First-Year, Transfer & Current Student Techlist
Check out this technology checklist as a guide to campus computing and online resources.
✓ Know how to get help
Search for answers, call, chat or email the ITS Help Desk for tech help. Visit the front desk in Dewitt Wallace Library or the ITS Help Desk in 314 Humanities Building for in-person assistance.
| macalester.edu/its | search tech FAQ | helpdesk@macalester.edu | 651-696-6525 |
✓ Reset initial password for official Macalester College account (First-Years & Transfer only)
A status update email is sent to your personal email address with instructions on how to retrieve your official Macalester account details. Change your password immediately. | password.macalester.edu | password rules | forgot username or password?
✓ Activate G Suite account (First-Years & Transfer only)
Activate your G Suite Account by Accepting Google Terms of Service. Once activated, you can start using Gmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Calendar and more. Sign in with your full email address: <username>@macalester.edu.
| mail.macalester.edu | list of accounts and services |
✓ Check your email regularly
All students are assigned an official Macalester College email address and all official College communications are sent to this email address. Faculty, Registrar, Dean of Students, and ITS are just a few of the departments on campus that send vital information to your inbox.
| mail.macalester.edu | automatically forward incoming emails to another account
✓ Download software for class
Required software for a class is available for students to download at no cost and computer labs have the software you need for course work. Microsoft Office is available to students at no cost as part of our Microsoft volume licensing agreement.
| software download | Microsoft Office for Windows (gdoc) | Microsoft Office for macOS (gdoc)
✓ Bringing a laptop to campus? Review minimum recommended technical specifications
Having your own computer is not required, if you bring it to campus, ITS supports both Windows and Mac. Public and departmental computer labs are available for student use. During the academic terms, some computer labs are open 24 hours, 7 days a week.
| minimum recommended computer specifications | public & departmental computer labs |
✓ Set up your laptop, smartphone or tablet to use wifi
You don’t have to be on campus to use eduroam’s configuration assistant tool to install and enable the service before arriving at Macalester. Once on campus, just select eduroam from the list of available wireless networks.
| get connected to eduroam |
✓ Register gaming device or smart TV for network use
If you are planning on bringing a gaming device or smart TV to campus, its MAC address must be registered before connecting to the network. Once here, connect your device in the Residence Halls with an ethernet cable or on the Macalester Gadgets wireless network.
Macalester Gadgets
✓ Print from your own laptop, pick up at print release station
Print from your own computer while on campus. Maximum file size is 30 MB, file type is restricted to PDF and MS Office document formats only.
| macalester.edu/print | webprint how-to (gdoc) |
✓ Start serial number tracking sheet
Get it logged. Get it back. Should your laptop or tablet be lost or stolen would you be able to quickly come up with its serial number? Now you can. Keep track of your stuff by recording the serial number and description in a Google Spreadsheet.
| serial number tracker template (gsheet) |
✓ Find out how sharing music and movies could get internet connection turned off
Find out what it means to be a responsible user of technology services. Locate legal resources for online movies, television shows, and music. When students violate copyright laws, owners take action.
| Information Technology Responsible Use | Filesharing | Digital Copyright Violations |
✓ Make a plan to back up your data and stick to it
When would be a good time for your hard drive to fail and to lose all of your classwork? Reduce your chances of losing valuable data by backing it up.
| backup solutions | Google Drive Backup & Sync
✓ Request a campus phone for residence hall room (optional)
Use a campus phone to dial 911 or any campus or local phone number. There are 11 things students should know about on-campus phone service for your room. There is no charge for this service, but you do need to request it.
| request phone for residence hall room | online directory |
✓ Review list of optional tech items to bring
- External hard drive to back up files
- Earbuds or headphones
✓ Review list of tech items NOT to bring
- Wireless printer
- Wireless router
- Other networking devices. ITS will block devices that cause problems for others.
- Ethernet cable, students may pick up an ethernet cable at no charge from the ITS Help Desk in Humanities Building 314.
✓ Consider using a password manager
Keep all your passwords in one place making it easier to remember and change your password on a regular basis. There are many free password management tools to choose from, including LastPass, Dashlane, RoboForm, KeePass, and Sticky Password.