For any student living on campus who wants to connect his or her computer to the Internet while keeping it safe from viruses -- and all for free -- ResCom is the place to go.
ResCom, short for Residential Computing, can help save students hundreds of dollars in services, while helping students troubleshoot any problems that may arise with their on-campus Internet connection.
"ResCom is a liaison between the students and other departments around campus. It works directly with the student and then with other departments for official university purposes," Clifford Rodack, network coordinator for residence halls, said.
There are five ResCom helpdesks -- one at each common building.
ResCom, which does not offer services to students living off-campus, saves students money by providing virus and spyware protection on their computers, Rodack said.
"If a student were to go to Best Buy or Circuit City to remove viruses or clean up spy-ware, they would pay about $50 to $170 for the service. ResCom has heard from students paying for things we do for free," Rodack said.
It is imperative for students to know they must start their connection to the Internet at school before they even step foot on campus for Welcome Week, Rodack said. Students must go onto the ResCom Web site, www.rescom.psu.edu, and find the link called "Internet Connection Setup."
The link shows students an easy guideline to connect their computers to the Internet once they move in to the residence halls, Rodack said. If students do not do this, they will not have their computers connected to the Internet when they arrive on campus, and students will have to go to their helpdesk to connect, he said.
"When students stand in line at the beginning of fall semester, it's because they either accidentally registered the wireless address, they didn't do anything before coming to campus or they didn't read the new laptop information saying they need to plug their laptop into the wall power before checking for the wired ethernet connection information," Rodack said.
To avoid the long lines at the helpdesks, students should take time to go to the ResCom Web site and set their computer up, Rodack said. Students should also note they need anti-virus software on their computers.
"Penn State wants students to use anti-virus software. The student can ask ResCom to install the one the university has a license for or they can download it themselves on the ITS Web site, www.its.psu.edu. Only one anti-virus program can be installed on a computer at one time. An existing one must be uninstalled before installing a new one," Rodack said.
ResCom does not turn off student connections, make bandwidth policy, provide university accounts, maintain computer labs, provide cable television or room phones or support gaming machines, Rodack said.
Rodack did note one thing ResCom does do, though.
"ResCom will assist students living in residence halls throughout the semester with any computer-related issue that they can," he said.
