Accounts you need, and how to get them:

Before your arrival, your department secretary or chairperson will have requested accounts for you. Check with them to get your information.

• WestConn ID
  Your WestConn ID is a unique 8-digit number beginning with a "5" and is used by the university in place of your social security number.
• WestConn Windows Account
  Your WestConn Windows Account consists of a username and password. Your username is your last name followed by your first initial. Your WestConn Account can be used to log in into an university computer on campus.
• WestConnduit Account
  Your WestConnduit Account consists of a username and password. The username is the same as your Windows username, and your password is a 6-digit number (also known as a Banner PIN).
  
  WestConnduit is the university portal. It provides access to campus and personal announcements, the campus events calendar, and provides access to Banner or 'the Banner tab' which provides access to your class rosters, student academic history information, the ability to electronically submit grades, and other information. In addition, it provides access to Blackboard Vista and convenient links to other university resources.
• WestConn Email Account
  The university email system is used for university business. The university has migrated from Lotus Notes to Outlook (Windows) and Entourage (Mac). Outlook/Entourage users will use their WestConn username and Windows password to login to their Email using the client (if prompted) or via the web. Your email address will be in the format of username@wcsu.edu
• E-Learning (Blackboard Vista)
  Blackboard Vista is WestConn's course management system that allows faculty to enhance their on-ground courses with online components. It provides a state-of-the-art teaching and learning environment that streamlines course management for faculty, offers capabilities to help improve student outcomes, and creates powerful efficiencies institution-wide.
• What if I haven't received this information?
  Check with your department secretary or chairperson, or call the IT Help Desk at (203) 837-8467.

Requirements for Using Computers on the Network:

To use the university computers on campus:

• You must have a WestConn Windows Account (username and password). With these credentials, you can use any university computer.
• To view the available public computer centers on our campuses, please follow the link to our Computer Centers page. To view our technology-equipped classrooms, please visit our Technology Classroom Grid.

To use the WestConn Wireless Network:

• You must have a WestConn Windows Account.
• To learn more about the Wireless Network and see a list of the available hotspots on campus, please visit the wireless network site.

To connect your laptop to projection in a classroom :

• All technology-equipped classrooms have laptop connections for the projector.  Simply connect the cable provided at the instructor's station to your laptop's video port and you will be able to use the projector.

E-Learning (Blackboard Vista):

• WestConn uses Blackboard Vista as its E-Learning course management system, enabling you to enhance your on-ground courses with online components.
• With the recent merger of Blackboard and WebCT, the course management system may be referred to as either Blackboard Vista or WebCT Vista in our current documentation. WestConn is currently using Blackboard Vista 4.
• You must first request to have your courses made available in Blackboard Vista before you can begin to use it. Requests can be submitted online at www.wcsu.edu/technology/vista/request.asp.

Technology to Enhance Student Learning:

Technology in the Classroom

• 100% of WestConn’s classrooms that are suited for it are equipped with instructional technology, offering the ideal technology-enhanced learning environment for both students and instructors. Please visit the Technology Classroom Grid for more information.

Software for Teaching and Research

• At the request of the Information Technology Committee (ITC), University Computing (UC) allocates money each year towards the purchase of software to be used in classrooms and labs (currently the allocation is $20,000). UC also allocates money towards the purchase of software to be used for faculty office/research (currently the allocation is $7,000).

University Information Technology Committee

Information Technology Committee (ITC)

• WestConn has a university-wide technology committee, referred to as the Information Technology Committee, or ITC (comprised of CIO, faculty from each school, students, UC rep, Media Services rep, and Library Services rep.) and individual school technology committees. Please refer to the ITC website for more information.

Other Technology Resources

Requests for office computer equipment

• Requests for computers, printers, etc. for your office should be directed to your school's technology chair. A list of of school technology chairs is available on the ITC website.

Computing Facilities

• University Computing provides general computing facilities on both of WestConn's campuses at no charge to the members of the university community. To view the available computer centers on our campuses, please visit the Computer Centers page.

Instructional Technology Center

• The Instructional Technology Center is a collaborative effort of Academic Affairs and University Computing.  Now faculty have a designated area (Haas 416) to get assistance with integrating technology into their curriculum. University Computing, Media Services, and the Library have partnered to create time, technology, and expert assistance. 

University Technology Equipment Loans

• If you wish to reserve technology equipment (laptop, portable projector, digital camera) for University business, you should contact the University Computing (UC) Help Desk at (203) 837-8467 or send an to e-mail "Request University Computing" or request_university_computing@wcsu.edu.
• You are required to pick up the equipment at either of the UC offices, located on the third floor of Old Main or Westside room 119 and you must complete and sign an Equipment Loan Form before the equipment will be released. If you wish to extend the duration of the loan, you must request an extension from UC as the equipment may have already been reserved by another faculty/staff member.

Telephone / Voice Communications

• Voice Telecommunications services are provided collaboratively by Connecticut State University System Office (CSUSO) and WestConn University Computing Personnel. All requests for telecommunications service (new service, changes to service or equipment, moves, disconnects, name changes, etc) are initiated via the Telecommunications Service Request Form (TSR).  TSRs must be reviewed and approved by your department head prior to submission. Please contact your department Secretary or designated representative for assistance in completing a TSR.

Where can I get help with WestConn's technology?

• If you have any questions about technology at WestConn or experience problems with University equipment, call the IT Help Desk at (203) 837-8467 or send an email to "Request University Computing" or request_university_computing@wcsu.edu.
• Training is offered to all faculty and staff at WestConn. Please click on the links below for our current workshop schedules, summaries, and helpsheets and check back often to see what new workshops have been added! Please send an email to training@wcsu.edu to sign up for a workshop, or to learn more visit the WCSU Training website.