Academic Computing: Office of Information Services (OIS)

At the University of Puget Sound, students find that computers are essential tools for composition, communication, and research. Faculty also incorporate information technology in their teaching. Students may use the university’s computer labs or use their own computers for instructional purposes and to access the Internet. All students will have an e-mail account set up for them prior to arriving on campus.

General access labs are located in Thompson Hall 225 (MacIntosh), McIntyre Hall 324 (PC, open 24 hours), and in Collins Memorial Library (PC). There are many other department computer labs around campus dedicated to specific disciplines. In addition, there is a PC and a MacIntosh computer with printers in each of the eight residence hall complexes, and e-mail kiosk stations in the Wheelock Student Center, Memorial Fieldhouse, the library, and Wyatt Hall.

There are Internet connections for laptops in the Wheelock Student Center, Wyatt Hall, and the library.

Access to the Internet is available from any university-owned computer, from student-owned computers in the residence hall rooms and university-owned houses, and from several wireless access points in the library, McIntyre, Howarth, Wyatt, Thompson, Harned and South halls, and in the Wheelock Student Center. Wireless access is available in the Todd, Phibbs, Regester, and Trimble residence halls.

The OIS helpdesk, located in the Tech Center in the library, is available to help students use information technology. Staff members and trained student workers help students use university-owned multimedia equipment; borrow digital cameras for class projects; set up their computers, clean viruses, spyware, and spam; load virus-checking software (offered at no charge to all students); and other troubleshooting. More information may be found at ResNet. If you plan to purchase your own computer, take a look at OIS' recommendations about purchasing a computer. The Bookstore sells Microsoft Office software at a considerable discount under a campus license agreement, and the OIS helpdesk will install it at no charge.