As a new student at USC, you will want to use email, the Internet, libraries and online library services, and many other information technology services. USC’s Information Technology Services (ITS) provides these essential resources and can help you use them.
Here is an introduction to just a few of the tools and services available to you from ITS. To learn more, call the Customer Support Center at (213) 740-5555 or visit www.usc.edu/isd.
Connected@USC
Students at USC receive access to the following information services, among others:
- Internet access
- personal Web site space
- high-speed wireless network
- free software for download
- online course materials (TOTALe)
- hands-on software skills workshops
- use of many libraries and public computing centers
- extensive online research resources
- computing and library research help
USCard Required
To take advantage of these services, you need to have a USCard, the standard ID card for all USC students. You should have your USCard by the end of orientation; if not, you may obtain one at the USCard customer service office located in the Commons lobby.
USC Computer Account
Once you have registered for classes, you need to activate your USC computer account. For instructions on how to do this, call (213) 740-5555 or visit www.usc.edu/firstlogin. If you do not have access to a personal computer, visit one of ITS’s public computing centers, listed below, and present your USCard at the service desk. You will be directed to one of the center’s computers; go to www.usc.edu/firstlogin and follow the instructions.
You can also learn about getting started with ITS’s services at usc.edu/its/new/students.html.
USC Library Card
Your USCard also serves as your USC library card. Present it at any campus library circulation desk, and a staff member will activate your library privileges.
USC Libraries
USC has more than 20 libraries and specialized collections. If you are not sure where to start, USC’s gateway library, Thomas and Dorothy Leavey Library, is the place to go. The staff in the Leavey Library Information Commons can help you with your research needs and provide referrals to the other libraries on campus.
For information and links to each library, refer to www.usc.edu/libraries/locations. A current list of library hours is available at www.usc.edu/libraries/hours/matrix.
Resources at USC Libraries
The USC library catalogue, Homer, will help you locate books, periodicals, government documents and dissertations held in libraries on the University Park campus. To access Homer and the catalogues for the Law Library (Advocat) and the Wilson Dental Library (Helix), please visit library.usc.edu.
The USC libraries feature a vast collection of electronic resources, including article indexes, catalogues, dictionaries, encyclopedias, electronic journals, visual materials and more. To access these, go to library.usc.edu and click on Electronic Resources.
The libraries also provide professional reference assistance to students in person and online. The Ask-a-Librarian electronic reference service allows students to receive expert answers via phone, email or online chat. Ask-a-Librarian is located at www.usc.edu/askalibrarian
Public Computing Centers
ITS provides access to nearly 1,000 networked machines on campus, all of which feature high-speed Internet connections and many popular software applications. All services are free, except for printing. You will find machines in the following Information Services public computing centers:
- Leavey Library's Information Commons (lower level and second floor)
- Waite Phillips Hall of Education (WPH B34)
- King Olympic Hall (KOH 200)
- Henry Salvatori Computer Science Center (SAL 125)
These public computing centers provide unlimited use of the latest-generation Macintosh, Windows and UNIX workstations, as well as scanners and laser printers. There is a charge for printing, but all other services are free. USCard discretionary funds are the only method of payment accepted in public computing centers.
For an updated list of computing center hours, visit www.usc.edu/pcc. In addition to ITS public computing centers, many academic units run their own computer labs. Check with academic departments for details.
Connecting to USC’s Network and the Internet
All the rooms in USC residence halls, as well as some areas of Leavey Library and the Marshall School of Business, are hooked up to ResNet, a high-speed computer network. ResNet allows you to enjoy free, high-speed (10 megabits per second) Internet access without a modem. To link up to ResNet, you need a network interface card, which may come installed in your computer or, if not, may be purchased at the university bookstore. To learn how to connect to ResNet, go to usc.edu/resnet. For help or information regarding ResNet in residence halls, call the Housing Maintenance office at (213) 740-4646.
USC students also are able to surf the Web and check email using USC’s high-speed, wireless technology. Most outdoor common areas, libraries, auditoriums and eateries – including the University Village Food Court – have been configured with wireless access points. New locations are added regularly. To take advantage of wireless access, you must obtain a wireless Ethernet card, register it with Information Services and configure it. To learn how to set up your computer to access the USC wireless network, go to www.usc.edu/wireless.
ITS requires the USC Virtual Private Network (VPN) client for access to USC-restricted resources. To ensure the security of wireless connections, ITS strongly recommends the use of VPN when using USC’s wireless network. The VPN client can be downloaded from www.usc.edu/its/software.
If you live off campus and want a dial-up connection, you can place a call to one of USC’s more than 1,000 modems to access the Internet, free of charge. Visit www.usc.edu/its/doc/dialup for computer settings and dial-up numbers.
Computing Security (Antivirus Software and Firewalls)
Computer security is a fundamental and necessary practice for all computer users. A secure computer protects itself against viruses, worms and hacking attempts. Instructions on how to keep your computer secure and links to free antivirus software can be found at www.usc.edu/its/security.
Email and Personal Web Pages
All students get a USC email account. The USC email system is protected by sophisticated antispam software, and USC provides students with free antivirus software to protect them while using email. To learn how to use USC’s email, go to www.usc.edu/email.
All students are provided with space on a Web server for their personal Web sites. To learn how to publish a personal Web site at USC, go to www.usc.edu/its/web/getting_started/ppages.html.
USC Email Retention PolicyITS automatically deletes from its central servers all messages that have been stored for 180 days in your server-based mailboxes. Instructions on how to archive your email are available at usc.edu/emailbackup. For additional information, call (213) 740-5555 or email consult@usc.edu.
Course Web Sites and Materials
TOTALe (also known as BlackBoard) is the online learning portal through which many USC professors provide electronic copies of their course materials, including syllabi, readings and handouts. You may also participate, through TOTALe, in an online discussion or take a quiz with automatic grading and immediate feedback. You can access TOTALe at totale.usc.edu. Your TOTALe login and password is the same as for your USC email account. Each course in which you are enrolled that uses TOTALe will appear on the page as a link once you have logged in. Follow the link(s) to access your online course materials.
Online Help
ITS’s Web site provides complete information on how to use its library services (www.usc.edu/isd/libraries) and information on information technology services (www.usc.edu/isd/it). Printed guides are also available in all library and public computing centers.
Personal Assistance
Help with computer applications, network connectivity or research questions is readily available. Experienced librarians can assist you in person at all library reference desks or online at the Ask-A-Librarian Web site (www.usc.edu/askalibrarian).
For help with network connectivity and software, contact the consultants at the Customer Support Center by calling (213) 740-5555 or by emailing consult@usc.edu.
During the academic year, library and computing assistance is available 24 hours a day (except from midnight Saturday to 9 a.m. Sunday) in the Leavey Library Lower Commons.