information about wireless recommendations, see the ITS General Student Recommendations page. Also visit Wifi@Yale to find out more about connecting to Yale's wireless networks.
Students who wish to purchase new computers should consider the recommendations published by ITS. Yale students are not required to buy computers through the recommended sites, but the Yale-negotiated prices and packages are worth investigating. For information about Yale student computer purchasing recommendations and discounts, visit the ITS Buying Guide.
ITS strongly recommends that you have the following accessories for your computer:
Many software vendors sell software at academic prices. ITS has negotiated special pricing for Microsoft Office. In addition, Yale provides, free of charge, some major site-licensed software, including Symantec Endpoint Protection. For a list of software currently available to students, visit the Yale Software Library (requires login with Yale NetID and password).
During freshman move-in, Student Techs will be able to help you configure your computer for Yale's network, answer general questions, and provide troubleshooting. You should also plan to attend one of the "Computing@Yale" information sessions, which give a brief orientation to Yale computing resources. More information about the times and locations of STC orientation events will appear in the Calendar for the Opening Days of College, published on line in mid-July.
