Computer Support Policy for Students

Fully Supported Systems
Partially Supported Systems
Unsupported Systems
Requirements for All
Dorm Networking
Wireless Networking
Academic Software
Minimum System Requirements
Getting Help

To maintain the highest level of service, the Academic Computing Center identifies standard products and configurations, and provides varying degrees of computer support depending upon how closely you adhere to those standards. Below is our policy for students living on-campus. Students living off-campus receive similar support, but do not have access to DormNet, our high-speed campus and Internet network.

Fully Supported Systems

ACC recommends computer models and configurations to matriculating students. If you have purchased one of these recommended computer models, we are committed to fully supporting it for your four academic years by providing operating system, networking and application level support. We also help facilitate hardware repairs on Apple and Dell systems covered under warranty. All recommended systems include an extended warranty.

Note that as your system ages some upgrades may be needed to keep your recommended system current with updated software and networking infrastructure.

Partially Supported Systems

If you have a computer system that was not specifically recommended by ACC, but meets our minimum recommended requirements, it may connect to our network and run Haverford's standard software. However, we do not guarantee this and we limit the connection and operating system support we offer you. Our standard instructions, software installers, and other guides should work, but you are on your own if you have difficulty with these.

Some non-supported systems meeting our minimum requirements cannot properly run the required security software; such systems pose a risk to other computers and are not permitted on our campus network.

We will fully support application software, such as Microsoft Office, on all systems meeting our minimum requirements, provided that support does not require reinstalling the operating system or tampering with required security software.

Unsupported Systems

If your system does not meet our minimum recommended requirements posted for this academic year, we will not provide support. Although we will not stop you from using such a system, you will be limited in terms of network access and you will have difficulty running standard Haverford software. We will provide a working network jack allowing you to obtain an IP address via DHCP, if you can confirm that your system adheres to our security policies. However, you must figure out how to configure your system on your own. ACC will provide neither technical support nor documentation. Minimum requirements are updated annually, and posted on our web site.

Requirements For All Computer Users

Regardless of the computer you choose, YOU are responsible for your computer and the files on your computer. You must take all reasonable measures to keep your computer and data safe! Keep all relevant program disks, documentation, and copies of system invoices near your computer at all times–including the original system disks, MS Office disks, and any boot disks provided with your system or created as part of the setup process. You should have all startup and program disks on campus while you are at Haverford. Back up your document files, email, and other data. Do not open attachments or follow web links unless you are expecting them. Get help as soon as you notice you have a problem.

To safeguard against security problems, you are required to take several precautions to protect your computer. You must install and run all critical updates for your operating system and Microsoft Office, the college provided virus protection software as configured by ACC, and other software or security updates as mandated through computing center publications and email bulletins. If you do not run this software as directed you may have your email temporarily suspended, and if the situation is not corrected, you may be subject to loss of network service. Specific information and directions for installing this software is distributed to students at the start of the fall semester and is available on the ACC web site.

If you have problems with your computer, you should first seek help from your Residential Computing Consultant (RCC) by filling out the HELPME form in the Help section of the ACC web site. Your RCC will work with you and help you resolve your computer problems, provided that the work needed to resolve the problem falls within the boundaries of this support policy. Your RCC cannot perform hardware repairs, but can help determine if you have a hardware problem. If you have a Macintosh or Dell system requiring hardware repairs, your RCC can help facilitate these repairs. Alternately, you can bring your system to the Help Desk during Help Desk hours.

Equipment for Connecting to DormNet

To connect to the network from your dorm room, your computer must support Ethernet. All fully supported computer models include built-in Ethernet.

Academic Computing sells the CAT5e network cable needed to connect your computer to the network jack in your dorm room. This cable looks a bit like a phone cable, but a phone cable will not work. If buy this network cable from ACC, we guarantee it for your four years at Haverford.

Haverford provides one network connection for each student living in our dorms. If your dorm room, suite or apartment has an unused jack, you may connect an additional computer (or other network device); follow the instructions we provide on our DormNet web site.

Equipment for Connecting to Haverford's Wireless Network

In addition to networking in the dorms, Haverford supports wireless networking in many locations around campus. To use the wireless network, your computer must support the 802.11b/g wireless protocol. All our recommended laptops support 802.11b/g. You will often see the term "Wi-Fi enabled" when a system supports the 802.11b/g protocol.

In addition to this hardware, you must configure your system with special VPN software. This software, available through the ACC web site, can be run on Windows XP, Vista and Mac OS X systems.

You may not extend the college network through your own wireless access points, switches or routers. Equipment such as Apple’s Base Station and other wireless routers can interfere with the campus wireless equipment and compromise the security of the campus network.

Required Academic Software

All computers on campus need a licensed copy of Microsoft Office that includes Word, Excel and PowerPoint, the standard word processing, spreadsheet and presentation graphics programs used at Haverford College. If you use different software programs your professors may not be able to read your papers or other assignments, and you will have trouble completing group projects with your classmates.

Any version of Microsoft Office that meets our minimum requirements will be supported. However, we recommend you order the steeply discounted Microsoft Office academic versions available via Journey Ed. Microsoft requires that you buy a separate copy for each person running Microsoft Office; it is illegal to install a copy of Microsoft Office already used by a family member or friend. In addition, you may need the original disks to install periodic security updates issued by Microsoft, and required by ACC.

Generally, Microsoft Office is the only software you will need to purchase. Other popular supported software packages are free or site-licensed by Haverford College for your use while you are on campus.

Minimum System Requirements

Each academic year, Haverford posts updated minimum requirements to our web site. The minimum requirements are not recommendations. Rather, these minimum requirements outline the minimum hardware and software you need to maintain if you wish to get support from Academic Computing.

Our minimum requirements roughly correspond to system recommendations made when this year's graduating class matriculated into Haverford. Even if your computer meets our minimum requirements today, you may need to upgrade or replace it in future years. Each year we make improvements to our network infrastructure and support new versions of software and we increase our minimum system requirements accordingly.