Office of Information Technologies

www.oit.umass.edu/

The Office of Information Technologies (OIT), the central Information Technology department at the University, is responsible for most computing and phone services on campus.

OIT provides the wired and wireless networks, telephone service, the email system (UMail), free and discounted software, the online student information system, and access to computer classrooms and other tools for teaching and learning. OIT staff also offer advice and assistance with software and hardware problems and questions. For a full list of services, visit the OIT website www.oit.umass.edu.

OIT Account NetIDs and passwords are required to access most computing services on campus. OIT Accounts are available at no extra charge to all students on campus. Students taking credit courses are required to activate their OIT Accounts.

High-speed Internet Access is available via the Ethernet in all residence halls (except Family Housing), publicly scheduled classrooms, and computer classrooms. Wireless access is available in an ever-growing number of indoor and outdoor locations. To access the campus network from off-campus, use OIT’s 56K dial-up service.

UMail, the campus email system, is accessible via the Web and via email software (e.g., Mozilla Thunderbird, Netscape Communicator). Students are allocated 30MB on the campus email servers. All students taking credit courses are required to use their UMail address to receive official UMass communications, such as messages from the Bursar’s Office or professors.

Computer Classrooms are operated in 10 locations on campus, including the new Learning Commons in the W.E.B. Du Bois Library. The Windows and Macintosh computers are installed with word processing, desktop publishing, statistical analysis, spreadsheets, and web development software. The Assistive Technologies Center is open to any member of the University community who has a disability defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act and requires an accommodation such as scanning assistance, screen readers, text enhancements, and text enlargers.

SPIRE provides online access to the student information system. Students use SPIRE to register for classes, access grades, check their Bursar account and financial aid, and view housing assignments. SPIRE gives everyone, including prospective students, access to the online course schedule and catalog.

WebCT Campus Edition is a Learning Management System used by many University faculty to make syllabi, calendars, grades, and other course content available online. To access WebCT, students need to have an OIT Account and be enrolled in a course that has a WebCT site associated with it.

Computing support is available from OIT Help Services. The OIT Help Desk is the first point of contact for students with computer-related questions or problems. Hardware Support provides repair, maintenance, and installation services for campus computers and peripheral equipment. Software Support provides assistance with select Windows and Macintosh software applications and operating systems, and oversees the distribution of free and discounted software.