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Student Technology Checklist

For First-Year, Exchange, Transfer & Current Students

✓ Top Tips for Students

Set up Duo Mobile for Macalester applications
Go to https://2fa.macalester.edu/ and sign in with your Macalester username and password. Click Add a device and follow the prompts to enroll in Duo Mobile for 2-factor authentication. Smartphone and Duo Mobile App are required to enroll.

Set up Google 2-Step Verification for Macalester email
Go to gmail.com and sign in with your Macalester email address and password. If you have already signed into another Gmail account, try using a different browser or private/incognito window. Follow the ENROLL prompt to turn on Google 2-Step Verification before the 90-day enforcement deadline or you’ll be locked out of your Google account.

Read your Macalester email
First-year students: Look for a message from Admissions welcoming you to the New Student Portal which contains a to-do list of items that should be completed before you arrive on campus.

Get Your Technology Ready

Know how to get tech help
ITS Help Desk |  [email protected] | 651-696-6525 | Humanities 316 | Start a chat | help.macalester.edu
Student Tech Quick Start

Forgot your password?
No problem! You can reset it yourself with our self-service password reset tool. Go to 1600grand.macalester.edu and click Forgot Password. Checkout the password requirements and how to change or reset a forgotten password.

Use your MacPass campus ID card for meal plans, printing, library checkout, building access and more
Document Services located at L024 Campus Center prints new and replacement campus ID cards. Students can submit their photo before arriving on campus or Document Services can take your ID photo. Remember to bring a government-issued ID when picking up your new or reprinted MacPass. KI 1333 MacPass, GET Mobile app & Mac Money

Claim your Zoom Meeting license
You’ll need to sign in with SSO to set up your Zoom account with our site license.

Purchase technology at a discount
You can purchase a laptop, tablet and other technology from Apple, Dell and other tech companies who offer education discounts for personal computer purchases.

Download software for class
Course-specific software is available for download at no cost or can be accessed in computer labs. 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)

Do bring these tech items: Laptop and charger
Laptops are strongly recommended for all students. ITS supports both Windows and macOS. Review the minimum recommended computer specifications. You should also bring a mobile phone and charger, earbuds or headphones, external or online storage for backing up your data.

Don’t bring these network items—ITS will block devices that cause connection issues for others
Including wireless printer, wireless router. Don’t bring ethernet cables, pick one up for free in the ITS Help Desk instead.

Make a plan to back up your data and stick to it
Question: When would be a good time for your hard drive to fail and to lose all of your classwork? Answer: Never. Reduce your chances of losing valuable data by choosing a backup solution that’s right for you.

Set up your VPN for remote connections
Use GlobalProtect for Macalester’s VPN to securely connect your laptop, smartphone or tablet to our network when you are not on campus. VPN setup guides for macOS, Windows, Chromebook

Ask your family or friends to deposit Mac Money into your student GET Funds account
There is a $1 convenience fee for each deposit via credit/debit card to GET Funds. There’s no convenience fee when you add Mac Money with cash using the Value Plus Reload Station in the lower level of the Ruth Stricker Dayton Campus Center. Learn how family and friends can add Mac Money to a student’s account

Start serial number tracking sheet
Get it logged. Get it back. Keep track of your stuff by recording the serial number and description in a Google Spreadsheet. serial number tracker template (gsheet)

Get Connected to eduroam wifi & Gadgets

Set up your laptop, smartphone or tablet to use eduroam 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. eduroam connection guides

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 connection guides 

Supplement your tech needs at a computer lab, uniFLOW print account, and ITS TechCheckout

Visit computer labs
Public computer labs are located in the residence halls and Library. Academic departments also offer specialized computer labs for student use. In some cases, students may use a virtual computer to access specialized software for course work.

Set up your uniFLOW account and associate it with your MacPass to start printing
There is no charge for students to print. Multifunction printing, copying and scanning devices are available in the dorms, Campus Center, Library and Humanities Building.  uniFLOW: Student Printing Services

Checkout tech equipment from the Digital Resource Center
Students can checkout technology equipment at no cost from the Digital Resource Center. Book and browse equipment via ITS TechCheckout.

Stream TV, Movies, and Music

Stream live TV legally
Stream live TV from on campus and thousands of Xfinity On Demand shows and movies directly to your laptop, desktop and mobile devices at xfinityoncampus.com. Additionally, you can use your Macalester credentials to log into over 90 TV Everywhere apps when off-campus. 

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