Guide to IT Terminology
When talking technology at WestConn, many terms are used, and it can sometimes get confusing. Listed below are common terms you might hear or read about and a description of what they all mean.
| Terms you might hear | What they mean | |
| Banner ID university ID student ID number |
These terms refer to your unique 8-digit identification number. It begins with a "5" and is used by the university in place of your social security number. | |
|
Windows account WestConn account WestConn Windows Account Windows username NT account NT username AD account Active Directory account Active Directory username |
These terms refer to the account (username and password combination) used to log in to the university's computers on campus. All of the existing NT accounts are in the process of being migrated to new Active Directory (AD) accounts. You will only have one account and they both give you the same functionality. "WestConn Windows Account" is the general term used to describe either kind of account. | |
| WCSU_INS WCSU_USER W-WCSU-LOCAL Domains |
These terms refer to the network domain in which users will sign in upon logging into a public machine. We are in the process of moving all users over to the W-WCSU-LOCAL domain. WCSU_INS generally refers to administrative faculty, while WCSU_USER refers to teaching faculty and students. | |
| WestConnduit password PIN Banner PIN |
These terms refer to the 6-digit password you use to log in to WestConnduit and Blackboard Vista. This is different from the PIN used for academic advisement and course registration. | |
| WebCT Blackboard Vista Blackboard Vista E-Learning |
These terms all refer to WestConn's course management tool, currently Blackboard Vista. In the near future, it will be updated to a newer version and be called Blackboard Vista. | |