General FAQ

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Last updated: Jun 21, 2023 by Robert Fricke
6 min read

What is WCTS?

WCTS stands for Whitman College Technology Services. We manage and support Whitman College's shared technology resources. Our main office and Help Desk are located in the Technology Services Building at 406 E. Main.

Who should I call if I have a problem or a question about my Whitman-owned computer?

If you have a problem or general question about your computer or software, or if you aren't sure who to ask, call the WCTS Help Desk at 509-527-4976. You can also email your question to helpdesk@whitman.edu. The Help Desk consultant will either answer your question or forward your inquiry to the subject expert. You may also submit a service request at any time via the Whitman portal https://my.whitman.edu/tech-support.

If you are an administrative user and have questions about computer upgrades, hardware purchasing or software please contact Robert Fricke, Director of IT Client Services or frickerg@whitman.edu. If you are from an academic office, contact David Sprunger, Director of Instructional & Learning Technology sprungde@whitman.edu.

If you would like assistance with an instructional issue that concerns using technology in teaching or research, including hardware purchasing, please contact the Instructional & Learning Technologist for your division.

How do I get a Whitman network and/or email account?

All faculty, staff & students automatically receive a Whitman account. The credentials for this account enable you to access your Whitman email account, use Whitman wireless, and connect to the Whitman wired network. Connecting to the Whitman network allows you to access various resources such as networked file servers and printers. Your account should be created prior to arrival, and it is necessary to activate it before use by going to  https://rs.whitman.edu/activate/.

If you will be working with Colleague, you should also receive information for a separate Colleague account. The password for this account will be different than that for your standard Whitman account.

Contact the Help Desk (x4976 or helpdesk@whitman.edu) or visit the WCTS office for information about accessing and using your accounts.

See Whitman College's network account policy.

How do I log-on to my Whitman-owned computer?

Your office computer will be running either Windows 11 or Mac OSX.

To log on to the computer, just enter the credentials as prompted. The username and password are your Whitman username and password that you received upon arrival at Whitman. These credentials are 'case sensitive' so capital letters must be entered as capitals. If you forget your password, contact the Help Desk (x4976 or helpdesk@whitman.edu) for assistance in resetting it. This log on process will also be required to access lab, library, and many smart classroom computers.

What are the basics for using my computer?

We have many support pages to help you learn the basics of using your computer and the various resources that are available through Whitman. Below are a short list of sections that may be of particular interest:

  • Security & Updates: Information on specific topics such as backing up, virus protection, passwords, updates, and more.
  • Email: Setting up and using your Whitman email account. Topics include forwarding your email to another address and setting vacation messages.
  • Network File Storage: All about storing files on the Whitman servers.

How do I use Whitman email?

For details on how to use your account, please see our Email support section.

Can WCTS provide hardware, maintenance, and repair for my home computer?

No. WCTS does not provide support for personally-owned equipment, whether located in your home or on campus. We are responsible for the repair and maintenance of College-owned equipment that is part of the WCTS inventory.

However, we have many Support Guides online with documentation about Printing, Computer Security, Software, and other topics. If you are having issues with your computer, you may want to start there.

Is there a special discount for purchasing a computer for home use?

You can receive educational discounts from many major manufacturers. For your convenience links to both the Apple and Dell educational sites have been provided below.

  • For Apple products, visit the  Apple Store for Education.
  • For Dell products, visit the  Dell Online Store.
    • Locate the  Higher Education heading.
    • Follow the link labeled  Faculty, Students, & Staff Personal Purchases. You do not need a special ID number, just follow the link provided for entering the Dell Store without an ID number.

Just go to the "Higher Education" area on the manufacturers website and links should point you towards using an educational discount. You can purchase computers and equipment by credit card or check, and have the merchandise sent directly to you.

Does WCTS provide hardware maintenance and repair for my Whitman-owned computer?

Yes, WCTS provides full support for all College-owned equipment that is purchased and allocated by WCTS . We also provide desktop support for equipment purchased by your department, if it is purchased either through, or in consultation with WCTS , and is included in the College's equipment inventory. Some equipment purchased with departmental or special budgets (such as grants) may not be in the "replacement cycle" (i.e., not be eligible for WCTS-funded replacement), unless replacement funding was planned by the original purchaser.

We cannot guarantee support for all types and brands of equipment, which is why it is important to check with us to see if the specific brand or piece of equipment you are thinking of purchasing meet required specification standards and is something we are able to support.

What software does WCTS support?

WCTS provides full support for Whitman's "Standard Software Package", when installed on College-owned computers. Supported software includes the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Powerpoint), as well as a large collection of additional software packages. Contact the Help Desk (x4976 or helpdesk@whitman.edu) or your  Instructional & Learning Technologist, if you need information about availability and support for specialized software applications.

If I am interested in having my students use certain computer applications for their coursework, can WCTS assist in showing students how to do this?

Yes. WCTS staff can come to your class to demonstrate certain software, or can schedule workshops at other times to show your students how to use a particular application. Contact either your  Instructional & Learning Technologist or Rich Hinz.

Can WCTS help me evaluate software or figure out what I need?

Yes. Contact your Instructional & Learning Technologist.

Do students have access to the network from residence hall rooms?

All residence halls, Fraternity houses, and Interest Houses are networked. This means that a student with a network-ready computer can connect directly to the campus network.

Can I send a message to all the students in my class without having to type all the email addresses?

We highly recommend using the Canvas Learning and Collaboration System. Contact Rich Hinz if you want to try.

You can also create a mailing list yourself. 

Is it possible to view class enrollment information on-line?

Whitman currently offers the ability to view live enrollment information on-line through the my.Whitman portal site.

Where can I get access to a scanner or other equipment that I don't have in my own office?

Scanners are available in numerous locations around campus. Some departments/divisions have equipment such as scanners and specialized printers available in division office and/or departmental labs.

General access scanners are located in the Library and the Hunter Multimedia Development lab. The "MDL" in Hunter also offers access to more advanced equipment such as slide scanners, film printers, CD burners, camcorders, and more (see the MDL website for details).

Contact the WCTS Help Desk if you need information about equipment availability.

How can I get my Whitman-owned computer upgraded?

For Staff: WCTS equipment is normally on a four or six year replacement cycle. You will be contacted when your machine is slated for replacement. If you have concerns or computer needs, talk to Robert Fricke, he can tell you more about procedures for requesting equipment.

For Faculty: Communicate with your Instructional & Learning Technologist about your equipment needs. Better yet, talk about what you need to be able to accomplish using your computer so we can work toward identifying equipment that will do what you need.

Do you have laptop computers that I can check out?

For Faculty & Staff:  Yes. WCTS maintains a small pool of Macintosh and PC 'loaner laptops'. They are available for short term checkout (less than 2 weeks) for Whitman-related use, on a "first-reserve, first-pickup" basis. Contact the Help Desk (x4976 or helpdesk@whitman.edu) to request a laptop loan.

For Students:  Yes. WCTS has a small pool of Chromebook, Macintosh and PC laptops, as well as Macintosh chargers. They are available for up to 4 hours at a time and are only to be used with the Penrose Library. These items are available on a first-come, first-serve basis and are available for checkout at the Technology Desk in the lobby of the Penrose Library. For long term laptop checkouts, please contact the Academic Resource Center.

Do you offer workshops or training on using certain programs or creating web pages?

WCTS offers training workshops on a regular basis. See our Training web page for detail.

If you do not see the training course you need or need one-on-one assistance, contact Rich Hinz.

Can I connect a fax machine or a conference phone to my phone line?

Some phone lines on campus are 'analog' lines, which are safe for fax machine. Most, however, are 'digital' and cannot be used without damage to your equipment. If you need to connect a fax machine or a conference phone to your phone line, please contact the Help Desk at x4976 or helpdesk@whitman.edu.

For general information about using Whitman phones, see our Campus Phone & Voicemail pages.

Who do I contact for help with Colleague?

Please contact et@whitman.edu with any questions concerning Colleague. Colleague passwords may be changed by logging into my.whitman.edu.

Note: Your Colleague password will be different than your standard Whitman password.