Technology



Academic Year:  2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07
 # of Computer Labs on Campus 24 25 25 25 25
 # of Computers for Student Use on Campus 310 302 400 450 450
 % of Publicly Accessible Computers that are PCs 51% 55% 55% 55% 55%
 % of Publicly Accessible Computers that are Macs 42% 45% 45% 45% 45%
 % of Publicly Accessible Computers that are UNIX
 (OS X and Linux)
49%* 49%* 49%* 49%* 49%*
 % of Undergraduates that Own Computers 99% 99% 99% 99% 99%
 % of Undergraduates Connected to the
 Campus-wide Network
99% 99% 99% 99% 100%

* The percentages of PCs, Macs and UNIX computers are greater than 100% because many of the Macs available for public use on campus are running both the Macintosh and UNIX operating systems.


Current administrative functions that can be performed online:
Student Lookup on Bearings; Campus Directory search; Career Services Database search; multiple Library functions; Admissions application submission; textbook orders; and employment/hiring processes.

Operating systems:
Bowdoin does not recommend an operating system to the exclusion of others; and supports both PCs and Macs.

Computer ownership requirements:
Undergraduates are not required to own a computer, but it is strongly recommended.

Internet access:
Internet access is available to students in the dormitories, dining halls, libraries, student lounges, science center lecture halls and student study spaces. Bowdoin also has a wireless network. Wireless devices can be utilized in all school buildings and on all school property.

Technologies available to students for use on campus:
Wireless network access; video conferencing network; multimedia development and training facilities; site licenses for numerous software applications; network storage; Windows, Apple and Linux computer labs; digital still cameras; digital video cameras; DVD burners; color laser printing; plotters; electronic drawing tablets; scanners; and digital video editing equipment.

Services available to students with disabilities:
Large-screen monitors (viewing area must be more than 17 inches); voice-to-text and text-to-voice software; large-type monitors and/or software; and ergonomic keyboards. Because of the number of students we have, Bowdoin is able to provide special work stations and keyboards as needed to accommodate students or faculty with disabilities.

Student costs:
There is a $50 per semester charge for telecommunications services for each student living in a residence hall where the system has been installed.

Tech support:
Technical assistance is available to students from both the student help desk and lab assistants, 12 hours per day.

Purchasing programs:
Bowdoin assists students with purchasing a computer through academic pricing; educational discounts; and institutional relationships with specific vendors.

E-mail accounts:
Students are provided with an e-mail account (11-25 MB) when they matriculate at Bowdoin and are permitted to keep that account after graduation at no cost.


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Maintained by Margaret Allen, Bowdoin College Office of Institutional Research
Last Update: June 13, 2007
E-mail: mallen2@bowdoin.edu