New Student Frequently Asked Questions
What type of computers are used on Furman's campus?
The computers on Furman's campus are connected through the campus network. The same network resources are available throughout the computer labs and the multimedia classrooms on campus. If you bring a suitable computer with you to Furman, your system may be connected to the network from your on-campus residence as well, offering full access to your electronic mail, academic discussion databases and Internet no matter where you are working on campus.
Should I bring a computer to Furman?
You do not need a personal computer to make full use of the
technology resources at Furman. There are many public computer labs on campus as well as discipline-specific department computer laboratories. Most
students who bring a computer consider having one a convenience; it is not a requirement.
If I bring a computer to Furman what type should I have?
Most general applications in the academic environment are well
suited either for a Windows-based computer or an Apple Macintosh. This
is a matter of personal preference.
What type of wireless network card should my computer have?
Any new laptop with built-in wireless will connect. If you have to purchase a wireless card, any one that is compatible with your computer, and supports 802.11b or g with WPA encryption will work.
Which academic buildings and residence halls have wireless connectivity?
Nearly all academic and adminstrative buildings on campus have full wireless coverage. There is partial coverage in most residence halls. For more information see our map of campus wireless coverage, and configuration instructions.
Are there any computer vendors that offer special pricing for Furman students?
Yes! We have special pricing for Furman students from Dell and Apple.
Will the computer I now have work on Furman's network?
Please see our recommended minimum computer specifications for your computer to work on Furman's campus network.
Can I ship my computer to campus?
Yes. Our campus post office will hold packages such as computers for a student's arrival. The package must be addressed to the student with their proper mailbox information. (Do not confuse that with a housing location, it must be the student's assigned mailbox number!)
If you do not already know your student mailbox information, contact Mail Services at (864) 294-2107, and explain that you want to ship a package to be held for a new student.
The normal format for a student's mailing address is:
Student's Name
Box Number
Furman University
Greenville, SC 29613-XXXX (first four digits of mailbox number)
When you place your order, be ready to get answers to questions such as: What is my order number? How do I track my order? Who do I contact if I have questions about my order? When will my order ship?
Plan to follow-up with the vendor and shipping service to track your order to its final destination.
What type of software will I need?
Furman provides every student with an account to log in to the Furman campus network. This network account will provide access to storage areas on the servers for class assignments, and other electronic materials. You will also be provided an electronic mail account. Furman's electronic mail and conference system is called FirstClass. If you wish, we will provide the FirstClass client software for you to use on your personal machine at no cost. If you do not choose to load the FirstClass client on your personal system, your electronic mail account is accessible through the Web, by using any current Web browser.
We will provide up-to-date virus protection software in all of the public computer laboratories, and for your personal system. In fact, we require that all systems connected to the network use the currently-licensed virus protection software. The virus protection for your system, once it is connected to the network, will be periodically updated through the network to insure that your system and the Furman systems you use will protect your work from viruses.
Most students will use an office productivity package for assignments, including a word processor, spreadsheet and a presentation application. The Microsoft Office Suite is installed on all laboratory systems and multimedia classroom systems at Furman. We do not provide this software for personally-owned student systems. While you are free to choose the office productivity package you prefer, we recommend Microsoft Office if for no other reason than the fact that the documents created on your system will be compatible with the applications in the computer laboratories and multimedia classrooms.
If you are planning to purchase software, look for academic versions of the product you want. Many software publishers offer significant discounts to the academic community. Our bookstore sells the academic version of Microsoft Office, along with many other programs.
Are there any restrictions for downloading music or movies?
Enforcing the laws regulating the use of copyrighted music and movies is not discretionary. When the recording industry, or motion picture industry, notifies Furman about violators on our campus we are obliged to make sure the illegal file sharing stops. If you share files illegally you are not only subject to losing your network privileges, you are subject to prosecution in criminal court.
As students, you have a large stake in the performance of our network and how file sharing effects your Internet bandwidth. Not only is the practice of downloading copyrighted music and movies illegal, it also consumes a disproportionate share of network resources. We will be aggressive in protecting your right to use the network and technological resources for your studies and your activities at Furman. We will not support the theft of copyrighted material.
Content on your personal machine which is not shared is your private property, governed by standard search and seizure protections. Openly shared files which are not password protected may be scrutinized and action taken.
Please refer to our Copyright and File Sharing page for additional information on copyright laws.
There are sites where you can legally download music from the Internet. We encourage all members of the campus community to respect copyrights and intellectual property.