Getting started as a new member of staff at Goldsmiths

There are online exercises to introduce you to how our systems work. This guide gives an overview of the College facilities.

Usernames & passwords

• You need a username and password to login to your College machine or to use computer facilities in the RB
  - if you did not collect these when you started, go to the Help Desk in the Rutherford Building.
• You must remember your password
  - without it you will not be able to login or use any of the computer facilities until a new one is issued.

| Change your password |

Email

• Your username also functions as an email address.
  username@gold.ac.uk

| Email Services | Webmail | Spam filters | Out of office email auto reply |

Getting help

Support for all users is provided by the Help Desk on the ground floor of the Rutherford Building.

The Help Desk can help with:

• College computer problems
• Supported software
• College e-mail accounts

The Help Desk can't help with:

• Problems on staff members' own computers
• Unsupported software
• E-mail accounts offered by Internet providers, free or commercial.

The Help Desk offers different support levels for different software:

• The core general software applications (e.g. email, word-processor) are fully supported for everyone.
• More complex software (e.g. databases, spreadsheets) is less fully supported - help is available on the basics, but not on the full range of program functions.
• Specialist software required in particular academic disciplines (e.g. statistics, DTP) is supported by academic departments, not by the Help Desk.

| Help Desk |

IT skills

• IT Services are responsible for providing software training courses for staff.
• The Help Desk also has tutorial workbooks for the main software packages, and there are further tutorial books in the Library.

| Training and Courses |

Access to computer facilities

• College computer facilities are all housed in the Rutherford Building.
  You need to have your Goldsmiths ID Card for access to the building.
• The computer facilities are available whenever the Rutherford Building is open.
• Many academic departments have their own computer facilities.

Facilities

• The Rutherford Building has both PC and Macintosh computers with a standard range of software.
• Some of the computers can be booked in advance.
• There are four Computer Teaching Rooms.
• You are given your own space for files on the College network
• The Media Services Centre provides materials, facilities, support and services to help you with any media requirements in audio, video, and photography.

| Computer Facilities | Media Services Centre | File storage |

Avoiding problems

• Make sure you know how to create backups of your files; make regular backups, and keep them safely.
• Make sure you are running up-to-date anti-virus software on your own computer.
• Don't forget to look after your health:
  • Adjust your chair to a comfortable height.
  • Do not work at a computer for long periods without a break.

| Virus protection |