Skip to the content

Kansas State University

Welcome to IT at K-State

Welcome, new students, faculty, and staff! This page introduces many computing and information technology resources at K-State. Tip: Bookmark this page or search for "computer welcome" from the K-State homepage.


IT Help Desk

The IT Help Desk is the first point of contact for computing questions and assistance at K-State.


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

An "electronic identifier" is the first part of every K-State email address. (Student and employee email addresses can be found in the online People Directory.)

eProfile sign-in

The eProfile webpage is where K-Staters:

  • Manage their online identity
  • Change their password
  • Sign up for alerts
  • Set up email forwarding
  • and more
(requires eID/password sign-in)

eID@ksu.edu
eID@k-state.edu


The security of an eID is the owner's responsibility! K-State policy prohibits using someone else's eID or sharing passwords.


eID passwords

  1. K-State policy prohibits sharing passwords.
  2. K-Staters must change their passwords every 180 days. Your personal password deadline is displayed at the top of the Password settings page when you sign in to your eProfile.

K-State will never ask for your password in an email.
Any email that asks for your password is a scam and should be deleted, even if it's from
@ksu.edu or @k-state.edu addresses. See examples of recent phishing scams.


Campuswide resources that require an eID/password

Internet Explorer 10 issues with iSIS and HRIS

Clicking internal links in iSIS or HRIS causes the IE progress wheel to spin but never goes to the link location. Two changes in IE 10 are needed to work correctly with iSIS and HRIS.

Protected K-State resources that require eID/password sign-in include:

  1. Antivirus software — free to all K-Staters
  2. Computer labs and free printing — Limited free laser printing
    ($10 for spring and fall semesters, $5 for summer)
  3. Email/webmail — central email service, file storage, and calendar
  4. eProfile — where K-Staters manage their online identity
  5. HRIS — Employee Self Service (paycheck, leave time, training, etc.)
  6. iSIS student information system — enrollment, textbooks, grades, fees, notices, and more
  7. K-State Alerts — emergency notifications
  8. K-State Online — classes/courses in K-State's Learning Management System
  9. Library databases — full-text articles from the world's leading journals and reference sources
  10. Wireless campus networks — KSU Wireless (K-Staters) and KSU Housing (residence halls and Jardine Apartments)

Networks and wireless

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 networks for laptops and other mobile-computing devices. See the Wireless Local Area Network Policy. The wireless configuration tool requires an eID/password.
    • KSU Wireless — For all K-Staters. Students and employees sign in (with eID/password) to access protected campus resources, including the iSIS student information system, HRIS, K-State Online, webmail, etc.
    • KSU Housing — For residence halls and Jardine Apartments
    • KSU Guest — Campus visitors get basic Internet and Web access. They cannot access K-State enterprise systems such as iSIS, webmail, etc.
  2. Physical network connections (Ethernet)
    • Uses an Ethernet cable or CAT5 cable, and an Ethernet card
    • Allows direct connections to the Internet from campus buildings, offices, and residence halls
  3. Residence-hall Internet access through the "KSU Housing" wireless network is included in housing fees. Wired Ethernet access is also available in each residence. The ResNet Help Desk in Housing and Dining Services can help residents with connection issues and general computer problems.
  4. eduroam is a secure, international roaming service that allows users access to a wireless network at an eduroam-enabled institution using their credentials from their home institution.

K-Staters are prohibited from operating wireless access points on the K-State network or on K-State property, which includes the residence halls.


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.
  4. Microsoft Office 365 is K-State's soon-to-be new collaboration service that will integrate email, calendaring, notes, and tasks management. Details, project updates, help and support can be found on the K-State Office 365 website: k-state.edu/its/office365.

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. Each department has its own policies and funding procedures for printing.
  3. Residence-hall computer labs are reserved for students in the residence halls.

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.
  4. Wireless printing is available via an installable app, for wireless printing to the university computing labs and K-State InfoCommons. See the Wireless printing instructions for Macs and the Wireless printing instructions for PCs.

File sharing

K-State provides free, online Briefcase file space in K-State Zimbra webmail, up to 4 gigabytes. This allows access to files, documents, and images from anywhere via a web browser. This service is for current K-State students and employees, and requires a K-State eID/password.


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. External hard drives and USB flash drives provide a lot of storage space.
  2. Cloud-based storage services are available on the Internet, both free and fee-based. In addition to cost, consider security options, computer platform, server location, storage limits, maximum file size allowed, and ability to share files when choosing a service.
  3. Other considerations when selecting a backup strategy include:
    • How much data needs to be backed up?
    • How long will backups need to be kept? Optical media such as CDs and DVDs have a shelf life that may make it difficult to retrieve data several years later.
    • Keep your backup in a safe location away from your computer, so they do not both get damaged or stolen at the same time.
  4. Most important: Find what works best for you and ensure that you back up your data frequently.

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. If you're bringing a computer to college, see the minimum system requirements for connecting to the campus network.
  3. College and department recommendations are available in some specific fields of study. Ask the department advisor about department requirements. If no college/department requirement is listed below, follow K-State computer recommendations.

Software

  1. Antivirus software. K-State requires its free antivirus software be installed on any computer connected to the campus network. Download it from antivirus.k-state.edu or get a free CatPack suite DVD.
  2. A basic office suite is needed for word processing, spreadsheet, and database use. Microsoft Office Suite is recommended. Student discounts are available through the K-State Student Union Computer Store.
  3. Software in the university computing labs and K-State InfoCommons is free for K-Staters to use, on both Windows and Mac computers.
  4. The CatPack DVD 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 purchasing

  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. 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

  1. Personally owned computers (and some peripherals) of K-State students and employees can be fixed for a fee through K-State's Computer repair service. (The current rate is $60 per hour, with a $30 minimum.)
  2. Warranty support is provided for Dell and Apple computers.
  3. Contact the IT Help Desk — 214 Hale Library, 785-532-7722, helpdesk@k-state.edu.

Residence-hall resources


Designated access (for parents/guardians)

  1. K-State students can now grant others access to their financial information in iSIS, the student information system.
  2. See the Designated Access page on the One Stop Shop for Student Success site.

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.

More IT security

The IT Security website has many resources to improve computer security, including:

  • Best practices
  • Policies
  • Scams blog
  • Tools
  • Training
  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.

More IT resources

Use these contacts for more about computing, networking, and information technology at K-State.