Technology at Carleton

Owned by Martin Hoffman
Last updated: May 10, 2023 by R Kevin Chapman
8 min read
Table of Contents


Overview

This page provides recommendations for different ways to access technology at Carleton based on the diverse needs of the student body. We also list some of the intricacies of tech at Carleton and a number of support resources for when your tech malfunctions. If you cannot find the answers to your questions here, the ITS Helpdesk is always happy to give more detail via phone at 507-222-5999, email helpdesk@carleton.edu, or chat at go.carleton.edu/helpdesk.




Personal Computers

I Already Have My Own Device - Is It Up to the Task?


Apple MacBooks and Windows Laptops

   For the most part, if you have a fully functional laptop running Windows or macOS, your machine should be just fine. If it can access the internet, load basic web-based software (e.g. Gmail, Netflix, etc.), and you are comfortable with its ability to perform productivity tasks (e.g. typing documents, building presentations, reading email, and accessing the web), you should be able to continue using your machine at Carleton. Devices running MacOS 12 "Monterey", MacOS 13 "Ventura", or Windows 11 are most likely to be compatible. MacOS 11 "Big Sur" and Windows 10 will be supported for as long as Apple and Microsoft continue to release security updates.


Chromebooks

   We have found that Chromebooks don't provide enough functionality or options to meet all the needs of a four year career at Carleton. While they can easily be used to check Moodle, email, chat sessions, etc. they are not always suited for curricular work. Chromebooks are incompatible with a lot of software packages commonly used on campus, such as Office, the stats suite "R", or Mathematica. Chromebooks can connect to the wireless and wired networks, as well as print to Carleton printers. However, if a Chromebook is your only option, depending on the classes that you take in any given term, you should expect to make liberal use of the public computer labs located across the campus.


Tablets

   Tablets running a full-featured version of the Windows operating system, such as the Microsoft Surface Pro or Surface Go line of machines, can be great replacements for laptops. Even budget Windows devices that cost under $200 can provide a solid level of productivity since they can install full software applications in addition to basic functions such as checking Moodle, email, chat sessions, etc. (Note that less expensive machines will have a lower spec, which may mean they are incapable of running some of the more intensive software applications). 

However, devices that run iOS or Android often have severe drawbacks. They can, in most cases, connect to the Carleton network. They often cannot print or install important software. Similar to Chromebooks, if your personal machine is a tablet expect to make liberal use of the public computer labs.

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I'm Not Bringing a Device - Is That Going to be OK?

While it is possible to succeed at Carleton without a personal computer, it can be a little harder. Homework and class assignments are often easier when they can be done on the students' own schedule, and from the comfort of their dorm room (or favorite work space). There are also a handful of classes where faculty prefer students bring their own laptops, though these take place in classroom labs where school computers are available for use. It is therefore generally recommended that students bring a laptop of their own if at all possible. Financial assistance is available through the college.


Public and Departmental Computer Labs

While it is recommended that students have their own personal computer, we know that that is not always possible. Also, accidents happen, computers sometimes fail, and there are occasions when a larger screen or very specific software is required for an assignment. In these cases, there are two options available to students. 


  • Public Labs

    The public labs maintained by ITS provide students with over 200 machines across campus. All software needs for the curriculum are met by these labs. For specifics, refer to the Public Labs wiki page.

  • Departmental Labs
    These specialized labs provide machines that are well equipped for the specific tasks required by various classes in the corresponding department, especially when those tasks having demanding hardware or software requirements.

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I'm Getting a New Device - Are There Recommendations?

Yes there are. We have recommendations for different specs (and price ranges), as well as a link to our partner vendor's website, in our Purchasing Guide.

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Support Resources

ITS Helpdesk

The ITS Helpdesk is a centralized support center for all students, staff and faculty on campus. The Helpdesk provides break/fix technical support for college owned computers, printers, and related hardware. It also provides support and a limited repair service for students' personally owned devices. The Helpdesk is also the the first point of contact for all other technology related support, including account issues, networking (wired and wireless), cloud storage, and much more. For more information about how to contact the ITS Helpdesk and when they are open please visit the ITS Helpdesk page.

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Drop-Off Center

Carleton runs a free repair service for student laptops, the Student Drop-off Center or DOC. At the DOC they can diagnose and repair a wide range of hardware and software issues. Visit the Drop-Off Center website for more information about the DOCs and the services they provide.

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Assistive Technologies

AzTechs are ITS student staff specially trained to support students with disabilities on campus. They are responsible for documentation and organization of the various technology-related accessibility tools available at Carleton, and are equipped to direct students to the best programs to suit their personal and academic needs. They are available for one-on-one, private consultations about computing features and accessibility software. Visit the Assistive Technology website for more information about who the AzTechs are and what they do.

Note: we will be revising the Assistive Tech program in the summer of 2023 in order to improve our support offerings and loaner equipment program, and to better coordinate with our colleagues in Academic Technology and the Office of Accessibility Resources.

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Beyond the Computer


Internet and Networking

Please see our /wiki/spaces/TAR/pages/26451616 page for more detailed info. Below is an overview of various aspects of internet and networking at Carleton.

Wireless: Wireless access is available in all buildings on campus and many outdoor spaces. For your personal computer and phones, we recommend using our secure eduroam network. Please visit the eduroam wireless setup page for more information on how to connect to the eduroam network. Note that eduroam is only available to devices that support a web browser (laptops, smart phones, etc.); devices without a web browser (such as gaming consoles) need to be registered on our more open CarletonGuests network.

Wired / Ethernet: All dorm rooms on campus have Ethernet ports, though with the shift in technology towards all wireless, they are generally used less often. For those students who want to use these ports, we provide ethernet cables for free at the ITS Helpdesk. Most commonly, students will use a wired connection for stationary devices such as desktops or gaming consoles. Historically, wired connections have offered faster and more secure connections than wireless, but in recent years, there is little difference in performance between the two.

Smart Devices: A smart device is an electronic device, generally connected to other devices or networks via wireless protocols such as Bluetooth, NFC, Wi-Fi, 3G, etc.. . An example of a smart device would be an app-connected light bulb. Smart devices are designed for home network environments, with a relatively simple setup and a single wireless router. At Carleton we have an enterprise network which is significantly more complex, and that can cause problems for some smart devices. We have noticed that smart devices with a configurable interface, such as a smart TV or a Roku, tend to function without problems on our network. Other devices, such as smart light bulbs, that you cannot directly configure, often experience problems. If you have specific questions about bringing a smart device to Carleton, please contact the ITS Helpdesk.

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Smart Phones and Service Providers

Students, Faculty and Staff at Carleton use many different kinds of phones and phone service providers. Through a very informal survey we have found that carriers like AT&T, Verizon and Sprint all work well at Carleton. Some members of our community have commented that T-Mobile does not have the best service on campus, though coverage may have improved in recent years. Using WiFi to make phone calls or send messages has often worked just fine as an alternative. If you are already on a phone service plan we do not think it is necessary to switch to another plan for your time at Carleton.

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Data Backups

There are two main ways to backup your personal data (documents, photos, music, etc.): with an external hard drive, or with a cloud backup service. Backing up your data is extremely important. Having an up to date backup safeguards your data in the event that your machine fails. At the Drop-Off Center, we frequently receive machines that have failed, have no functional backup, and have find ourselves having to break the news about total data loss.


External Drive: With current storage capacities, an external drive can be a full external hard drive, a high-capacity USB thumb drive, or even an SD card. You can purchase an external drive, connect it to your machine (Mac or Windows), and backup your data. Just remember to store it separate from the computer, otherwise a situation like a lost or water damaged backpack can result in losing both your original and backup data.  Mac and Windows have built-in tools to help facilitate regular back-ups. 

Cloud Backup Service: There are dedicated backup services such as Carbonite and Backblaze that will back up your data to their cloud servers. If your hard drive ever fails you can download whatever you had backed up.

Cloud Storage: Online cloud storage options such as Google Drive and DropBox also offer a relatively straightforward method of maintaining a copy of your files somewhere other than your machine. While not technically backup storage, their functionality is similar in many ways. Note that, if you have a lot of personal data, or work with large files (e.g. hi-def movies) that require a lot of storage space, the cost of these services may increase.

For information about backing up your data, please visit this Wirecutter article about backing up your computer.

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(Anti-)Malware

Anti-malware software is important in keeping your personal machine safe and usable. We believe that the default anti-virus programs on personal machines, Windows Defender and macOS built in defenses, are sufficient at keeping your laptop clean. A helpful addition would be to download a free scanning software, such as Malwarebytes, to run a full scan of your machine every week. We believe those two things in tandem should keep your computer virus free. If you suspect your machine is infected with malware, you can drop your machine off with the DOC (Student Drop-Off Center).

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DUO: Two-Factor Authentication

Two-factor authentication requires a second step to confirm your identity after signing in with your username and password. This helps to secure account if, for example, someone else gets ahold of your login information. There are many options for this second form of authentication, but the most commonly-used is in the form of a code or push notification sent to your phone. This method has gained popularity in the past few years, and is now industry standard for universities and businesses alike.

Students, staff, and faculty with active Carleton accounts are all required to use two-factor authentication on their accounts. The tool that we use for this is called DUO. To learn how to set up Duo authentication at Carleton, and for some convenient tips and tricks, please visit the Duo authentication page.

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Printing

Carleton has about 200 networked printers and multi-function devices* that are shared by Carleton faculty, staff, students, and visitors. There are printers and MFDs located in all of the public labs and also in the Goodhue residence hall. For a long list of articles related to printing, please see the Knowledge Base Printing page.

*Multi-function devices, or MFDs, can print, copy, and scan.

Student Printing

In order to better manage our printer waste, students are assigned a print quota at the start of each academic year. For more information on how this works, please refer to the Understanding Print Quota page.