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Orientation - Technology @ CMU
Find the latest information we've prepared for CMU's incoming freshmen and transfer students here.
Have a friend who could use this information? Tell them to visit it.cmich.edu/orientation to find this page quickly!
If you still have questions, or you're wondering about something not covered here, reach out to the OIT Help Desk. We can help you with just about anything technology-related. We're usually open with extended hours, and there are a ton of ways to reach us:
helpdesk@cmich.edu
https://helpdesk.cmich.edu
Click to chat with us online
What kind of computer should I bring to CMU?
Honestly, except in very rare circumstances, it doesn't matter. Whether you're a Mac or a Windows person, just bring whichever you prefer! While we generally recommend against Chromebooks and similar devices, if that's what you already have, you might be able to make that work by using the versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc. that you can use at CMU right through your web browser.
Very rarely, some programs at CMU do have specific computer requirements (OS, video card specs, etc.), so if you're unsure, you should visit your academic department's website to see if they have posted any specific computer requirements.
Buying a new computer? Take advantage of some discounts!
You can get some pretty good discounts on new Apple or Lenovo computers simply by being associated with CMU as a student.
Apple products: Visit the CMU Bookstore
Lenovo computers: Visit our Purchasing Department's ordering page
Discounts on cell phones and service
By being associated with CMU, students are able to take advantage of our contracts with three major carriers: AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint. Discounts vary by phone plan and provider, but most students will see at least some discount, sometimes significant. Contact our CONNECT: Cellular Services office to get the latest info.
https://connect.cmich.edu
connect@cmich.edu
Downloading Office software
Due to CMU's licensing agreement with Microsoft, every CMU student has access to download and install Microsoft Office software on their personal computers.
Knowledge base: Install Office products on your personal computer
Office 365 services
Every student at CMU has access to a ton of services available through Office 365. These are a very small subset of what's available, so to find out more, click the "waffle" icon at the top-left when you're logged into most of these services.
CMU students receive an email address available at https://mail.cmich.edu. Your email address is your Global ID with @cmich.edu appended to it. For example, a student named Frank T. Chippewa might have the email address chipp1ft@cmich.edu. Students are expected to check their CMU email regularly to make sure they don't miss official university notices.
Each student has access to 1TB of cloud-based storage, available at https://onedrive.cmich.edu. A terabyte is a ton of space, and it's available from anywhere with an internet connection, so most students never need to worry about carrying around flash drives.
Teams is part chat and part group collaboration, and you can access it through the web or through a dedicated desktop client. It's perfect for setting up ad hoc groups to collaborate on school projects, student organizations, or pretty much anything else you can think of. Visit https://teams.microsoft.com and enter your CMU email address to get started. (If you're already logged into CentralLink, you'll be taken straight to Teams without additional login.)
Don't have access to other specialty software that you might need for class? Log into our Virtual Lab from your personal computer to access additional CMU software.
Knowledge base: Virtual Lab configuration and available software
Blackboard is CMU's learning management system (LMS). Every course at CMU has an accompanying online Blackboard course shell created automatically. The vast majority of students will use Blackboard on a daily basis, so check out https://blackboard.cmich.edu to make sure you're familiar with it. If you want to learn more, visit the Blackboard section of our knowledge base to read up on common Blackboard features.
PrintQ - Print management on campus
All students at CMU receive a $12 allocation each semester that can be used at PrintQ stations located in multiple places across campus.
$12 each semester for every student
Black-and-white printing at $0.04/page ($0.08 for double-sided)
Color printing at $0.32/page
Our goal with PrintQ is to promote thoughtful, responsible printing in order to reduce paper waste, so we encourage students and faculty to use digital options wherever possible.
Library resources and technology
CMU Libraries provides over 300 workstations, including about 20 Macs, providing direct access to eight PrintQ printers and even scanners. You can check out certain IT equipment from the Library Checkout Desk.
There's even the Extended Hours Study that's available to students via card swipe at most times when Park Library is otherwise closed. You can even get access to specialty software like Adobe Creative Suite or view our Bloomberg Terminals.
Account and other online services
Global ID
Your Global ID is your account name at CMU. It's what you'll use to log into various online services. It's also the first part of your email address (before the @cmich.edu). It's very important that you never share your Global ID password with anyone, under any circumstances.
CentralLink
When we refer to "CentralLink," we're talking about the internal portion of CMU's website. You can get to CentralLink simply by going to www.cmich.edu and logging in. Once you're in CentralLink, you'll find a maroon bar at the top of the page with links to different services.
One of the most useful sections in CentralLink is My Account, which contains links to nearly all of the online services you'll ever use as a CMU student. You can get to My Account by clicking the link at the top of the page when you're logged into CentralLink.
Authorized Payers
If someone else will be taking financial actions on your behalf, such as paying tuition or other expenses, you should set up an "Authorized Payer" account for them rather than sharing your Global ID password. This gives them their own account within our QuikPAY finance system. Visit QuikPAY and click Authorized Payers on the left.
CMU network
CMU has Wi-Fi coverage in all buildings on campus, so it's easy to get online wherever you are. The primary requirement is that every computer on campus needs to be registered, so if you're not prompted to register the first time you connect to our Wi-Fi, just visit https://reg.cmich.edu directly to register your computer.
Find IT-related policies at https://it.cmich.edu/policies. In particular, check out our Responsible Use of Computing Policy, since that covers what CMU considers appropriate use of computing resources and technology at CMU.
Help Desk website
CONNECT: Cellular Services
Computer lab information
Submit a PrintQ job
IT Strategic Plan
Technology Committees
Research Computing at CMU
Technology Acquisitions
Executive Council for Women in Technology
TeamDynamix (TDX) Client Portal
TeamDynamix (TDX) Internal Technician Login
Technology Awareness & Training