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Information for New Students and Parents     [Map]

Bronco NetID (computer account) | (269) 387-HELP (4357), Option 1

• A Bronco NetID is issued to all students at the time they are admitted to WMU. This account remains active throughout the student's career at WMU and for approximately one year after graduation.
  
  
• A WMU e-mail address is created at the time of the Bronco NetID creation. This e-mail address is in the format of firstname.middle-initial.lastname@wmich.edu. It is the e-mail address that all official mailings from WMU will be sent.
  
  
• The Bronco NetID and password will be used for access to secure transactions within GoWMU.wmich.edu, WMU's portal, e-mail, file storage, and personal Web pages (homepages.wmich.edu). Your password should never be given to anyone, including WMU staff.
  
  
• The Bronco NetID must be activated before it can be used, by visiting www.wmich.edu/changepassword.

Cable and Phone | (269) 387-HELP (4357), Option 4

• Students who opt to live in WMU residence halls will have basic cable and telephone service (unlimited campus and local calls) provided at no charge. Visit www.wmich.edu/oit/students/cable-phone.html for more information.
  
  
• Long distance phone service on campus is by use of calling cards. They are available on campus at the University Bookstore located in the Bernhard Center.
  
  
• For students not chosing to live in residence halls, cable and cable modem service is provided by Charter Communications. Visit their site at www.charter.com.
  
  
• Landline telephone service and broadband DSL in Kalamazoo is provided by AT&T. More information may be found at their Web site: www.att.com.

Computers | Sales: (269) 387-5460; Repair: (269) 387-HELP, Option 2

• Computer hardware and software may be purchased with an educational discount on campus at TotalTECH, WMU's campus computer store, located in the WMU Bookstore in the Bernhard Center. For more information, see their Web site at http://www.wmich.edu/totaltech. See also the Computer Purchase FAQ page located at http://www.wmich.edu/students/computer-faq.html.
  
  
• The OIT computer repair unit provides warranty and non-warranty repair for Apple, Compaq, Dell, Fujitsu, and Hewlett Packard. The computer repair shop has undergone significant restructuring recently with the results a significantly reduced average turnaround time. The industry average is seven days, whereas OIT's computer repair shop is now averaging five days. Computer Repair is located at the NW end of the University Computing Center (towards the sun dial). For more information regarding repair services, contact Microcomputer Repair at 387-HELP, Option 2.
  
  
• WMU provides computer labs for students throughout campus. A Bronco ID card is required to use all computing facilities. More information about specific labs may be found at the labs Web site: www.wmich.edu/labs/.

Getting Connected | (269) 387-HELP (4357), Option 2

• Students living in the residence halls may access the Internet at ethernet speeds by way of ResNet, the residential network system. ResNet is billed at the rate of $80 per semester. More information is found on the ResNet Web site at www.wmich.edu/oit/resnet.
  
  
• Students not living in residence halls may connect by using a standard dial-up modem with an Internet Access Provider (ISP), a cable modem (go to the Charter Communications Web site), or by using DSL (go to the AT&T Web site). WMU also provides modem service, more information found on the Help Desk Getting Connected page at www.wmich.edu/oit/helpdesk/getconnected/.
  
  
• All Windows-based computers being connected to WMUnet (Western's network) should have WMU Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition installed (provided by WMU free of charge) and should be current with Microsoft Windows® Updates. For students residing in WMU residence halls, this will be taken care of automatically by use of Clean Access, a software that validates each computer that is connected to ResNet (Residence Hall Network).

File Sharing | (269) 387-HELP (4357), Option 1

• Some forms of file sharing—for example, illegally downloading and sharing MP3 files of popular music—violate copyright. It is important for all users of the University's systems to understand their responsibilities and the University's responsibilities regarding copyright. See File Sharing at www.wmich.edu/students/filesharing.html for more information.

Getting Help | (269) 387-HELP (4357), Option 1

• OIT provides a computing Help Desk that is available for both walk-in and phone-in services. They are located on the second floor of the University Computing Center and can be reached via e-mail to helpdesk@wmich.edu, or by phone to (269) 387-HELP (4357). There is an extensive amount of online help available at their Web site: www.wmich.edu/oit/helpdesk.
  
  
• For students in residence halls, in addition to being onsite during move-in, a Mobile Help Desk visits residence halls at scheduled times throughout the school year. See the Mobile Help Desk schedule.
  
  
• The OIT computer repair unit provides warranty and non-warranty repair for Apple, and Dell, and is located at the NW end of the University Computing Center (towards the sun dial). For more information regarding repair services, contact Microcomputer Repair at 387-HELP, Option 2.

GoWMU | gowmu.wmich.edu

• GoWMU is Western Michigan University’s portal for the WMU community.  A portal is a ’one-stop’ secure point of access to a collection of online resources.  GoWMU allows you to customize the content to best suit your needs.
  
  
• GoWMU allows access to campus and individual announcements, registration, grades, transcripts, class roster, account and financial aid information.
  
  
• Students have the ability to give parents, spouse, or other designated guests authorized user access to view certain records, academic and financial aid, including: Enrollment Verification, Grades, Schedule of Classes, Unofficial Transcript, and Financial Aid Requirements, Awards, and Payment Schedule. For more information, please visit the Registrar's Student Records page at www.wmich.edu/registrar/student-records/.

WebKit | (269) 387-HELP (4357), Option 1

The WebKit is a CD that assists those new to WMU with getting connected to the Internet & other online services. Incoming freshmen receive a WebKit CD upon check-in at their residence hall and are asked to use its user-friendly "Get Connected" wizard to prepare their computer to connect to ResNet and install AntiVirus software before connecting to the Internet. The WebKit CD may also be used by off-campus residents who wish to connect using the WMU dial-up connection via phone lines. The CD may be obtained from the Help Desk, which is located on the second floor of the UCC building.

Wireless | (269) 387-HELP (4357), Option 1

WMU was one of the first schools in the country to go completely wireless. Wireless is available throughout the entire campus, both inside and outside. Wireless is not available in individual residence hall rooms because of the density of those locations. It is, however, available in the public areas of residence halls.