IT Services For Students

Just for Students 

Information Technology Services - Academic & Research Technology (ITS ART)  provides the following services for all College of Nursing students. For more information or to request any of the these services, please contact the Help Desk (spok.it.help@wsu.edu).

USER IDs AND PASSWORDS

In order to access computing and network services provided by the College and University, you are assigned one or more of the following user IDs and associated passwords:

WSU Network ID (NID)

A NID is your personal network identification for using WSU computing and network services, both on campus and over the internet.  These services include Blackboard, myWSU portal, METRO registration, Student Online Services including grades, class schedule, financial aid, and other network services. 

You should have created your NID when you first applied to WSU. If you have forgotten your NID or have not created one yet, go to http://my.wsu.edu and choose Lookup User ID or Create User ID, as appropriate, and follow the instructions provided.

E-Mail

At times your instructors, college staff, and WSU will correspond with you using your official WSU email address. Your WSU e-mail address is, <your network id>@wsu.edu. This email must be forwarded to a destination e-mail mailbox of your choice.  You may use your personal e-mail mailbox (such as yahoo, hotmail, gmail, etc.) or a WSU mailbox (provided upon request) as a destination mailbox.

To forward your official WSU e-mail address, go to http://my.wsu.edu and sign in with your NID and password. Click on the my Profile link from the navigation menu on the left.  Next, click on the link titled, Specify delivery destination for <your network id>@wsu.edu, and follow the instructions provided.

(Go back to top)

MULTIMEDIA AND COMPUTER LABS

The following computing and multimedia facilities are available for your use.  These facilities are equipped with state of the art computer systems and peripherals to support your computing and instructional needs:

Multimedia Labs, Rooms 159 &161 - Spokane
Helene Fuld Computer Classroom, Room 168 – Spokane
Computer Lab W140 – Tri Cities
Computer Labs VCLB 218 and VMMC 101 - Vancouver
Multimedia Lab 108B – Yakima

(Go back to top)

PRINTING IN MULTIMEDIA AND COMPUTER LABS

The computer laboratories in Spokane and Yakima are supported by high performance network printers. College of Nursing enrolled students receive 50 free pages per semester.  Additional pages may be purchased in lots of 210 pages per $25.00 ($0.12 per page) through the Finance Office (Room 220AB) in Spokane or Multimedia Lab Office in Yakima. Unused pages may be carried over from one semester to the next; however, unused pages cannot be refunded or prorated.

(Go back to top)

WIRELESS NETWORK ACCESS

Wireless network access is available on the Spokane and Yakima campuses. If you have a wireless laptop or PDA and would like to take advantage of this service, you will need to register your device beforehand. The registration form is available online. YAKIMA STUDENTS go to tp://forms.nursing.wsu.edu/renderer.aspx?FormID=6 and follow the instructions provided. SPOKANE students go to http://www.spokane.wsu.edu/campusresources/it/.

Wireless network access may also be available on the Tri-Cities and Vancouver campuses. Please check with your campus’ Information Technology departments for registration procedures and access.

(Go back to top)

SOFTWARE

Standard Software

Several software programs needed to complete your coursework are available on all computers in the multimedia labs. This standard software includes, Microsoft Office Professional, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Norton Anti-Virus, SPSS for Windows, Adobe Acrobat Reader, and various Internet browser plug-in programs.

Computer Aided Instruction (CAI)

A host of Computer Aided Instruction (CAI) programs which provide tutorials, simulations, and other learning modules and strategies are installed on the computers in the multimedia and computer labs. Additionally, a large collection of these programs are available for checkout and use within the lab area from the Multimedia Lab Office in Spokane and Yakima. These programs are also available in the library and W140 lab in Tri Cities and in VMMC101 and VCLB 218 in Vancouver.

(Go back to top)

myWSU PORTAL

myWSU is an environment through which you can access Web-based information and tools from a single Internet location. myWSU is designed to present the information and tools that you need, without the clutter of information and tools one doesn't use. It was created to enhance teaching, learning, communication, and conduct University business online.  Financial aid, grades, schedules, etc. are all available from the portal.

(Go back to top)

BLACKBOARD

Blackboard (aka NursingOnline) is an on-line courseware management platform. Training and support for this environment is available to all students, faculty and staff.

All on-line nursing courses are hosted on the Blackboard server located in Spokane.  Faculty, staff and students at all sites enjoy the same levels of access to the server. You must self-enroll in Blackboard-based courses after you have officially registered for the courses with the Registrar.  Instructions are available from, http://nursingonline.wsu.edu.

Recommendations for minimum computer and software configurations for off-campus access to the online course environment are posted on the College’s web site at http://nursing.wsu.edu/online/computers.htm.

(Go back to top)

ONLINE MEDIA HOLDING CATALOG

A catalog listing all instructional media and CAI programs held by the College at the various campus locations is available online from, http://nursing.wsu.edu/avcatalog.

(Go back to top)

EQUIPMENT CHECKOUT

Use of equipment for College of Nursing course-related activities may be arranged through the Multimedia Lab Office in Spokane and picked up between 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday - Friday ONLY. Equipment check-out is on a first-come first-serve basis. All equipment checkout policies apply.

Laptop Computers

A limited number of laptop computers are available for a 2-hour, in-building, checkout by students in Spokane. 

Video Cameras

Two video cameras are available for student support of course-related projects.  One is a VHS camcorder and the other is a digital DVD camcorder.

(Go back to top)

DISTANCE EDUCATION CLASSROOMS

There are six classrooms in Spokane that use interactive videoconferencing technologies, four at ICN and two at the Riverpoint campus. CON classrooms include, rooms 156 (112 seats), 166 (35 seats), 214 (12 seats) and 118 (10 seats). Riverpoint classrooms include rooms, SCLS 122 Auditorium (200 seats) and SAC 20 (177 seats).

In Yakima, there are three classrooms that use interactive videoconferencing technologies, two classrooms holding 25 students each and one classroom with a capacity of 10.

Tri Cities, Vancouver, and Walla Walla all have similar classroom infrastructure.

All instruction conducted in these distance education classrooms are recorded for later viewing (by faculty permission) and as a network failure contingency.  Most interactive classrooms use Pullman’s Academic Media Services (AMS) network, scheduling and connecting infrastructure.

(Go back to top)

CLASS LECTURE RECORDINGS

(Go back to top)

COURSE VIDEOSTREAMS

Selected nursing courses are videostreamed to students who would otherwise be unable to participate in instruction due to a distance greater than 50 miles from a participating classroom. Some course videostreams may also be archived for on-demand access by students wishing to review content. 

All access to videostreams must be authorized by the course faculty and require specific user ID and password provided by the course faculty.

Because video streams are compressed information and delivered by the Internet, quality is greatly reduced in comparison to other telecommunication options. Videostreams are also subject to the speed of Internet connection. At home, a connection may not be adequate to receive a videostream.  To receive a videostream requires a powerful computer, speedy Internet connections, and the Real Player plug-in.

Videostreamed College of Nursing courses are hosted on Washington State University servers. System guidelines and an overview of videostreaming at WSU can be found at the following website, http://ams.wsu.edu/AMS/VCSupportServices/Videostreaming.aspx

(Go back to top)

COURSE PODCASTS

Selected nursing courses are podcast for students to use as a supplement to course lectures. Podcasts are made available within two working days of the lecture date. Links to podcasts are also posted to Blackboard for courses that utilize that environment. 

(Go back to top)

COMPUTER AND SOFTWARE PURCHASE FOR PERSONAL USE

Microsoft Select Software

The Microsoft Select Program provides current faculty, staff, and students the ability to purchase a limited selection of Microsoft software at deeply discounted prices. For more information on this program, logon to my.wsu.edu and select Tech Tools from the navigation menu on the left. The software may be purchased from e-Academy (http://elms10.e-academy.com/wsu).

Dell University Program

WSU has teamed up with Dell Computers to offer you the Dell University Program. The program offers discounts to WSU faculty, staff and students on Dell computers, accessories, and software. You may select from the recommended WSU bundles or browse the entire Dell catalog.

You may access WSU’s Dell University Program from, http://www.dell.com/wsu. 

(Go back to top)

FREE SOFTWARE FOR PERSONAL USE

Microsoft Developer Network Academic Alliance

Microsoft is making a number of its software products (with the exception of the MS Office Suite) available at no cost to current WSU students and teaching faculty. 

For more information on this program, logon to my.wsu.edu and select Tech Tools from the navigation menu on the left.

The software may be downloaded from MSDN Academic Alliance (https://msdn03.e-academy.com/wsu/).

Antivirus Software

University policy requires that all computers using the WSU network are protected by antivirus software at all times. To facilitate compliance and to protect all users of WSU network resources, antivirus software is available to registered WSU students, and current faculty and staff for home use at no cost.

The software may be downloaded from, http://www.scs.wsu.edu/sav or checked out from the Multimedia Lab Office (Spokane and Yakima).

(Go back to top)

TRAINING

Orientation

Orientations for incoming students on use to the services and resources available from ITS ART are scheduled at the beginning of each semester in Spokane and Yakima. Vancouver and Tri Cities campuses offer orientations on limited basis or by request.

Workshops and Seminars

Basic and advanced computer workshops are offered throughout the academic year on use of various software programs in Spokane. Students may attend general workshops for a nominal fee. Registration for these workshops is through the ITS Administrative Assistant in Room 157. Workshops are also offered at Vancouver through the Vancouver Information Technology Services (VIT).

Skills Soft Online Training

Skill Soft is an online training resource with over 2,100 interactive courses and over 8,000 books. It is available to all current employees and students and accessible from anywhere you have an Internet connection. You can access this valuable resource directly from, http://www.hrs.wsu.edu/skillsoft. Log in using your NID.

(Go back to top)

HELP DESK

Click here to see information regarding the ITS Help Desk. 

(Go back to top)