Being a college student requires technology, and often technology is accompanied with high prices. However, the Computer and Telecommunication Services department at WSU has number of free services that will save students a little cash.
One service is Office 365 for Education, according to Email and Collaboration Administrator Patricia Vendt.
“That’s the program we’re in which provides a multitude of services at no cost to institutions like WSU for faculty, staff and students,” Vendt said. “The primary goal initially was for email and calendar, then Microsoft added the Office platform as well. It includes skype and a variety of other services as well.While you are still a student, you can access PowerPoint, Word, Excel and install those on five computers, five phones and five tablets. So all together you can use Office 365 on a total of 15 devices, which is really good.”
Another service included in Office 365 is Sway, which is a PowerPoint alternative that provides users with a new way to build presentations, and OneDrive, a service that allows students to upload files and have other students edit and collaborate on them simultaneously for use on group projects.
Students that are unfamiliar with these software programs and more can access Atomic Learning, which contains thousands of short tutorial videos on specific topics regarding software from Microsoft, Adobe and more, according to Director of Client Services, Kenneth Coon.
“It’s a fantastic service for new students who are just coming in that may not have the experience with PowerPoint, Excel or Word,” Coon said. “It’s a great, quick way to learn some of the simple tasks that you’re going to have to know anyways.”
Students looking to purchase software can do so at a discount through CaTS. According to End User Support Specialist Brenda Shafner, students can login with their campus infromation at wright.onthehub.com to order software at cheaper prices than most can find elsewhere.
“Let’s say that you wanted to buy Windows 10,” Shafner said. “Windows is going to cost $99. You can get it for $9.95 at on the hub. It’s a download instead of a CD, but it gives you a license code that’s yours forever.”
At Home Base, students can get their laptops fixed at low to no cost. Any service done to a computer will not cost anything, unless hardware needs replaced, then students will be charged a nominal fee.
Students without access to computers can utilize one of the computer labs on campus as well as check out a laptop to use for four hours at Laptops2Go. When students check out a laptop they can take the laptop with them anywhere on campus at no charge.
More information about these services can be found online at wright.edu/information-technology. Students with questions or feedback about their services can also stop by, call or email the CaTS Help Desk.
