Congratulations! As you prepare for College life it is important to remember that Franklin & Marshall is committed to the integration of computing into all aspects of the curriculum. Using a computer will be part of your daily routine whether it is for academic endeavors or just keeping in touch with friends and family.
For the 2008-09 academic year, Franklin & Marshall College recommends personal ownership of a Macintosh computer and usage of a standard suite of application software (Microsoft Office and Norton Anti-Virus). The standard suite of software can be downloaded from a secure campus web site for both Macintosh and Windows platforms.
This would be a good time for you as a student to review your obligations and responsibilities as a user of the College's information infrastructure as well as understanding what services we will provide to you.
Responsible Computing: http://computing.fandm.edu/policies/responsible.php
Support page: http://computing.fandm.edu/policies/support.php
Students are expected to use the warranty support services of the manufacturer that produced their system. Information Technology Services manages a Help Desk that students may consult on a variety of technology-related subjects including network connectivity, virus protection, standard applications, and general troubleshooting. The College maintains a relationship with third party local vendors who are available, for a fee, to perform tasks beyond the mission of the Help Desk.
While Franklin & Marshall provides an integrated and supportive computing environment, it is the responsibility of students to:
- maintain their computer,
- install vendor supplied upgrades/patches to their operating system and applications,
- keep their virus protection definitions up-to-date,
- and backup critical data.
The Faculty Committee on Academic Technology has made computer recommendations for the Class of 2012. The following link will provide you with a means to purchase a recommended system direct from Apple computer and have the system shipped to your home.
