For Students
Technology resources to help you with your studies.
First Things First
- 1Get a Computer or Use Ours
-
To take full advantage of the many services available to you at the UW, your computer should be fast and have plenty of memory and disk space.
- Large computing centers with Windows and Macintosh computers are available in Odegaard Undergraduate Library. Also, many schools and colleges have additional computing centers for their students.
- The UWare Software Guide provides information about software available free or at a discount.
- The University Bookstore Tech Center offers significant discounts on software and hardware for students. Ask about Academic Software pricing.
- UW Seattle students who pay the Student Technology Fee can download a free copy of Microsoft software products, including Office 2010 and Windows 7. UW Bothell and UW Tacoma have separate agreements.
The Tools for Safe and
Secure Computing page provides all the virus
protection, terminal session, and file transfer
software you need to securely connect to and use
UW computing and networking services.- To prevent attacks on your computer, Protect your password, work with your computer support staff to keep your software up-to-date, and use virus protection software.
- 2Manage Your UW NetID Services
-
Your
UW NetID is your
personal identification giving you access to UW
networking and computing services. If you are a student
at the UW and have not already received your UW NetID,
you can create your
own.- Use the Manage Your UW NetID Services site to select your email service, set email forwarding, check on how much central disk space you are using, add new services, and much more.
- Student organizations registered with the Student Activies Office can create a shared UW NetID account for their projects.
- 3Connect to UW Networks
-
You can connect to UW networks in several ways from on and off campus.
- Some libraries provide networked study desks or tables where you can directly plug into UW networks using your own cable.
Wireless
(Wi-Fi) is available in most buildings on
campus. - If you are a resident in one of the UW Seattle residence halls, you do have the option to setup your own wireless hub, but follow the instructions carefully.
- 4Choose, Set Up, and Use Your
Email
-
Your default UW email address consists of your UW NetID followed by "@u.washington.edu" (your_uwnetid@u.washington.edu). You now also have the option of using the shorter"@uw.edu", but some configuration of your email program may be necessary (see Using the uw.edu Address).
UW Outlook
Live is a free email service available
for current UW students, faculty, staff, alumni, and
former students. It provides ad-free
email and calendaring with 10 GB of storage and
continued use of your @u.washington.edu or @uw.edu
email address. To activate a UW Outlook Live
account, you must sign up for a UW Windows Live
ID.
UW Google
Email is a free email service available
for current UW students, faculty, staff, alumni, and
former students. It provides ad-free
email and calendaring with over 7 GB of storage
and continued use of your @u.washington.edu or
@uw.edu email address. To activate a UW Google
Email account, you must sign up for UW Google Apps
services.- Set your email forwarding by going to the Manage Your UW NetID Services site. Doing so ensures that email sent to your default my_uwnetid@u.washington.edu email address will reach you, including official email from the UW.
More Technology Resources to Support You in Your Studies
- Computing workshops
-
Free computing workshops at UW Seattle can get you quickly started on using your computer and its software for word processing, graphics, videos, Web publishing, and much more.
- Emergency preparedness
-
The UW Emergency Management site contains extensive information about planning for and responding to emergencies.
- Sign up for UW Alerts and receive alerts on your cellphone or by email.
- Information about you
-
The UW maintains an online directory for its students, faculty, and staff.
- You can update your own directory information by entering MyUW and going to the Quick Links box and clicking on Change Student Address.
- m.UW (Mobile UW)
-
m.UW is an application for your iPhone or iPod Touch that connects you to UW resources when you are on the go.
- Most other smart phones can access the same information by pointing their Web browser at the mobile version of the m.UW site.
- MyUW
-
MyUW is your
personal Web page, giving you convenient access to the
UW information you use most in a way that you can
personalize to meet your own needs.- You can register for classes, check your Husky Card balance, and much more.
- Phones
-
Discounts are available for students on personal cellular phone service from several providers. See Obtain Cellular Phones for Personal Use.
- Student Technology Fee
-
The Student Technology Fee that you paid along with your tuition helps provide and support many of the computing and networking services you have available to you here at the UW.
- UW-IT Service Catalog
-
The UW Information Technology (UW-IT) Service Catalog lists many technology services of interest to students. Some have fees for specialized services, but many are available at no additional charge. Check out the list of top services for students.
- Web publishing
-
First check with your department about Web publishing resources, including Web servers, templates, and training.
- Web sites and collaboration workspaces can be created in UW Windows Live Spaces and in UW Google Apps Sites.
- UW Catalyst Web Tools give you a powerful set of Web-based communication and collaboration applications you can use. You do not have to know any HTML to use them!
- Central Web servers are available for many different purposes, including setting up your own Web sites, blogs, wikis, content management systems, and streaming media.
- Your studies
-
Extensive resources supporting your education are available through the UW's Student Guide.
- The UW Libraries offers access to huge databases of articles and research, E-journals and E-newspapers, and large collections of digital resources. If connecting from off-campus, remember to log in using the link in the upper-right hand corner.
- Please take time to learn the rules and policy for proper use of UW resources.
- Keep in mind that UW policy and federal law (including the Digital Millenium Copyright Act, DMCA) require that all national and international copyrights be respected. Failure to do so may result in disciplinary action or termination of access to UW services.
