This web page lists frequently asked questions related to campus computing, email and issues/procedures specific to faculty members.

I'm experiencing problems with my college-owned computer system. Who can I contact for help?
Contact the Helpdesk at ext. 4400 for answers to most of your computer-related questions. The Helpdesk staff will answer most questions over the phone, but may visit your office/area to better diagnose the issue. The Helpdesk is staffed during the school year from 9:00am - 6:00pm Monday and Friday; 8:00am - 6:00pm Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday; Closed Saturday; Noon - 6:00pm Sunday. An answering system is available during evening and weekend hours.

I'm experiencing problems with my personal/home-based computer system. Will ITS help me?
ITS generally does not assist campus users with personal computer systems. You may contact B3 Computers at (641)236-9296, or AAA Technologies at (641)236-0305, or Rich May at (641)236-5160 with personal computer questions.

What is Windows Server Quota?
Server quota is a set amount of storage space on the College main campus servers. Most faculty and staff are allotted 150 MB of disk space on the main servers in which to store data and documents.

What happens when I go "over quota"?
When you go "over quota" access to your storage area is temporarily unavailable. There are serveral things you can do to gain access to your files. You can request a temporary increase in quota, so that you may access your storage area and remove unnecessary files. To request a temporary increase, contact ITS office at x4901. You may also request permanent quota increase if you need additional storage space for large projects or data files. Contact ITS at ext. 4901with this request as well. You may also use a File Trasfer Protocol (FTP) process to access your storage area and retrieve your files. For more information on using FTP, contact the Helpdesk at ext. 4400 or a member of your Support Team.

I've heard the term "quota" associated with email as well as file storage. Is there any difference between the two?
Users of Grinnell College's network have two difference quota allotments - one for email and another for file storage. Email quota is the space allotted on the Grinnell ExchangeServer (mail) that allwos you to save your email messages. Server quota is the set amount of space you are allotted for general document storage on the College's servers.

Where are networked printers located on campus?
Networked (shared) printers are located in all academic support offices, most administrative office areas and in the following public computer areas: ARH 107, ARH 124, A-V Center, GIS Plotter - Library(jobs are sent and printed by the library staff), Burling Library 1st and 2nd floor, Interactive Instructional facility in Burling basement, Creative Computer Lab, Lazier Hall, Norris Hall, Read Hall, Younker Hall, SGA offices.

How can I tell what printers are available to me? How do I change my default printer?
In Windows OS, "right-click" the mouse on a specific printer icon. Look for a check mark beside the phrase "Set as Default." Printers are found in a folder by selecting Start/Settings/Printers. If you would like to make the selected printer your default, click the "Set as Default" line and it will reset your default printer.

In Mac OS, your default printer will show up on your desktop with a bold outline around it. You can reset your default by "Command-Clicking" the printer and then setting it as the default.

Does ITS provide training on software applications?
ITS staff provides campus-wide training on supported software applications. Training opportunities are advertised in the Laurel Leaf or on the ITS web site.

I know I have a Support Team for questions, requests, etc., but how do I find out of which team I belong?
Administrative staff and faculty and academic support in the Humanities (non Fine Arts) and Social Studies areas refer to the Blue Team for general computing support. Students and faculty and academic support in the Fine Arts and the Sciences refer to the Green Team for general computing support. If you aren't sure who to call for support, contact the ITS office at ext. 4901 for assistance.

What email programs are available for me to use on campus?
There are a variety of email programs for you to use on campus. If you are working from a PC system, you may use Thunderbird or the campus standard, Microsoft Outlook, for your mail needs. If you are working on a Macintosh, you may use Mac Mail, Entourage or Microsoft Outlook. All campus users, regardless of platform, may access their mail at any time via Outlook Web Access.

What amount of email quota am I given?
Faculty and staff are given 150 MB of email quota.

What happens to my email messages if I exceed my email quota?
When exceeding mail quota, your mail messages will not be delivered to your mailbox. They will be returned to the sender, with a note telling the sender that your mailbox is not available to take delivery of the message. The sender will need to resend the message in its entirety.

I have exceeded my email quota. What do I do now?
When exceeding mail quota, there are a variety of ways to get back "under" quota. Go through your Outbox and Sent Items mailboxes and delete unnecessary messages (Eudora users - emptying the OUT mailbox under Eudora Mail will have no effect on quota). Save any large attachments to your hard drive and delete the message and attachment from all mailboxes. If you are using Microsoft Outlook, you can archive your mailboxes to save space and quota. For more informaiton on archiving, contact your Support Team member. Empty the Deleted and Deleted Items mailboxes (under the Dominant personality in Eudora, or under Mailbox in Outlook).

How do I access my email from off-campus?
In order to access your campus email from an off-campus location, you need an Internet Service Provider (ISP). For the Grinnell area, there are three: Iowa Telecom, NetINS, and Media Com. Once you have an ISP, you may retrieve your email by accessing the Internet and browsing to http://www.grinnell.edu/its/remote/.

How can I have my email fowarded from Grinnell to a different email address?
In order to transfer mail from a grinnell.edu account to a different account, you must forward your messages from your grinnell account to the alternate account. This is a manual operation. Alternatively, you can use Outlook Web Access or an IMAP based client (e.g., Outlook Express,Mac Mail, Entourage) to view your messages from off-site.

My email password expired. How can I get a new one?
In order to change your password you must register at Password Reset. Then you may contact the ITS main office at ext. 4901 for assistance in gaining a new password. You may need to visit the ITS main office with a photo ID before your email password can be changed.

Who can I contact if our office copier or fax needs repair/service?
To request repair or service for your Lanier photocopier or Canon FAX machine, call Midwest Office Technologies at their toll free number - 800 356-4406. The call center will need to know the model # of the machine of which you are requesting service, your name, your location on campus and how best to reach you with additional questions. Individual offices are responsible for service calls on fax machines.

How soon can I expect a service technician to respond to my call?
The service technician will do their best to visit your office within a four-hour period after receiving your call. Midwest Office Technology strives to ensure 95% uptime performance on your equipment.

What supplies are covered under our service contract with Midwest Office Technology?
Toner ink cartridges are the only supplies covered in the MOT photocopier service contract. Supplies, such as paper, staples (if applicable), paper clips and fax machine supplies are not supplied by our service agreement. These items are purchased with department/office funds.

The toner light on the digital panel is flashing. How much time do I have to get a new cartridge and do I call the toll free number to get a new one?
The toner light indicates that the ink cartridge is nearing empty. Once you notice the light flashing, call the MOT toll free number - 800 356-4406 – to order a new cartridge. A new supply should arrive within 1-2 business days. If the ink runs out before you request or receive a new supply, the Office of College Services stores a limited number of cartridges for allocation. To inquire if a cartridge is available, call ext. 4300 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. or e-mail bakerchr@grinnell.edu; please have your photocopier model number available when calling.

I’ve heard that photocopiers can be connected to computers so that documents sent through a network will print directly onto the photocopier. Is this true and can we enable that technology on our campus?
Some photocopiers, though not all, are equipped with the means to allow connectivity to a network. At this point in time, the product of a laser printer is crisper, cleaner, and more professional than that of most photocopiers. It is important that the College produce and distribute documents that convey a professional image. While a photocopier works well when additional documents are needed quickly, this method produces less than satisfactory documents on College stationery. For these reasons, the College will continue to utilize direct-to-laser print technology.

I would like to introduce technology into my class. What resources are available to me?
Curricular Technology Specialists (CTS) are available to assist you with technology implementation in the classroom/laboratory. More information on the CTS staff and their services is located at http://www.grinnell.edu/offices/instructionaltechnologies/

I'm looking for web resources to use in the classroom. Where can I get help with this?
You may receive help in locating information on the Internet by contacting one of the reference librarians in Burling Library. The reference librarians are available at ext. 3353 or by email at query@grinnell.edu.

I want to use an email listserv in my class. How do I set one up?
To set up a listserv, contact either your Support Team or Mike Pifer, Lyris Listserv Administrator, at ext. 4901. They will guide you through the process of creating the list for your class.

I need a certain software package. How can I find out if it is available on campus?
A list of software supported by ITS is available at http://www.grinnell.edu/its/software/

How do I obtain software packages and computer hardware for use in my office to support my teaching?
Software and hardware requests may be directed to your Support Team Leader ( Mark Watts - Blue Team, Karen McRitchie - Green Team).

I want my students to access certain software packages. What labs are available for them and what software is available in the labs?
Students at Grinnell have a variety of locations with computer access capability. Visit http://web.grinnell.edu/resnet/resources.shtml for campus labs and equipment.

Can I reserve one of the public computer labs or one of the instructional computing classrooms for use in my classes?
Reservations of public computer labs is handled by a variety of campus offices, depending on the day, time and lab you would like to reserve. Contact the ITS main office at ext. 4901 to inquire about a reservation contact.