The information on this site pertains to the Summer College 2009 program. If you would like to be notified when 2010 information and applications are available, please join the Summer College announcement list. We also invite you to become a fan of our Summer College Facebook Page.
at Cornell University
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Information technology: Computers and the Internet
At Cornell, computers and the Internet are part of daily life. Cornell Information Technologies (CIT), the central information technology organization, offers many different services to make using technology easier for newcomers.
General information
To obtain general information about computing at Cornell, visit the CIT Web site or contact the CIT Contact Center (HelpDesk), 119 Computing and Communications Center (CCC) on the Ag Quad. The CIT Contact Center is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. You may call the CIT Contact Center at 607.255.8990 or send e-mail to helpdesk@cornell.edu.
Computer labs
The CIT public computer labs are heavily used by students who do not own computers, as well as by students who do have them but need to check e-mail or work on academic assignments while they are on central campus.
There are four general computer labs to which all Summer College students will have access. Two of these labs are on North Campus near your living quarters.
The labs function on a first-come, first-served basis. They have a variety of software, Windows and Macintosh computers, and networked laser printers (see Net-Print below). Generally, each lab has between 20 and 25 computers.
Please note that you will not have access to computer labs after Summer College's nightly check-in.
For up-to-date information about locations and hours of operation of all the public-access computing labs at Cornell, visit CIT's Public Computing Labs site.
Net-Print
Net-Print is a fee-based service that lets students print to laser printers located in the CIT public computer labs and elsewhere, using a lab computer or personal computer connected to the Cornell network.
To use Net-Print, students need to open an account. This can be done online with a credit card, or in person at the CIT Contact Center (HelpDesk) with cash or a check. For writing courses, five dollars is a reasonable starting amount. For non-writing courses, two dollars is reasonable. (Black-and-white printing in CIT computer labs is nine cents per sheet.)
For more information, visit http://www.cit.cornell.edu/net-print/
Your own computer
Cornell does not require you to bring a computer to campus. Though students generally find it more convenient to have their own computer, this is a personal choice that you should discuss with your parents or guardians. Please see CIT's Personal Computer Recommondations page if you are considering bringing a computer.
uPortal.Cornell
Students at Cornell use uPortal.Cornell to connect to standard Internet services and specific Cornell offerings such as Cornell University Library's online catalog and CUinfo, the campus-wide online information system.
Getting started
To access many of Cornell's information technology resources, you'll need your Cornell Network ID (NetID) and password. Your NetID consists of your initials followed by one or more numbers (e.g. abc123).
Summer College students receive their NetID and an activation code in a letter sent via U.S. mail. You'll use the activation code to set your password, take a short online orientation, and activate your Cornell e-mail. We ask that you activate your NetID upon receipt of the letter, or at least before you arrive at Cornell.
Some of the reasons you'll need your NetID are to:
- gain easier access to your transcript,
- obtain your grades through Just the Facts,
- access library services and Blackboard,
- use Cornell's network services, including e-mail,
- set up mail forwarding,
- complete online summer evaluations, and more.
If you need assistance, contact the CIT Helpdesk.
For information about policies covering the use of Cornell NetIDs and e-mail, visit Responsible use of NetIDs.
