Where Do I Go For...

... Help Desk Support?

Computing and Information Services has two conveniently located Help Desks.

The Help Desk, located in the Computer Center has regular operating hours of Monday - Friday from 8:30 AM - 5 PM.

The CIS Library Help Desk is located in the Main Library and keeps longer hours to accomodate student class and study schedule.  

Typical hours are:
Monday - Thursday from 9 AM - 11 PM
Friday from 9 AM - 5 PM
Saturday from 12 PM - 6 PM
Sunday from 12 PM - 11 PM
but may vary during breaks, finals and study week.

If you need help, you can send an email to helpdesk@vassar.edu or call x7224 and we will make sure that the appropriate person on our staff comes to your aid.

Click here for more information.

... One-on-One Training?

Our technology trainer, Chad Fust, is here to help! Need training with any of the software and hardware that's commonly available on campus? Contact Chad to set up an appointment at training@vassar.edu or x7545.

Chad will also be seated at our Resident Expert table outside the Computer Store in College Center on Wednesday afternoons when school is in session. Stop by for some tech talk and free popcorn. 

Click here for more information.

... Public Computing and Printing?

Computing and Information Services maintains a variety of public access labs throughout the campus. All lab machines are refreshed every night. All data on the machine will be erased. Be sure to bring a memory stick or save your files to VSpace.

  • The Kiosk (2nd Floor of College Center): 4 iMacs and a VPrint Laser Printer
  • The Main Library:  Click here for information on computing in the library (Desktops and Loaner Laptops)
  • The Media Cloisters: Located on the second floor of the Vassar College Main Library, the Media Cloisters is a do-it-yourself media production facility, with expert help available. All Vassar students, faculty, and community members may come here to work on video, audio, web and graphic design projects.
  • Dorm Clusters: there are public clusters of equipment in each residence hall. All of these locations are open 24 hours a day during the academic year.
  • VPrint Printers: VPrint Printers are available in the Main Library, each Dorm Cluster, the TAs, the THs,the Kiosk and the Computer Center.

Click here for more information.

... Color Printing?

Most departmental offices are equipped with color printing capabilites of some sort.  If your department is not, or you have a large job that you do not want to use your department's printer for, you have the following options:

The Copy Center
The campus copy center offers color printing and copying services at reasonable rates and can charge jobs to a budget number.   Click here to visit the copy center website.

The Color VPrint Station
A color VPrint Station is now available for public use . The printer is located in the main library by the Help Desk. To print in color, you must print to a different print queue than the Vassar queue you print to now for VPrint. Color prints will charge against your department's budget at a rate of .15 a page, .14 per side for double-sided. Public computers in the library will be equipped with the appropriate drivers.

Click here for more information.

... Help With My ID Card?

The Vassar Card Office, located in the computer center, manages all aspects of the VCard. You can contact the card office at #CARD (extension 2273) or 845-451-2273, or via email at card@vassar.edu.

VCard is your Vassar ID Card and is useful for access to administrative and academic buildings.  You can also use your card wherever VCash is accepted, if you choose to add funds to your account.  VCash is a prepaid debit account on your VCard which has applications both on and off campus, including some campus vending machines.

Click here for more information.

... Adding Funds To My VCash?

You can add funds at either of the two value transfer stations on campus (AC/DC and Main Building) or online with a credit or debit card.

Click here for more information.

... Anti-Virus Software?

Visit the Help Desk or download the anti-virus software here:

Click here for more information.

... Access to High-End Digital Workstations?

The Media Cloisters

Media Cloisters is a do-it-yourself media production facility, with expert help available. All Vassar students, faculty, and community members may come here to work on video, audio, web and graphic design projects.


Click here for more information.

... Large Format Printing?

Media Resources is located in the lower level of New England building where we offer a variety of services including large format printing.   Printing is available in a wide variety of mediums and sizes, ranging in price from .12 - .57 centes per linear inch. 

Click here for more information.

... Media Duplication and Transfer Services?

Media Resources is located in the lower level of New England building where we offer a variety of services including media duplication and transfer.  Costs range in price from $3 - $10 per transfer or duplication, depending on the service and media.

Click here for more information.

... High-Volume Copying / Printing?

The campus copy center, located in Main Building, offers color printing and copying services ranging in price from .03 - .35 per copy, depending on volume, size and color of the copies.  

Click here for more information.

... Computer Hardware or Software Purchases?

Vassar's Computer Store carries an array of software, peripherals, electronics, and accessories.  The Store is located in College Center, opposite the Kiosk.

Phone: 845-437-7252
Fax: 845-437-7251
Email: computerstore@vassar.edu

Hours: Mon - Fri, 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM

Click here for more information.

... Computer Repairs?

Vassar's Computer Store employs a computer technician who can repair your Mac*, including service covered by AppleCare plans. 

Please visit the Computer Store, located across from the Kiosk in College Center.

Phone: 845-437-7252
Fax: 845-437-7251
Email: computerstore@vassar.edu

Hours: Mon - Fri, 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM

Click here for more information.

* If you are having a hardware issue and you have a PC, please contact your vendor or another authorized computer repair shop.

... Resetting My Password?

You may reset your password yourself by visiting Control Panel and filling in the appropriate information.  This service will reset passwords for the following accounts:

  • Email
  • Blackboard
  • Domain
  • Citrix
  • VSpace

If you do not know your previous login name or password, or you require a password reset for a service not mentioned here, please contact the Help Desk at helpdesk@vassar.edu or extension 7224.

Click here to go to Control Panel.

... Borrowing A/V Equipment?

Media Resources is located in the lower level of New England building where we offer a variety of Audio/Visual equipment and support for classroom instruction and special events.

Click here for more information.

... Requesting a New Computer or Other Hardware?

Computing and Information Services replaces college-owned hardware on a 4-year replacement cycle. Roughly 25% of all campus computers, including classrooms and labs, are replaced during the summer of each year (June, July, and August). Allocations have been put on hold and no new computers will be purchased for the summer of 2009.

If your department is not receiving new hardware, you may make an out-of-cycle request. It is likely that some out-of-cycle upgrades will be recycled machines that still have enough power to allow the new owner to make it to the department's planned upgrade date without compromising efficiency. When requesting new equipment, please select the type of computer you require (Mac, Windows-based PC, or other). If approved, the computer you receive will be more powerful than the one it will replace and will be capable of running all current versions of supported software.

Click here for more information.

... Previewing a Technology-Equipped Classroom?

Media Resources maintains and manages several special spaces on campus that offer more advanced features such as film and video editing and classrooms that are enhanced with technology.  For a list of which classrooms are equipped with which technologies, including QuickTime Virtual Tours.

Click here for more information.

... Available Software for Students?

Vassar has a variety of software licence for Student use. A list of downloadable software is available here. Many of these require that you use your Vassar user ID and password for download.

Click here for more information.

... Remote Access Software?

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) enables connectivity to the Vassar College network, securely, from a remote location. VPN enable file sharing, server uploads and similar network services. In short, VPN will be used to support remote, protected access to the resources typically only available on campus.

Click here for more information.

... Help With Video, Design or Sound Projects?

If you would like help working on a video, web, graphic design or sound project, please visit the Media Cloisters on the 2nd floor of the library. The Media Cloisters is a do-it-yourself media production facility, staffed by student experts who will happily assist you with your media project.

To set up a one-on-one consult for your video, web, graphic design or sound project, please email Baynard Bailey, the Media Cloisters Manager, at babailey@vassar.edu.

Click here for more information.

... Back-Up Strategies?

Experienced computer users know that there are two types of people: those who have already lost data and those who are going to experience the pain of losing data in the future.  There are a variety of back-up strategies supported or recommended on campus.

Click here for more information.