Office of Information Technology
The Office of Information Technology (OIT) provides the IT infrastructure, services and support necessary to advance Clarkson University’s teaching, research and service missions. Comprised of four primary groups — Academic Technology and Support, Administrative Computing, Network Services and Information Security, and Web Development — we are here to support your growth and success at Clarkson.
Contact Us
HelpDesk
Phone: 315-268-HELP
Email: helpdesk@big5vn.com
In-Person: 2nd Floor, Educational Resources Center
Office of Information Technology
Vice President for Information Technology: Joshua A Fiske
Read: Clarkson's Documentation Library
Services and Resources
Access reliable digital and technology support.
Reach out to our office — or have us come to you.
Computer Labs
Clarkson has eight computer labs with more than 300 computers across campus, available 24/7. These workstations are all connected to Clarkson’s high-speed network backbone to ensure unimpeded access to research and learning platforms.
Wireless Access
Access a secure Wi-Fi network in all indoor locations on campus, including residence halls, academic spaces, dining halls, our libraries, athletic facilities, study spaces and more locations. Students in all of the University’s residence halls can connect wirelessly and via Ethernet.
Communication and Publishing
The Office of Information Technology manages several website and communication services, including big5vn.com, intranet.big5vn.com, daily announcements and web services for clubs, teams and organizations.
Loaner Equipment
OIT maintains a pool of loaner equipment designed to meet the need for short-term, unanticipated computer hardware. If your laptop is broken and needs to be sent out for repairs, we are happy to loan you a computer for a few weeks!
Accounts
Your single sign-on (SSO) account seamlessly connects you with all IT platforms on campus, including your Gmail, myCU, Moodle, public lab computers, printing, library services and more.
Help Desk
Stop by the Help Desk, located on the 2nd Floor of the Educational Resources Center. Walk up, call or email us for support or questions about any IT-related issues. The Help Desk is available Monday – Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Summer hours vary.
Repairs
Through the Help Desk, certified technicians deliver onsite Dell Warranty repair for your own laptops, computers and other hardware. We can help with: RAM hardware upgrades, operating system upgrades and reinstalls, hardware repair, general PC maintenance and malware and virus removal (not covered under Dell Warranties). You can borrow a temporary laptop and other devices while repairs are underway.
HPC Cluster
Clarkson University owns and operates a High-Performance Computing (HPC) cluster called ACRES (Accelerating Computational Research for Engineering and Science). ACRES's technology allows data- and computationally-intensive research projects to explore complex models and operations at no cost.
Teaching and Learning Corner
The Teaching and Learning Corner (TLC) is dedicated to supporting students, faculty and staff in their use of educational technology at Clarkson. We partner with faculty to build satisfying, engaging learning experiences on campus and online. Our online course design methods align with Quality Matters standards, and several have earned QM certification for quality. In addition, multiple awards recognize the TLC team's work in instructional design and faculty development.
The TLC extends employment opportunities to undergraduate and graduate students, who then highlight student perspectives and experiences for our team. In addition, we also assist with student surveys and other research projects.
Online Learning at Clarkson
Make online learning a seamless and engaging experience through Clarkson's wide variety of comprehensive and advanced tools.
Remote Tools
Conduct real-time meetings and events via Zoom. Use Echo360 to capture in-classroom lectures and distribute pre-recorded video content. Students can access a suite of academic software via AppsAnywhere. Access all of these tools through your single sign-on account, on or off campus.
Personal Computer and Technology Requirements
Clarkson encourages you to bring a laptop with you to campus. While your specific laptop is a matter of personal preference, we have compiled recommendations for an engaging college experience. Learn more about memory, storage, operating systems and other factors you may want to take into account for both Apple and Windows devices.
FAQs
Wi-Fi access is available in all indoor locations on campus, including residence halls, academic spaces, dining halls, athletic facilities, study spaces and more locations. If you are part of the Clarkson community, we recommend accessing the eduroam wireless network with your login credentials for greater security. If you are a guest, you can access the guest network by selecting the Clarkson University network icon in your wireless settings.
Check your connections first, and then check to see if others are experiencing similar issues. We additionally announce any service interruptions on the OIT webpage. You can subscribe to receive updates by clicking the button located in the upper-right corner.
If you suspect an outage or want to report poor performance, we ask that you contact the Help Desk for further assistance.
You can access hundreds of software programs including: ArcGIS, Matlab, Ansys, Mastercam, AutoCAD, SolidWorks and many other scientific applications popular in engineering, business and other fields. These applications are available both in our computer labs and via the web-based platform called AppsAnywhere.
Safeguarding your security and privacy is one of our top priorities. Clarkson has a robust, standards-based Information Security Program that includes technical controls and administrative policies to maximize the safety of students' personal data. All employees receive annual training on overall information security practices and, more specifically, on protecting the confidentiality of student information.
The main purpose of Clarkson's information technology resources is to support learning, teaching, research and the mission of the University. We expect the use of our tools and services to align with that overarching objective. To learn more about Clarkson's policy on the use of technology, please review section XI.G of Student Regulations.
You can contact the Help Desk on days Monday through Friday by phone, email or walking into our office on the Potsdam campus. Requests received outside of normal business hours are responded to the next business day.