Chapter 2
Getting started at Dakota Wesleyan

Welcome to DWU!! Now that you know what technologies we use here, you are ready to get started in setting up your gateways to these technologies. This chapter will not replicate" the "how to" descriptions found elsewhere in this handbook, but will itemize the steps you need to take and refer you to the appropriate parts of the handbook. Appendix B contains a checklist of basic computer skills for faculty and staff.

Setting up your accounts
New user accounts are approved by Human Resources when a new university employee is hired. Notification is sent to Information Systems, which then generates a new user ID and assigns a password.

All user IDs at Dakota Wesleyan follow the same format - the first two letters of the first name and the first six letters of the last name. For example, the user ID for Amanda B. Recondwith would be amrecond@dwu.edu. The user ID for Lilac A. Rugg would be lirugg@dwu.edu.

You may change your password at any time but must change it at least every three months. For instructions on how to do this, see "Passwords and password changes"in Chapter 4.

One user ID and password will give you access to almost all DWU online resources, including, but not limited to:

• Microsoft Outlook, for e-mail and calendar tools
• TigerNet, for administrative computing and course management system
• Administrative computing systems to which you are authorized access
• Your H-drive space
• Your departmental space on the G-drive
• Public files on the S-drive

The one notable exception occurs when you access campus e-mail using the DWU Outlook Web Mail link on the Dakota Wesleyan web site. Your entire e-mail address (e.g., lirugg@dwu.edu) is required for the user name.

Setting up your office
Your computer and connectivity to the campus network should be provided for you. Explore your computer. Take it for a test drive.

Your computer should already have the standard loadset (see above in Chapter 1) installed. If you need other software that is licensed by DWU but not pre-installed on your computer, contact the Help Desk. Learn what software is installed on your computer and how it works.

Click on My Computer and then the H-Drive icon to see how easy it is (drag and drop) to store files on a central computer and not on your desktop.

Set up your voice mail. Contact the HelpDesk at x2697 or helpdesk@dwu.edu for instructions.

Find out where your printer, fax machine, and photocopier are. Get the fax number and the access code for the photocopier. Your department's administrative support person should have that information.

Your classroom and/or your lab
You can find out where you are teaching from several sources: (1) your department's administrative support person or the Dean's office; (2) the official schedule of classes, printed version, which you can obtain from the Registrar's Office; or (3) the online version of the schedule of classes, located on the web at http://www.dwu.edu/registrar/schedules.htm.

Check out the room well in advance, during an open period. If you will be using the technology in the classroom, try it out and see how it works. To use the equipment in a technology classroom (see Chapter 2), you must first obtain a cabinet key from Rod Brown, McGovern Library Media Services technician, x2685 or robrown@dwu.edu. Rod will be happy to give you personalized training in equipment operation. All you need to do is ask.

Working from home
Faculty and staff frequently find the need to do university work at home. This section is intended as a guide to help you obtain the equipment, software, and connectivity you need.

Buying a personal computer. The university has negotiated discount pricing for students and employees to purchase computers and peripherals from Gateway (http://www.dwu.edu/is/econnections/gatewaycampus.htm) and Dell (http://www.dwu.edu/is/econnections/dellcampus.htm) for further information. Financing is available through the vendors.

A recommended list of specifications for personal computers may be found at http://www.dwu.edu/is/econnections/laptop_requirments.htm. Although the list is intended for laptops, it also applies to desktop computers that DWU students and employees might buy.

Obtaining software for your home computer. No one in the DWU community should pay list price or the over-the-counter price for software. A number of companies offer educational discount pricing available to students and employees of educational institutions, for use on your personal computers. You will likely have to fax or send in a photocopy of your DWU identification card or other evidence of current status with the university. These vendors include, but certainly are not limited to:

• Unique Software Corporation (http://www.unique-software.com/unique.cfm)
• CCV Software (http://www.ccvsoftware.com/)
• Genesis Technologies (http://www.academic-softwares.com/)
• Computer Products for Education (http://www.education-discounts.com/)
• CDWG (http://www.cdwg.com/)

Microsoft Office XP Professional, which includes Word, Excel, Access, Outlook, PowerPoint, and FrontPage, is available for purchase at an educational discount rate from the DWU Bookstore. Information Systems staff will install Office on your personal computer if you desire. Contact the Help Desk at x2697 or helpdesk@dwu.edu to make an appointment.

If your personally-owned computer will be connected to the campus network, Information System requires that anti-virus software be installed and current. Information Systems will install a licensed copy of Sophos Anti-Virus software on your personal computer at no cost to you. Make an appointment by contacting the Help Desk.

Other recommended software is available without charge and can be downloaded directly from the manufacturer's or vendor's web site. For example:

• Internet Explorer (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/downloads/critical/ie6sp1/default.asp)
• Mozilla Firefox - alternate web browser (http://www.mozilla.org/)
• Windows Media Player (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/9series/player.aspx)
• Spybot Search & Destroy (http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/)
• Lavasoft AdAware spyware detection software (for personal computers only) (http://lavasoft.element5.com/support/download/)
• Google Toolbar and pop-up blocker (http://toolbar.google.com/)
• WinZip - popular file compression utility (http://www.winzip.com/)
• Qualcomm Eudora - excellent free e-mail software for your personal e-mail (use your personal Internet Service Provider account - see below), to keep it separate from your DWU e-mail (http://www.eudora.com/)

Internet access from home. Members of the DWU community have several options for connecting to the Internet from home. Off-campus vendors that provide Internet access are called Internet Services Providers (ISPs). Numerous ISPs provide services in this area, including America Online (AOL) and Earthlink. However, the companies that have local offices - such as Qwest, Midcontinent Communications, and Santel Communications - tend to have a stronger vested interest in you and your business. Be advised that you do have alternatives.

Direct dial-in to DWU. Information Systems offers direct dial-up services, but the system is quite slow. See the Help Desk's two links under DIALUP at http://www.dwu.edu/is/helpdesk/ for details and instructions.

Dial-in services through an ISP. You have at least two local options for dial-in Internet access. One is Qwest. See http://www.qwest.com/internet/ or call 1-800-996-2516. The other is Santel Communications of Woonsocket, SD. Flyers describing Santel services, including dial-up Internet services, may be obtained in McGovern Library. See http://www.santel.net/ or call 1-888-978-7777.

All dial-in services are slow, and often turn the WWW into the "world-wide wait". The maximum "speed"available through a dial-up modem is 56KB of information per second (56K). Compare this with the rates available via other technologies described immediately below. The other primary limitation of dial-in services is that Internet use ties up the telephone line and prevents calls from being made in or out, although some vendors are now introducing dial-up services that alleviate that problem.

High-speed access via Digital Subscriber Line (DSL). DSL provides high-speed Internet access at speeds up to 1.5 MB/second. This service uses conventional telephone lines but at a frequency that does not interfere with normal phone calls. DSL service is available in some (but currently not all) Mitchell neighborhoods through Qwest (http://www.qwest.com/dsl/index.html or 1-800-996-2516).

Santel Communications has a service equivalent to DSL that it calls Jetnet. Speeds available are 256K, 512K, and 768K. Contact Santel at the number listed above to see if Jetnet is available in your area.

High-speed access through cable modem. Midcontinent Communications provides cable modem services to its cable television customers in the Mitchell area. This service is provided through a cable TV outlet in your home. Use of a splitter (which can be obtained at Wal-Mart for about $3) would allow you to use one outlet for both a computer and a television set simultaneously, if you desire. Cable modem speed normally exceeds 1 MB/second. Contact Midcontinent at http://www.midcocomm.com/services_hsd/hsd.php or 1-800-888-1300.

You should be able buy the cable modem itself at electronics stores for about $80, or less on eBay. You do not have to buy it from Midcontinent.

Wireless high-speed Internet access. Santel Communications also offers high-speed wireless Internet access using microwave technologies. This is an excellent option for high-speed Internet access for those living in rural areas without cable television. Speeds available through this service range from 256K to 768K, with pricing set accordingly. A Santel flyer describing this service is also available in McGovern Library.

Connecting multiple computers to the Internet. If you have a high-speed connection, you can connect multiple computers in your home to the Internet simultaneously using a device called a wireless router, that meets the 802.11 standard (which will be on the box). You see these devices on walls and ceilings around campus where the eConnections@DWU wireless network is installed. You can buy wireless routers at many electronics stores for $50-80, and rebates are often offered. Each computer will need a wireless network card that runs about $30-50.

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