There is a strong connection between the quality of technology services and the associated costs. There is also a wide variation in the ways campuses charge for these services. To evaluate the benefits you will receive and to compare costs, you'll need answers to these questions.

What, if any, technology fee is charged by the campus? What does it cover?

• Technology fees are included in the standard tuition charge.

Will you be required to purchase your own computer?

• Bringing or purchasing a personal computer is optional. Computer labs are available 24 hours a day for all students.

Does the campus make computing and network access financially accessible? Is special student pricing offered for computers and peripheral equipment?

• Wittenberg does not have special pricing in place with a particular vendor. In most cases, mentioning that the hardware or software is for a student will result in education pricing from many vendors.

Does the campus assess extra fees for network connections in residence hall rooms or for off-campus access?

• No additional fees are assessed. All services are available to all currently enrolled students.

What hardware and software standards, if any, does the campus require, recommend, and/or support?

• There are no minimum hardware specifications. Wittenberg Computing staff recommends that only systems using at least Internet Explorer 5.5 or above or Netscape 7.x be used to better utilize network resources.

What kinds of services (help desk, training, trouble-shooting) are provided by the campus, and when are they available?

• The Solution Center is Wittenberg's single point of access for questions about Wittenberg's Computing Services. Services include help with University PC related problems and WittConnect services. Additional services offered by the Solution Center include a drop-in lab (Synod Hall, room 13) where the staff can offer personalized and self-paced training on a variety of software packages. Solution Center location and hours

Does the campus have a plan for keeping its hardware and software current, and if so, what is the replacement cycle?

• The current hardware replacement cycle schedule is 4-5 years for workstations. Servers are maintained on a different schedule. Software updates generally occur in the summer, as necessary for the particular program in question.

If you bring your own computer to school, what kind of technical support can you expect from the campus?

• The Solution Center does not support personal computers, but there is a contract available to students with an outside contractor for local service.

How does the campus support printing for students, and is there a charge for this service?

• Students have access to laser printers in all computer lab areas. Currently there is no separate charge for printing.

Does the campus provide wireless network coverage? If so, how much of the campus has wireless connectivity?

• Yes - currently the Barbara Deer Kuss Science Center and the Joseph C. Shouvlin Center for Lifelong Learning have wireless access available. There are plans in place to add the Student Center and Thomas Library as well.

This document last reviewed May 30, 2004.