Skip to the content

Kansas State University

IT Help Desk
Kansas State University
214 Hale Library
Manhattan, KS 66506
785-532-7722
800-865-6143 (toll-free)
helpdesk@k-state.edu

New to IT at K-State

Welcome to computing and information technology at K-State! This page covers many technology resources and facilities provided for K-Staters.


IT Help Desk

This is the first place to contact for assistance on computing and IT questions at K-State.

IT Help Desk

Phone: 785-532-7722 (toll-free 800-865-6143)
Walk in: 214 Hale Library
E-mail: helpdesk@k-state.edu


For access to special assistive technology, contact Disability Support Services, 785-532-6441, dss@k-state.edu.


eIDs and passwords

  1. An eID ("electronic identifier") is the first part of every K-State student's or employee's email address.
  2. An eID provides access to many IT resources including:
  3. K-State policy prohibits using someone else's eID or sharing passwords. It's against federal laws (FERPA) that protect educational records. The security of an eID is the owner's responsibility!

  4. K-Staters must change their passwords twice a year, at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters. The eProfile webpage is where K-Staters manage their online identity, change passwords, sign up for alerts, set up email forwarding, and more.

5. K-State will never ask for your password in an email.
Any email that asks for your password (even from @ksu.edu or @k-state.edu) is a scam; delete it. See examples of recent phishing scams.


Email and webmail

K-State provides email service to all its students and employees.

  1. Your official, primary K-State email address has two forms — eID@ksu.edu and eID@k-state.edu. Both addresses can be used to send and receive email.
  2. The university sends official correspondence to K-Staters via their primary email addresses with full expectation that communications will be received and read in a timely fashion. If K-Staters forward their mail to another email address (Gmail, Hotmail, departmental server, etc.), their primary campus email address remains the official destination for official university correspondence.
  3. K-State central email services provide spam filtering, antivirus protection, and improved webmail services. The webmail sign-in page requires an eID/password.

Computer labs

Many campus computer labs are available for free use by K-State students and faculty/staff. Most labs require a K-State eID/password when signing in.

  1. University computing labs and the K-State InfoCommons (in Hale Library) contain more than 350 computers for use by K-Staters. The labs have printing facilities, a variety of software, and access to the campus network and the Internet.
  2. Departmental labs are reserved for students in specific fields of study. Ask your advisor about available labs or contact the department's main office about usage guidelines.
  3. Residence-hall computer labs are reserved for students in the residence halls.

Free printing

  1. Limited, free laser printing ($10 fall/spring semesters, $5 summer) is available to all students and faculty/staff in the university computing labs and the K-State InfoCommons (in Hale Library). The system requires a K-State eID and password.
  2. Print cost is 10 cents per page (or 18 cents for 2-page duplex).
  3. Pay-for-printing (CatCash) is available when K-Staters add money to their Wildcat Cards. Students can also give access to parents for adding funds via the CatCash system.

Backing up data

It's extremely important to back up classwork and other essential data. Every semester the IT Help Desk hears about valuable data that cannot be recovered because it was stored on a lost flash drive, a computer that broke or was stolen, or disappeared when the electricity went off.

  1. K-State provides free, online Briefcase file space in K-State Zimbra webmail, which has backup support. It allows access to files from anywhere via a web browser (requires eID/password access).
  2. Recommended storage devices include USB or flash drives, external hard drives, and backing up data to computers in different locations.
  3. See Wikipedia's Comparison of online backup services. In addition to cost, consider security options, computer platform, server location, storage limits, maximum file size allowed, and ability to share files with others.

Buying a computer

K-State encourages new students to bring a computer to college. Computers are used for coursework, research, and communicating with instructors and other students.

  1. K-State computer recommendations are the university's official guidelines for PCs and Macs. (The specifications are updated each spring.) Recommendations are for freshman/sophomore levels. Juniors/seniors may need advanced computing technology.
  2. College and department recommendations are available for students in some specific fields of study.
    • Ask the department advisor about department requirements.
    • If no department requirement is listed, follow K-State computer recommendations.
  3. Bringing a computer to college? Check K-State's minimum system requirements for connecting to the campus network.

Software

  1. K-State's free antivirus software must be installed on any computer connected to the campus network. It's in the free CatPack suite and can be downloaded from the antivirus software page.
  2. A basic office suite is needed (word processing, database, and spreadsheet). Microsoft Office Suite is recommended (about $80 through the K-State Student Union Computer Store).
  3. A variety of software (for PCs and Macs) is available for use in the university computing labs and K-State InfoCommons.
  4. The CatPack is a collection of free and licensed software available to K-Staters only. It includes K-State's antivirus software, an office suite, communications, and other useful programs.

Software savings

  1. Educational discounts can be had through the K-State Student Union Computer Store (785-532-7319, computerstore@k-state.edu) or any academic reseller.
  2. For software such as the Microsoft Office Suite and Microsoft operating system, check first with the Union Computer Store as their prices may be lower than other retailers (due to the K-State Microsoft Student Select agreement). At the Union Computer Store, a valid K-State eID is required to obtain the discounts. Other entities will require proof of enrollment in an academic institution.

Computer repair

Computer repair services for personally owned computers and peripherals is provided for a fee. Service includes warranty support for Dell and Apple computers. The IT Help Desk (214 Hale Library) is the first point of contact. 785-532-7722, helpdesk@k-state.edu.


Residence-hall requirements


Protecting your computer

It is imperative that K-Staters protect their computers. Computer security risks and threats continue to rise, and a vulnerable machine can be attacked and infected in a few seconds.

  • It is your responsibility to protect your computer and your data. Protecting your computer helps protect the university's network and resources, as well as other K-Staters.
  • K-State actively scans its network to identify computers that are unpatched, vulnerable, or infected with a computer worm or virus. If your computer is compromised, it will be blocked from accessing the network and Internet until it has been repaired and/or patched.
  • K-State's free antivirus software must be installed on any computer connected to the campus network directly, via dial-in, or wireless. The software is free to all students, faculty, and staff. It's in the free CatPack suite and can be downloaded from the antivirus software page.

See the IT security site for more information.


Connecting to K-State's network

K-State's high-speed data network allows access from residence-hall rooms, off-campus, the K-State Student Union, the library, university computing labs, high-technology classrooms, and many locations with wireless support.

  1. Wireless network connection
    • K-State's wireless computer network allows laptops and other mobile-computing devices to access the Internet without being physically tied to an Ethernet connection line.
    • See the wireless network policy.
    • K-State moved to a more secure wireless network (WPA2) in 2011. Sign-in with an eID and password is required to access the wireless network. Campus visitors needing wireless access will need to use "KSU Guest". which is available across campus. KSU Guest will not provide access to any K-State enterprise systems such as iSIS, K-State Online, and K-State webmail.
  2. Physical network connection (Ethernet)
    • This access method uses a hard-wired line and an Ethernet card.
    • K-State buildings and office allow direct connections to the Internet.
  3. Residence-hall students get access to the Internet and campus network through ResNet in Housing and Dining Services. Internet access is included in housing fees. An Ethernet cable is recommended in case wireless connectivity is temporarily unavailable.
  4. K-Staters are prohibited from operating Wireless Access Points on the K-State network or on K-State property, which includes the residence halls.

Leaving K-State IT

Students and employees who are planning to leave K-State permanently should review the Preparing to Leave K-State IT site, which tell how to:

  • Save files and email
  • Turn on email forwarding, and unsubscribe from mailing lists
  • Remove software received under a K-State site license or other agreement
  • Perform other necessary tasks when leaving or graduating