You are responsible for:

• activating your UVM Network ID and email address
• checking your UVM Email
• learning how to use macOS or Windows
• learning how to use software commonly needed for classes, such as word processing, email, and the Web
• backing up your work and personal files such as music, digital photos, etc. A backup refers to making copies of files (such as an external hard drive or CD) so that these additional copies may be used to restore your files when, for example, your hard drive crashes or your computer is stolen.
• setting up your computer, if you own one
• installing software
• basic troubleshooting
• being an active participant if you need technical help
• solving problems caused by software and hardware not explicitly recommended by UVM

The more you can learn before you arrive at UVM, the better off you'll be. Fortunately, most computer programs come with built-in help and hints; some even have automated tutors. Bookstores are stocked with self-help books. Your fellow students and teachers are often experts. And many UVM departments tailor courses to using computers in their field. Sign up for credit courses including CS 2, CS 8, BSAD 040, EDEL 11, EDSC 11, and CALS 85, or introductory computing courses offered through your major, if you need basic computing skills.

UVM is in a multi-year transition with accounts and passwords, with the goal of replacing several accounts and associated passwords with one. Almost all UVM business now uses your Network ID.

1. Your Network ID gives access to:
   • Blackboard online courses
   • myUVM
   • Email with virus protection and SPAM management
   • UVM Directory (edit some info)
   • Private file storage on UVM's server
   • Computer labs
   • Library computers
   • Cyber Café computers
   • Web publishing
   • UVM-only Web resources like volume-licensed software
   • UVM Wi-Fi network
   • Course registration
   • Grades
   • Financial information and transactions
2. Your student ID number (starting with 95) is required if you have forgotten your NetID password and need to reset it.

Both are supported at UVM. Viruses and "spyware" are generally not a problem for Mac users, though the macOS is not immune to malicious software. Most students can choose whatever they're most comfortable using. Some disciplines, however, have either specific computer requirements or recommendations, for example:

• the College of Education and Social Services' Laptop Recommendation
• the School of Business Administration's BSAD Mobile Computing Requirement
• the College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences' CEMS Computer Recommendations

Check with your advisor or dean's office if you are unsure.

Some may tend to think that first-year students "only write papers" and consequently can get by with an older computer, as long as it can run a word processing program. In fact, that's not true: student academic work today is much more advanced than that and requires a suitable computer.

One meeting the minimum specifications should be sufficient for students beginning an undergraduate program.

1. Before you come to campus, protect your computer -- especially if it runs Windows -- with the latest security updates: Windows / macOS. Set it to apply future updates automatically if it does not already.
2. Follow the additional steps listed in Prepare Your Computer for the Campus Network.
3. Use UVM's email system
   • UVM automatically removes viruses from your UVM email and has a robust anti-spam filter that automatically routes spam to a Junk mailbox so that it doesn't clutter up your inbox.
   • To set options for these features, go to our Network ID & Account Management site.
4. Don't install free programs that download or share music or videos, such as uTorrent. While torrents can be used to distribute content legally, using them to share and download copyrighted materials puts you at legal risk and can deliver malicious software to your computer.

Chromebooks, iPads, and Android Tablets are not recommended as a primary computing device.

Our computing support team is proficient in helping with macOS and Microsoft Windows. We may not be able to offer you the same level of support if your computer runs a different operating system such as Linux or Chrome OS.

We expect students' use to go up and down as they work on various academic projects, so we don't set hard quotas. We don't look at content, but if someone has many gigabytes of data with ".mp3" extensions, or numerous downloaded software installers, we would seek their cooperation in moving files to a more appropriate location. Please contact tech.team@uvm.edu if you need to store over 2 GB for any length of time. We also provide a scratch area, separate from one's home directory, for the temporary storage of large files.

Since people's tastes differ, the one you should use is the one you're most comfortable with. You don't need to limit yourself to one method and can use what fits your needs at any given time. For example, using Outlook on your computer and the native mail app on your phone. These are the supported programs:

• UVM Outlook Web App (OWA)
• Outlook for PC
• Outlook for Mac
• Apple Mail
• iOS Mail
• Android Mail

Setup information for the above mail apps is in our Add a UVM email account to your device Knowledge Base article.

All student rooms have wireless (Wi-Fi) and two wired (Ethernet) connections. If all three students in a triple room want to use an Ethernet connection, you can pick up a "mini-switch" from your complex main desk so each person has a network jack.

The UVM Bookstore's Techstore carries Ethernet cables.