Students
Special IT Services for Students
Virtual Computer Lab (VCL)
UMass Boston provides a remote access service that allows you to reserve a computer image with a desired set of applications, and remotely access it over the Internet. The Virtual Computer Lab (VCL) contains a number of images for use on/off campus to allow students, faculty and staff access to software, which may not be available due to class scheduling in our computer labs.
You can access the VCL by using any browser of your choice: Internet Explorer, Chrome, Firefox or Safari. Type the following URL - https://umb.vcl.umassd.edu. To learn more about this service and to how to connect to the VCL please visit: http://www.umb.edu/it/getting_services/computer_labs/vcl
Hardware
UMass Boston and Dell through one of their resellers have reached an agreement to offer our students special pricing on a wide array of computers & peripherals. You can also avail of special pricing on Apple products. [see details]
Software - Mathematica [** New version 9.x now available **]
UMass Boston has entered into an agreement with Wolfram, makers of Mathematica - to make accessible this product to all our students. [see details]
Software - MS Office & Windows
UMass Boston has partnered with GovConnection to offer special pricing on several products. One of the more popular products they offer is MS Office at greatly discounted pricing. Office Professional 2010, Office 2008 for the Mac and Windows 7 are just some of the deep discounts you can avail off. [see details]
Security - McAfee AntiVirus Plus
As a faculty, staff or student of UMass Boston, you can now take advantage of a 1-year subscription to McAfee® AntiVirus Plus™ ($9.99) at 75% off the retail price ($40). This subscription gives you proactive security for your personal PC by preventing malicious attacks and keeping you safe while you surf, search, and download files online. And McAfee’s security service continuously delivers the latest software so your protection is never out-of-date. By installing McAfee AntiVirus Plus on your personal system, you’ll not only be protecting your PC from malicious threats, but you’ll also help UMass Boston strengthen its IT security against transferable viruses and spyware. [see details]
Securing your Laptop [10 ways to secure your laptop]
Students of UMass Boston can now purchase PcPhoneHome or MacPhoneHome, which tracks and locates missing computers at 50% off the list price. There are over a million computers stolen over the past 3 years and this number is on the rise. The cost of installing PcPhoneHome or MacPhoneHome is $14.95 - a 50% saving over the list price. This is a ONE-TIME price. You can download the software by visiting: http://www.brigadoonsoftware.com/umbedu.html - For more information and questions about this product please visit: http://pcphonehome.com/technical-support.html
Training
The Information Technology Training department offers a wide variety of workshops that students can avail off. Please visit our training portal at http://training.umb.edu for an overview and listing of our workshops. Besides listing upcoming workshops, the training portal provides access to "Web Based" training resources such as "Microsoft's IT Academy" and the "Sun Learning Connection". You can also access "Tutorials and handouts" that the IT staff have prepared on using Blackboard, eMail, Library Research, Windows 7, and MS Office". [see details]
UMass Boston and Dell through one of their resellers have reached an agreement to offer our students a wide array of specially priced computers from Dell (PDF). To view a complete listing of the products please visit their site at: Special priced students bundles from Dell
If you have questions please call (877) 310-9945
UMass Boston and Apple have reached an agreement to offer students special pricing on a wide array of Apple / Macintosh products.
If you have questions please call:
Jennifer Sales - Apple Internal Representative for UMass
jsales@apple.com
Phone: 800-800-2775 ext. 46558
Software - Mathematica
Mathematica is a software package which is ideal for communicating scientific ideas, whether this is visualization of a concept in an intro-level course, or creating a simulation of a new idea related to research. Mathematica is used in virtually all of the world's top research universities and liberal arts colleges, and is commonly used in the following types of departments --- Mathematical Sciences, Physical Sciences, Business and Finance, Life Sciences, Engineering, Computer Science
How to Get Mathematica
Student personal machines, click here for Student Wolfram User Portal download site
Instructions:
- Click link above, choose “Continue without signing in”
- Use organization email, @umb.edu, and request Activation Key,
- Check email for link to download installer,
- Create WolframID and download installer,
- Run installer and enter Activation Key
Tutorials to Learn Mathematica
The first two tutorials are excellent for new users, and can be assigned to students to learn Mathematica outside of class time.
- First Ten Minutes with Mathematica - Shows most current tips and templates to get started with Mathematica, including free-form input
- Hands-On Start to Mathematica - Review and assign to students as homework for more in-depth overview
Collection of tutorials to branch out and explore more specific applications and areas of Mathematica.
- Learning Center - Search Wolfram's large collection of materials for example calculations or tutorials in your field of interest
Download the presentation made by Wolfram on using Mathematica October 2011 - [Need Mathematica to view]
Teaching with Mathematica
- How To Create a Lecture Slideshow - Show a mixture of graphics, calculations, nicely formatted text, as slides with live calculations or animations in class
- Assigning Student Projects (Video Tutorial) - Give students guided projects to explore concepts either through a Course Management System to supplement your text
- Full Collection of How To Tutorials - Ranging from how to create animations to basic syntax information
Research with Mathematica
- Programming and Parallel Computing Basics (Video Tutorial) - Learn how to create programs and take advantage of multi-core machines or a dedicated cluster
- Scope of Field-Specific Applications - Learn what areas of Mathematica are useful for specific fields
Software - MS Office & Windows
UMass Boston has partnered with GovConnection to offer special pricing on several products. One of the more popular products they offer is MS Office at greatly discounted pricing. Please visit http://www.govconnection.com/umassboston to view option.
Tips on getting the best pricing on Microsoft products
- Remember to first create an account at http://www.govconnection.com/umassboston
- Use your UMass Boston email address as your username
- Once you have created an account click on "Microsoft License and Media"
Great Deals:
- Purchase MS Office 2010 for about $90.34,
- MS Office 2011 for the Macintosh for about $90.34,
- Upgrade to Windows 7 for about $58
Contact Eric Norwalt if you require assistance 800-998-0080
Security- McAfee AntiVirus Plus
As a faculty, staff or student of UMass Boston, you can now take advantage of a 1-year subscription to McAfee® AntiVirus Plus ™ ($9.99) at 75% off the retail price ($39.99). This subscription gives you proactive security for your personal PC by preventing malicious attacks and keeping you safe while you surf, search, and download files online. And McAfee’s security service continuously delivers the latest software so your protection is never out-of-date.
By installing McAfee AntiVirus Plus on your personal system, you’ll not only be protecting your PC from malicious threats, but you’ll also help UMass Boston strengthen its IT security against transferable viruses and spyware.
To buy your copy of McAfee AntiVirus Plus
- Use your UMass Boston email address and go to: http://www.mcafee.com/umassboston
- Use the school code: UMAD7B085F
To learn more about McAfee AntiVirus software program.
Training
The Information Technology Training department offers a wide variety of workshops that students can avail off. Please visit our training portal at http://training.umb.edu for an overview and listing of our workshops.
Besides listing upcoming workshops, the training portal provides access to "Web Based" training resources such as "Microsoft's IT Academy" and the "Sun Learning Connection". You can also access "Tutorials and handouts" that the IT staff have prepared on using Blackboard, eMail, Library Research, Windows 7, and MS Office".
Some of the workshops that students can attend are:
- Safe Computing - Protecting your laptop or desktop computer
- Introduction to the Technology Program - A series of workshops designed to improve computer skills through hands-on workshops
- Library Tools - such as using RefWorks
For additional information please contact:
Caroline Cappuccio
617-287-5221
caroline.cappuccio@umb.edu
or
Instructional Technology Center
617-287-3990
itc@umb.edu
I.T., Administration & Finance and other departments across the campus have collaborated to bring you Training in a wide variety of topics. Visit the Training Portal to view and register for upcoming workshops. Please contact Caroline Cappuccio (caroline.cappuccio@umb.edu) for additional information.
