Computer FAQs For Staff & Faculty

  • How do I log in?
    The login for the RVCC network, the Lion's Den, and the Banner system are all the same. All About Passwords.
  • How do I get a PC? How do I get a better PC?
    In either case, you should talk to your supervisor who is ultimately responsible for making sure you have the equipment you need to do your work. If a new machine is required, the request will be channeled to MIS through Vice President Chulvick.
  • How do I get an Outlook account? How do I get access to Banner?
    When you join the RVCC community, HR will provide a form for MIS that gives us the information we need to create your Outlook and network access accounts and create your username. Your supervisor should contact MIS for Banner access.
  • What is my college e-mail address?
    Your account (user) name will most likely be the first character of your first name followed by up to seven (7) characters of your last name. Your e-mail address will be username@raritanval.edu. If for some reason your username duplicates an existing username (Joe Sixpack and Jean Sixpack, for example), your username may have additional letters or numbers. MIS will let you know.
  • How do I get added to college/departmental distribution lists? (And what’s a distribution list, anyway?)
    A distribution list is a shortcut method of sending the same message to a large number of people. It’s sometimes called a broadcast message. There are several set up here at RVCC, and they are listed in the Outlook address book. The most commonly used one, called RVCC,  includes all members of the faculty and staff–but no students. You are automatically added to that list when you receive your RVCC e-mail account. Other lists–such as full-time classified staff or English faculty members–are administered by different departments. You’ll need the contact the owner of the list (available through the “properties” information) to be added to those lists.
  • Where do I go if I need help with my computer or my computer accounts?
    Contact the MIS Help Desk at ext. 4357, though e-mail at MIS, or come see us in Room 112, Somerset Hall.
  • Can I get special software installed on my computer (I really like Spinner/Hotbots/animated screensavers/cool pictures/etc.)?
    If you need specialized software for your work (such as SAS or SmartTerm), we’ll be glad to install it for you. However, software such as Spinner and other popular downloads interfere with the proper working of necessary software, slow down the operation of your computer, and take up needed storage space. If we find such software in the course of responding to a call about your computer, we will remove it. It has also been demonstrated over and over that computer viruses are most often transmitted through downloaded games and other software. Play it safe–don’t download any software.
  • I don’t like where my PC is located. Can you move it?
    That depends. Since your PC requires both an electrical outlet and a computer network drop, its new location must be convenient for plugging into the network and electricity. While some accommodation can be made for running cords and cables across a room, it’s not recommended. If possible, see if you can rearrange your work space to take advantage of the existing connections.
  • Where can I get training for all this new stuff I’m supposed to learn?
    Microsoft Office products, Outlook, WebCT and Lion's Den training is provided through the Instructional Technology area. For quick individual tutorials, use the Help function available within each software product. As new Banner modules are installed, the individual departments using the new feature offer training. If there are areas where you need special help, ask your supervisor to assign you a “buddy” to help with your training. Click here for training schedule by semester.
  • I want to print somewhere else–how can I do that? Is there a color printer I can use? Can I have a color printer?
    It is possible to print somewhere else–provided the printer you want to use is on the network and the owner of the printer has no objection to your printing to it. Contact the Help Desk for assistance. There is now a color printer available for staff & faculty use in the Copy Shop (ist floor South building). If you have a larger color printing project, please contact the Marketing Department for the Print Shop. And if you want your very own color printer, see the answer to question 2.
  • I forgot my password.
    Not to worry. Contact the Help Desk and we’ll help you out.
  • My predecessor left a bunch of stuff on my PC. How do I get rid of it?
    If it appears to be personal material, you can most likely just delete or uninstall it (contact the Help Desk if you need assistance with uninstalling). For anything that looks like it might be college-related, check with your supervisor. It may be material that you or someone else in your department will need later. If you or your supervisor is reluctant to just scrap whatever is there, contact the Help Desk and we will make arrangements to help you back-up the material in question for safe keeping and then remove it from the computer.

  • My predecessor left a bunch of password-protected stuff on my PC and now I need to get access to it. How do I do that?
    Check with your supervisor to see if anyone has the passwords for the protected files. Or if anyone can guess what the passwords might be. Or if anyone can get in touch with your predecessor to see what the password is. If none of these work, contact the Help Desk. We may be able to override the password. (No promises . . . .)
  • What are the Help Desk hours? Is someone available 24/7?
    During the school year, there is usually technical support available at the Help Desk from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday. Messages left after hours on the Help Desk voice mail will be responded to the next day the office is open and staffed. If there are network problems during the hours when the Help Desk is not staffed, calls to the College Security office will be forwarded to MIS staff for diagnosis and possible action.

  • Can I access my e-mail from home? How?
    If you have access to the Internet through an ISP (Internet Service Provider), you can access your Outlook mail via the World Wide Web (WWW). Simply log in to the Lion's Den using your regular network ID and password, and then click on the 'Email' icon in the upper right. Once you're in the Outlook Web software, there are icons for the various actions you’ll likely want to use, and it all looks very much like the on-campus version. For more detailed information, attend one of the Outlook training sessions.
  • I have a personal e-mail account that I use at home. Can I forward my Outlook mail to that account?
    The short answer is no; off-campus access to Outlook mail is through the Web (see question 14). However, in most cases you can forward your personal e-mail to your Outlook account.
  • I have Windows XP (Netscape 7.0, WordPerfect 5.1, Microsoft Works, etc.) at home and I really like it. Can I install it here?
    Again, the short answer is no. Only college-purchased, college-supported software should be installed on your computer. (See question 6.) If you need specialized software and your department will purchase it for you, MIS will assist in the installation. However, we maintain detailed knowledge only of the campus-wide standard software packages.
  • Who will answer my calls at the Help Desk? How quickly will someone respond?
    During the staffed hours (see above), the telephone is generally answered by a member of the MIS staff. If all staff members are busy or out of the office, the phone may go to the voicemail system, or it may be answered by one of the student technology assistants (STAs). If your question cannot be addressed over the phone, we will dispatch someone (generally an STA) to diagnose the problem and fix it if possible. How quickly someone responds depends in part on the perceived severity of your problem, and the availability of someone to check it out. The majority of our calls are resolved the same day they are reported.
  • My office is being rebuilt and while construction is going on, my computer must go into storage. What will happen to it? Will I get it back?
    This is a relatively common situation at RVCC. Your computer and all its pieces (keyboard, monitor, speakers, etc.) will be tagged with your name and office and stored in a secure place provided by Physical Plant. When your renovated office is ready, it will be returned to you and reinstalled. Any major movement of computers can create problems, so we recommend that you backup your critical files before the move.
  • Can I buy a PC from/through the college?
    Check with the Purchasing office. They are responsible for any computers that are “decommissioned” from the college inventory.
  • I don’t like my e-mail username–can I change it?
    This is another one of those “it depends” questions! Generally speaking, the established username pattern is rather strictly adhered to. If you feel very strongly that it should be changed, contact the Help Desk. If your legal name has changed and the appropriate adjustments have been made through Human Resources, a change in username will, of course, be made.
  • Can I dial into the college to get to the Internet?
    The college does not provide dial-up Internet Service Provider (ISP) services.
  • If I leave, what happens to my files?
    Any files you create as an employee of the college using college-owned equipment belong to the college. For this reason, you should be very cautious about using your RVCC computer for personal use.
  • Do I call the MIS Help Desk for service on copiers/fax machines/projectors?
    Another short answer: no. If you have a problem with a projector, contact Media Services (ext. 8289). They can also help you if you need audio-visual equipment for a meeting. For service on copiers, fax machines, and other non-computer office equipment, call Mike Machnik (ext. 8223).