PhD Student Computing - Technical Support and Training

Technical Support for University-Owned Equipment:

Each academic department maintains some University-owned computers for the use of PhD students ("department PhD equipment").  This equipment is supported by the KIS Faculty/Staff Computing Group.  Hardware and software support policies for department PhD equipment are the same as for faculty/staff equipment.  PhD students and DAs may request support for department PhD equipment via the KIS Web-based service request system.

In order to maintain an effective computing environment for multiple users, only KIS technical support staff may have administrator rights and software installation rights for shared department PhD equipment.  Any requests for installation of software not within Kellogg standards must be considered and approved by the Associate Dean for Technology and the Academic Department Chair. If a department provides a university computer that is solely for the individuals' use then the user can be added as a local administrator and any special software that is installed by the user is not supported by KIS.

PhD students may utilize the Jacobs Center computing labs, which include a wide variety of specialized software applications.  The labs are supported by the Kellogg Informations Systems Student Computing Group for all Kellogg students.

Technical Support for Personally-Owned Equipment:

Personally-owned computers of PhD students (e.g. desktops at home, desktops in the office, non-standard laptops) are supported only by Northwestern’s Information Technology Support Services (ITSS) at 847-467-4877.  ITSS provides phone support for dial-up connectivity and Northwestern network applications for all students, encompassing most types of computer equipment.  Students may also obtain information from ITSS on the University license software package, which contains Northwestern email and antivirus software.

PhD students are not required to have a laptop computer.  However, Kellogg runs a required Kellogg Laptop Program for MBA students.  PhD students who choose to purchase the official Kellogg Laptop Program computer package may request support from the KIS Faculty/Staff Computing Group for the laptop hardware and standard software image.  KIS technical support for the Kellogg Laptop Program computer for PhD students is limited to the length of the manufacturer's warranty for hardware (generally 2 or 3 years) and is limited to 4 years from original purchase for the standard software image.  In the summer of each year, Kellogg announces an updated standard software image for Kellogg Laptop Program computers.  PhD students may request support on the operating system and application programs included in the most recent standard software image, updated from their original standard software image.  PhD students may order the Kellogg Laptop Program computer under the same guidelines as Two-year MBA students, during any of the years that they will be enrolled full-time at Kellogg.  Currently, the laptop is available for purchase between July 1 and September 30 of each academic year.  For more information, see the Kellogg Laptop Program Web site.

Computer Training for PhD Students:

Kellogg Information Systems offers a computing orientation for incoming PhD students to introduce them to the general technology environment and research computing resources at Kellogg.  Information on the time and place of this orientation is distributed by the Kellogg PhD Office.  You can download and review the presentations on Navigating Technology at Kellogg and Research Computing Resources from the most recent orientation.  PhD students are also welcome to attend TEKclasses offered at Kellogg during the academic year and Northwestern technology training programs.
 

Updated: 10/16/2005
facstaffcomputing@kellogg.northwestern.edu