Computer Resources for Students

Technology is an important ingredient of a university education today and will be an essential part of any future. CSU, Chico provides the tools and services you need to succeed now and after you graduate. Basic skills are not difficult to learn, and the resources to help you with those skills are not hard to find. Please see the flyer, Getting Wired, or go to http://www.csuchico.edu/inf/GW.pdf.

Familiarity with computers and their uses is an important part of many academic programs and majors. Frequently, instructors communicate with students through electronic mail or make assignments that require computer applications. Increasingly, database programs, presentation software applications, or student-designed Web pages will be part of a class experience. Many faculty have Web pages for classes with online syllabi, supplementary materials, or links to other Web sites. Through networked computers, students communicate with others in their field and conduct research. Through the Portal, students can register for classes and access campus information about class schedules, financial aid, campus events, library resources, and more.

Information Literacy

Information literacy, the ability to identify what information is needed and the skills to locate, evaluate, and use information, whether from a book, a journal article, or other resources on the Internet, is recognized as an essential requirement for today's graduating student.

There will be many opportunities to gain these competencies. Workshops on information resources and technology are offered throughout the semester. Several General Education courses, some elective courses, and courses for your major incorporate the technical, social, and critical elements of information literacy.

Each academic program has a responsibility to ensure that students majoring in its discipline receive the requisite computer background. Computer requirements in a major may involve a single course or a combination of courses taught at lower or upper-division levels. The university computer literacy requirement is thus an integral part of the academic major.

Student Computing provides open access computer labs which are available to all students. The open access labs are in MLIB 116, MLIB 450, and THMA 131. For lab hours see the Web page: http://www.csuchico.edu/stcp or phone the Student Computing helpdesk at 898-4357. Additional computer labs are operated by many departments on campus for students taking their courses and for their majors. Check with your department office for availability.

Computer labs are available for residents' use in Lassen, Shasta, Whitney, Mechoopda, Konkow, and University Village. Most residence halls are in the process of providing a network connection in each room. Check with the ResNet program (http://www.csuchico.edu/resnet) for information.

Acceptable Use Policy

CSU, Chico has implemented a policy for use of electronic resources. It is the responsibility of the user to read and comply with the policy. See http://www.csuchico.edu/prs/EMs/EM97/em97_18.htm

It is highly recommended that students have their own computer and Internet connectivity at their residence. Computers in labs are considered to be a supplement to student-owned computers, not a replacement.

Hardware Recommendations:

For information on computer hardware recommendations, computer loans, and purchase options see the Student Computing Web page at www.csuchico.edu/stcp.

Software Recommendations:

Microsoft Office, Internet Explorer, and Mozilla Firefox are the primary applications used on campus. Microsoft software is available at low cost to students from the AS Bookstore.

Find a host of important up-to-date campus information, including daily updates of the Class Schedule, and other important information through The Chico Home Page on the World Wide Web.

The campus increasingly relies on e-mail to communicate with students via the student WildcatMail system. Accounts on WildcatMail are provided free for all students. Students who would prefer to use their existing e-mail accounts or another e-mail system should initialize their WildcatMail account and forward it to their e-mail account of choice. For information see www.csuchico.edu/stcp/email.

All students have an account in the Portal. The portal provides single-sign-on access to a number of personalized services including e-mail, calendar, course registration and add/drop, course schedule, online classes, grades, campus news, and more. For information on initializing your portal account, see the Student Computing Web page at www.csuchico.edu/stcp

CSU, Chico students are strongly encouraged to activate and use their personal portal account on the Portal. Through the Chico Portal you will have access to most student services and be able to look at selected personal information directly from your official student records. The information from your record is current and "real-time," and is being made available to you only after the university has established strict measures to guarantee its security. You may access the Portal from the Chico Web or go directly to the CSU, Chico Portal.

After you have logged on, you will proceed through a series of pages to access your information, as follows:

1. Click on the 'Student Services' tab at the top of the page.
2. Click on 'Records and Registration Services' tab.
3. Click on 'Student Information.'

Hours Available: 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. Daily

Student Personal Information on the Portal will be available from approximately 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. This information is dependent upon the administrative database, and therefore is not available during the hours when the database is off-line for backup, maintenance, or other activities.

The security of your record has been our highest concern in designing the Portal. We had to take into consideration that students may access this information from on-campus computers, and therefore, exceptional measures were taken to make sure the next student to use that computer cannot "walk-in" on your session, and have access to your information.

While we have done as much as possible to assure the security of your information, security of your personal information is your responsibility! Protect your password, change it if you believe others may have had access to your password and account log-on information. When finished with any session, be sure to click on the logout button at the top of the page.