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1 "One Stop Shopping" Getting Connected at Texas A&M University
Theresa
Chipman, Texas A&M University
Dustin Long, Texas A&M University
The first few weeks of the Fall semester are the
busiest time of the year for Computing and Information Services. The entire
help desk staff is focused on a single objective: introducing the computer
resources available at Texas A&M to new students. Because the students have
a lot going at the beginning of the semester, and setting up computer accounts
can be complex, we wanted a way to streamline the process. We came up with a
service where these students could get their computing resource accounts set up
and their personal computers ready to connect to TAMU network.
In the Fall of 1999, the "One Stop Shopping"
process was implemented.
Setting up individual computing resource accounts
The students could come directly to Help Desk Central
(HDC) located in the Teague Building on campus where the help desk staff would
help them set up or make changes to their computing resource accounts through
the Computer Logon- ID & Account Information Manager (CLAIM) program. In
order to meet the needs of the first time users, CLAIM classes were held every
30-minutes.
Networking Help Desk Services
Located next to the HDC is the Networking Help Desk.
After the students have their computing resource accounts set up properly, they
could then take their computers to the Networking Help Desk and, for a small
fee, the help desk staff would perform the following services:
* Install TAMUNet 6.5 software. The TAMUNet software
is a compilation of internet software programs designed for the convenience of
the Texas A&M user.
* Install ethernet cards and modems
* Register their computers
The above process proved to be very successful for the students and the parents. This same process continues during the entire year, just not as intense.