Internet Access from Residence Halls
Students within the Residential Computing program - Residential Computing Assistants (RCAs) - work to assist residents of all dorms with academic computing needs throughout the year. Additionally, many buildings have one or more Orientation Computing Aides (OCA) to provide prompt assistance during Orientation. Information on how to contact your RCA or OCA will be posted throughout the residence halls; requests for help may be entered at http://rh.uchicago.edu/chopin.
Network Connectivity:
Every room contains one active Ethernet jack per resident. All halls have wireless network access provided in the study rooms, dining halls, house lounges, and lobbies. Many halls have ubiquitous wireless network access. We recommend using the faster wired connections when in your room, and wireless when studying elsewhere in the Hall or traveling on campus. For more information, see http://wireless.uchicago.edu. To connect to the network, you will need to do the following:
- Claim your University CNetID and password. You can claim your CNetID before arriving on campus, and we strongly recommend this. You'll be sent a separate mailing this summer with information on how to do this.
- Obtain and install the NSIT Connectivity Package included in your NSIT welcome packet or download it here.
For room connections using the wired network:
Connect your computer to the jack with the free 25' Ethernet cable provided in the NSIT welcome packet you will receive during Orientation. Additional cables may be purchased from the Solution Center, 970 E. 58th St. in the third floor of the Bookstore building.
Visit any website using the browser included in the NSIT Connectivity Package. When you use the browser for the first time, you will see a page which requires your CNetID and CNet password. Once supplied, you will have network access for your computer for the remainder of the school year.
For wireless connections throughout campus:
Visit any website using the browser included in the NSIT Connectivity Package. You will see a page which requires your CNetID and CNet password. Once supplied, you will have network access; however, you may need to renew if your computer sleeps or you close your browser.
Additional services provided within each residence hall are computer labs with Windows and Macintosh computers, networked color laser printers and scanners at each front desk, and email kiosks in each building lobby for quick access to webmail. For additional information, please visit the Residential Computing website at http://rescom.uchicago.edu.
Computing within Residence Halls
Residential Computing at the University of Chicago provides many services to enrich your residential experience. Within each residence hall, there is a computer room outfitted with modern Macintosh and Windows machines, enhanced with additional memory and a range of programs, for students to use both functionally and creatively in their coursework.
Whether or not you bring your own computer to campus (roughly 80% do), you may find some other services helpful. If you decide to buy a computer while you are here, you'll find educational discounts on hardware and software through the NSIT Solution Center. You will certainly want to connect to the high-speed campus network to quickly surf the Net, check your e-mail, or print to a networked laser printer at your residence hall's front desk. Since we know you'll be on the go, we also provide e-mail kiosks near each front desk for the convenience of keeping up-to-date as you go about your day.
Lastly, if you need a helping hand, each building has at least one Residential Computing Assistant (RCA) whose responsibility is to assist you with setting up your computer on the campus network or troubleshooting your academic program software concerns.
For additional information on these and our other services, please visit http://rh.uchicago.edu/hds/housing/services/computing/, or contact your residence hall's RCA.
