ITS Documentation
Understanding Your Standard Computing Services
S4260 • May 2009

Table of Contents


What Are the Standard Computing Services?

The standard computing services (formerly known as the Basic Computing Package) are a set of computing services provided to the U-M community by U-M Information and Technology Services (ITS) at no charge. The following services are included (A list of documents with instructions for using these services is included at the end of this document under Additional Resources):

  • Uniqname and UMICH password. To use many U-M computing services, you need to enter your uniqname (which identifies you) and your UMICH password (which authorizes and authenticates you). Your uniqname is also part of your e-mail address.

  • E-mail. This service lets you send and receive e-mail. ITS provides webmail.umich.edu, Mulberry, and Pine for accessing your e-mail. You may also use other mail programs if you wish.

  • File storage. You get 10 gigabytes of file storage on the Institutional File System (IFS). You may purchase additional file space for a monthly fee. See What If I Need Additional Computing Services from ITS.

  • Black-and-white laser printing in the Campus Computing Sites. Students may print 400 pages per term as part of their standard computing services. Faculty and staff may print 50 pages per term. You may purchase additional printing at $0.06 per side of page. Color printing is available at some Sites for an additional charge. See What If I Need Additional Computing Services from ITS.

  • Login Service. The Login Service provides access to Pine for e-mail, programming languages, and other computing resources.

  • Statistics and Computation Service. The Statistics and Computation Service provides access to servers where you can run computationally intensive or long-running programs.

  • U-M Online Directory. You can use this directory of U-M students, faculty, and staff to look up phone numbers, find e-mail addresses, create e-mail groups, and more.

  • Consulting. You can phone 764-HELP or send e-mail to online.consulting@umich.edu for answers to your questions about accessing and using the services included in the standard computing services.

Some of the above services are provided on a per-term basis. For purposes of the standard computing services, a term is defined as a four-month period. Terms begin in September, January, and May.

^ Table of Contents

How Do I Get the Standard Computing Services?

The standard computing services are automatically set up for each student who goes through U-M's orientation. New faculty and staff may need to contact the ITS Accounts Office to have their standard computing services set up.

^ Table of Contents

Who Is Eligible to Receive the Services?

Those eligible to receive the services include all Ann Arbor U-M students who are listed by their department as "Active in Program," doctoral candidates and pre-candidates, all faculty (including emeritus faculty), and all full-time or part-time staff with a regular (that is, not temporary) appointment. Questions about eligibility should be directed to the ITS Accounts Office.

Temporary staff (who are not students) are not eligible for the full standard computing services, but can receive many of the services in it at the request of their department.

Retired staff are not eligible for the standard computing services, but they do receive an e-mail mailbox.

Visiting scholars and other guests of the University should talk to a manager in their department about making arrangements for the computing services they need.

^ Table of Contents

What If I Need Additional Computing Services from ITS?

ITS provides some additional computing services for which there are varying charges. See Billing for Additional Services for how these charges are billed. The additional services include the following:

  • Additional black-and-white laser printing in the Campus Computing Sites above the 400 pages for students or 50 pages for faculty and staff per term included in the standard computing services. If you print more, you will be charged $0.06 per printed side of page. Printing resources are provided to support academic activities and should be used responsibly; they are not for personal use.

  • Additional file storage above the 10-gigabyte quota included in the standard computing services. To get additional personal file storage space beyond 10 gigabytes, contact the ITS Accounts Office. There is a small monthly charge for additional storage space. Instructors can request IFS space for classes, and groups can request IFS space for University-related work. Send e-mail to ifs-support@umich.edu.

^ Table of Contents

Billing for Additional Services

For students. Students who use additional ITS computing services beyond those in the standard computing services will have the charges billed directly to their University student account. (This is the same account through which tuition and other fees are billed.) "Additional computing services" will appear as a line item on students' bills.

In a few cases, departments may opt to pay for some of these services. Graduate students who have additional computing needs related to research, course instruction, or thesis preparation are encouraged to check with their department to see if funds are available.

For faculty and staff. Faculty and staff who use additional ITS computing services beyond those in the standard computing services may have the charges billed to University accounts. Faculty and staff with questions should check first with their departmental administrators. The ITS Accounts Office can also help answer questions concerning billing for ITS computing services.

^ Table of Contents

Checking Your Usage Levels

  1. Use your web browser to connect to this web address:
    https://accounts.www.umich.edu/umce-bin/umce

  2. Log in using your uniqname and UMICH password.

  3. Information about your usage of services will be displayed.

  4. Be sure to log out when you are done (the logout link is in the lower right corner).

^ Table of Contents

Using Services Over the Summer and After You Leave U-M

Students will continue to receive the standard computing services for as long as their department has them listed as "Active in Program." This means that students who don't take classes during the summer continue to receive the standard computing services during the summer.

Alumni and other members of the U-M community can subscribe to U-M Online to continue using many of the standard computing services.

Faculty and staff who leave the University will continue to receive the standard computing services for approximately one month. Emeritus faculty continue to receive the standard computing services. Retired staff receive a smaller set of computing services that includes an e-mail mailbox. Retired staff who wish to have IFS space and additional services from ITS can purchase these services through U-M Online.

^ Table of Contents

Additional Resources

ITS Accounts Office. Located on the ground level of the Michigan Union. Send e-mail to itcs.accounts@umich.edu or phone (734) 764-8000.

ITS's web site includes up-to-date information about changes and improvements to the standard computing services.

Visit ITS's Information System to obtain ITS computer documentation and other resources. A list of relevant documents follows.

We welcome your comments; please send e-mail.

ITS's Online Help Desk provides a variety of computing help resources.

For further help with any of the services in the standard computing services, send e-mail or phone
(734) 764-HELP.

^ Table of Contents