Case UserID
 When you've decided to enroll at Case, your new Case UserID (provided in your acceptance letter--undergraduates only) will provide you access to a host of services and features. Your Case UserID gives you access to not only email (which is the main mode of communication throughout the University), but also to detailed course information, the Blackboard Learning and Community Portal System, registration, library services, server drives (mainly for faculty and staff), and a host of other things. The Case UserID also enables students to register their own computers on the Case network from their dorm rooms.
You must activate your Case UserID before you attempt to access your email, Blackboard, VPN, campus ethernet on your own laptop, etc... You may do so at the ITS Account Activation page.
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Computers
You should consider the computer recommendations by both Bolton School and University IT Services before making any major decisions on what kind of computer to bring, but here is a summary of important points:
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You should definitely invest in a laptop computer. |
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The entire campus of Case Western Reserve University enables wireless internet access, so you will always be connected anywhere you go. Just make sure that if you plan to live on campus, buy a laptop with a Netgear fiber-cat5 converter and either a 10/100/1000 network card or a docking station with gig capability. Pretty much all new laptops have the proper configurations for wireless networks. |
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The Bolton School does not recommend Apple computers for nursing students. |
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Prior to bringing your laptop or computer onto campus, please be sure to follow these instructions for computer security. |
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We recommend USB keys (aka Jump Drives, Pen Drives, Thumbdrives, etc) for data transfer (such as when bringing data to the lab, to a presentation, etc.). |
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As a Bolton School student, you will be entitled to FREE software from Case (see below). Note: You won't be able to access the Software Center until you have a valid Case UserID. |
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The "Serious Technology at Case" pamphlet, available in PDF format, addresses many of the questions asked by prospective and newly admitted students. |
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Getting Connected
NOTE: Before bringing your laptop or computer to school, you must make sure it is virus free and secure! Please refer to our security and maintenance section to ensure that your computer is up to date.
 Cleveland was recently named by the Intelligent Community Forum as one of the world's "Top Seven Intelligent Communities of 2006" due to its provision of ultrabroadband internet access via its numerous institutions, organizations, and governmental agencies, which are all part of the OneCleveland network. Although bringing a laptop to the Bolton School is not required, those who do choose to can connect to the network at several locations. Ethernet plug-in ports are available in the Cyber Café as well as the second floor Computer Lab. You may also take advantage of the approximately 1260 Cisco wireless access points installed across campus, enabling you to log into Case's fiber gigabit network from virtually anywhere (see below).
Front Door Portal
An important feature of the Bolton School's computer network is Front Door, which serves as the school's internal website. Functioning as a one-stop shop for Bolton School faculty, staff, and students, it provides current news and upcoming school event information, a school calendar, message boards for a variety of topics, special announcements, nursing job postings, important links often used by students, the local Cleveland weather forecast, and other helpful features and services. Front Door is usually the very first thing that students see when they log in throughout the day!
Connecting in FPB
If you choose to connect your laptop, not only within the Bolton School, but anywhere on campus, you must first register your Ethernet card. To register your laptop on the wired network, just plug into the Cat 5 cable in the lab on the middle table, and open Internet Explorer. You will be guided through the setup process for Case. You may also register your wireless card (but it is not necessary) by going to the self registration area of the Case Help page.
Your computer must be using Windows XP. For use in the Cyber Café, you must purchase your own Cat 5 Ethernet cable (available at the campus bookstore) or use wireless.
To connect to wireless, please refer to our instructions.
Note to those living in the dorms: You will receive information from campus/housing on how to connect your desktop computer at the dorm.
Connecting from Off Campus
For those who wish to connect to Case restricted sites from off campus on their own service provider, you must log into VPN to gain access. Such sites include journals, the Software Center and a variety of other IP-restricted access Case sites.
However, you will not need to connect to VPN to gain access to email, Blackboard, and non-IP restricted sites.
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Software
Case provides its members with a number of free software packages. Some of these include  Microsoft Office, Symantec Antivirus, Adobe Acrobat, Photoshop, Macromedia Studio, and a number of others. If you would like to download any of the software on your home computer, you must first have a broadband internet connection (i.e., anything but dial-up). You must also meet the minimum requirements for each of the packages (noted on the Software Download page).
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Information Technology Services
Information Technology Services (ITS) are the big guns for IT on campus. They consist of several groups, such as ITAC, Help Desk, Infrastructure, and so on. Contact them if you have any general questions about using computers at Case.
FPB Information Systems
At the Bolton School, we also have our own Information Technology department (commonly referred to as the FPB Help Desk). We are not directly part of the university's ITS, but we work closely with them to keep things running smoothly.
Computer Lab
The Bolton School has a few different lab setups throughout the school. The official lab is on the second floor, room 219. You must be an FPB student, staff, or faculty to gain access via the card reader and to utilize any of the computers or printers within. The lab consists of 13 Pentium 4 workstations, with zip 250 drives, USB connections, headphones, CDRW and DVD rom drives. There are two HP 8150 LaserJets for printing as well as a small color deskjet. The lab also has laptop Ethernet connection points, as well as wireless access to the network. The lab is open 24/7 to any nursing student. If your card does not grant you access, please contact Kathy O'Linn.
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Learning Resource Center (LRC)
The LRC boasts a
state-of-the-art facility comprised of
four academic support units:
the Cyber-Cafe, the Center for Bioinformatics and Health Promotion, the Multi-Media Simulation Center, and the Clinical Teaching Center. In the works is a new Skills and Simulation Center, under construction on the West
Quad of campus, which will have an operating room simulator and expanded
LRC capabilities. Please refer to the LRC website for detailed information on each section of the LRC.
Cyber Café
On the ground floor, the Bolton School features a casual computing atmosphere known as the Cyber Café. This area is restricted via card reader access, to FPB students, staff, and faculty. The cafe consists of 3 Pentium 4 workstations, with zip 250, DVD and CDRW drives. There are several Ethernet ports for laptop connection (must have your own Ethernet cable) as well as wireless access to the network. The Café also has a Laser Jet 8150 printer. As opposed to the Computer Lab, the Café is a more social computing environment, where food and drink are welcome. There is a refrigerator for storing lunches, a microwave, and a sink. The Café also has a television and couches for lounging, along with ample work space.
 Bioinformatics Room
As part of the LRC on the ground floor, there is a technology enhanced classroom open only to the Bolton School. This classroom is equipped with an interactive electronic white board, document projector, overhead projector, teaching station and 24 Pentium 4 workstations. There is also a Laser Jet 8150 for printing. Outside of class time, this room may be used as an alternative to the Computer Lab, though access is restricted by open hours. You may reserve the classroom or the LRC cart by contacting them at 368-2524.
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