Getting Started With Information & Technology Solutions

Welcome to Mines! Here’s what new students, faculty, and staff need to know about computer accounts and other IT resources on campus.

We’re Information & Technology Solutions (ITS for short) and we’re here to help.

NEW STUDENT, FACULTY, AND STAFF COMPUTING INFORMATION

Whether you are student, faculty, or staff, you will likely use these Mines computer systems as part of your job or course work. You can access them all after you Activate your Mines account— your main computer account here at Mines.

  • EmailExchange Mail for students, faculty, and staff
  • My Mines — my.mines.edu is your single sign-on portal for most of your core Mines apps and services including change of address, vacation/sick (for employees), and more.
  • The Trailhead campus portal — one-stop access to crucial administrative and academic resources like class schedules, add/drop, grades, bills, and more.
  • Linux and Windows computer labs and classroom podiums throughout campus
  • eLearning resources, including Lon-Capa and Canvas
  • The school’s Virtual Private Network (VPN)

Other campus accounts will be brought under the MultiPass umbrella over time.

MORE INFOMATION AND HELP

BE AWARE: MINES EMERGENCY ALERT

Mines Emergency Alert (MEA) is an emergency-notification system that sends text and voice messages to the Mines community in the event of a declared emergency. All members of the campus community are automatically subscribed to this service.

For more information, go to https://www.mines.edu/emergency/mines-emergency-alert/

LEARN ABOUT COMPUTER AND NETWORK SECURITY

The Office of Information Security and Privacy works with the Mines community to increase the security of our information infrastructure, including the data network and connected hosts.

VERIFY EMAIL MESSAGES FROM ITS

In order to reduce email fraud and phishing attacks, official emails sent to the campus by ITS (formerly CCIT) are published on the Email Verification page (https://its.mines.edu/verify). Users should visit the Email Verification page to verify any email that looks like it was sent from ITS before taking any action.

NOTE: ITS staff will never ask for your MInes login credentials (campus username and password) and will never send email asking for this information. You should never share your login credentials with anyone.

BE WELL-INFORMED

Mines offers a large number of information resources for the campus community. Events of general interest to the campus community are listed in the Mines Calendar. Campus news is available in the Mines Newsroom or via RSS feed. There’s even a Mines Mobile app to bring useful news, events, sports and other information to your phone or tablet.

GETTING STARTED CHECKLIST

___ Read and understand Mines IT policies and your responsibilities under them.

___ Read about creating good, strong passwords.

___ Activate your Mines account.

___ Make sure you can access your email, my.mines.edu, and Trailhead accounts.

___ If you brought a computer to campus, connect it to the Mines network.

___ Install an antivirus on your computer if you don’t have one already.

___ Back up your computer (frequently)!

___ Students: In dorms, ask “move-in helpers,” other students, or Residence Hall staff for help if needed.

___ Contact ITS via Mines Help Center  if problems persist. Or see our trained consultants in the Computer Commons (CTLM building, room 156); they are available during extended business hours for in-person help.

IF YOU BRING YOUR OWN COMPUTER TO CAMPUS, REMEMBER...
  • Your operating system, hardware driver, and application software disks in case you have to rebuild your system or reinstall applications.
  • A way to back up your system and files, like a rewritable CD/DVD or USB hard drive.
  • A printer and supplies (can be convenient).
  • Identification and contact information necessary to receive warranty service from your vendor should it be required.
  • Appropriate length cables for your monitor, mouse, keyboard, printer and other peripherals.
  • A surge protector (or small UPS if you have one).
  • You might consider bringing a security cable, especially for your portable computer. Do not bring any device that requires permanent attachment to furniture or walls.
  • Do NOT bring or purchase a wireless access point. You are not permitted to establish and deliver wireless access services in campus housing units.
SOME FINAL THOUGHTS
  • Never share your Social Security number, PINs, or account passwords with anyone else.
  • Never put this kind of private information in an unencrypted e-mail message. Email is an inherently insecure medium, not too different from sending a post card.
  • If you are issued a password in an email message, you should change it right away.
  • Support staff should not need your password to assist you in any circumstance (though they may ask you to type it in yourself).
  • If you have a Microsoft Windows-based system in particular, we have a site license for virus protection software that extends to your computer. Get it from our web site, use it, and keep it updated (and it’s a good idea for Mac OS and Linux users as well).
  • Routinely update your operating system and application software with any critical security patches that are released.
  • Seek technical help from the web pages or handouts, via helpdesk at the Mines Help Center, from student consultants (CT156), full time staff, or friends. Getting all your accounts and technology set up can seem daunting at first, all will make sense soon. Contact us if we can help.