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When you leave or return to campus...

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Wellesley College students, faculty and staff often travel away from the campus, particularly during academic breaks and holidays. Listed below are things you should do before you leave to protect your computer while you're away, as well as information on how to stay in touch with your friends and the campus once you reach your destination.

Before you leave

While you're away When you return to campus Need Help?

What should I do about computing before I leave campus?

Do you want to use FirstClass from home?

Will you have access to a computer at home with an ISP (Internet Service Provider)? Students, will you be taking your computer home with you?

You can use FirstClass from any web browser, by connecting to https://firstclass.wellesley.edu, but to be able to do EVERYTHING you do on campus with FirstClass, you'll want to use the FirstClass client software. It's a very long, slow download from home, so think about taking it with you on a zip disk, or add it to a CD-ROM if you're putting together a CD-ROM on your CD burner.

Once you set up the FirstClass client software, if you are having a problem connecting or logging in to FirstClass, try the suggestions in Off-Campus Connection Troubleshooting for FirstClass.

Do you want to forward your FirstClass mail?

If you have an e-mail account that you like to use at home, you may want to forward your FirstClass e-mail to that account.  But keep in mind that while this covers your personal e-mail, it doesn't give you access to all the great FirstClass conferences that you have been using while you're on campus.  For those, you'll want to use FirstClass from home (see above).

Do you want people to know you're away?

If you will be away and won't be reading your FirstClass mail regularly, you can set up FirstClass so that it automatically replies to any messages you receive from another Wellesley FirstClass user.*  You use this feature to set up a standard message that says something like, "Hello, I'm away until [DATE].  If you need to reach me while I'm away,....".

* Important Note: It is recommended that you select yes ONLY in the Local Mail field. If you send an automatic reply to Internet mail, you MUST first unsubscribe from any mailing lists you are on. Otherwise you risk sending messages to everyone who is subscribed to the mailing list and/or receiving automatic replies in return which would set up a loop and overload your mailbox or a server.

Do you want to save your FirstClass e-mail messages as text files?

You can save your messages in a format that can be read by a word processor. Note that you will be saving the message only. If you want to save each attachment with its related message, follow the instructions for Saving Messages and Attachments.

Do you want to have your documents backed up?

You never know what will happen. Take the time to back up your documents. Make sure you have at least one copy of all of your work on floppies, zip disk, or CDs. We recommend that you keep a copy at your desk on campus and a copy at home.

Do you want to be able to change your Domain Password yourself, in case you forget it?

You will need to enroll in the Password Station. If you forget your domain password you will be able to reset it yourself without calling the HelpDesk.

Do you want to protect your computer while you're gone?

If you will be leaving your computer on campus while you're gone, you should unplug it to protect it from possible power outages and surges.

What can I do while I'm away?
While you're home, relaxing and catching up on your sleep, you may find yourself wanting to spend some time on the computer.

Stay in touch using FirstClass

Install the FirstClass client software, if you can, to access your e-mail and FirstClass conferences, or use use FirstClass from any web browser.

Use your Meeting Maker Calendar on the web. Log on to your Meeting Maker Account

Visit the College Web Site http://www.wellesley.edu, to keep up with what's happening on campus.
 

Take time to explore ElementK

Find yourself wishing you had more time to explore the training offered on ElementK? Now's your chance!

What should I do when I return?

Plug in your computer, if you left it behind and unplugged it.

Reconnect your computer if you took your computer with you.

Authenticate to the network using Cisco Clean Access.

Un-forward your mail, if you had set it to forward to your home account

Turn off the automatic replies, if you had set FirstClass to tell people you were away

See the ResNet Instructions for Getting Connected, if you got a new computer while you were away

Need help?

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