Helpdesk to the Rescue!

By Claudia Lynch, Benchmarks Online Editor

If you are a student at UNT and are having trouble with some aspect of using campus computing facilities (not related to a homework question), who are you going to call? Not Ghostbusters -- you need to call the Helpdesk! As the article "Computing Services for UNT Students: An Update" in this issue states, the Helpdesk is "one of UNT's strongest areas of computer service for students." Students can call [940-565-2324] or send E-mail (helpdesk@unt.edu) to request software and digital service support from 8:00 a.m. to midnight on Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Fridays, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays, and 1:00 p.m. to midnight on Sundays. Walk-in help is also available during the regular business day with some extended evening and Saturday hours. The Helpdesk also has a very informative Website at www.unt.edu/helpdesk and is now the official help center for students taking WebCT courses.

As if that weren't enough, the Helpdesk staff recently found themselves intimately involved with spring registration. Due to the implementation of new procedures in the WebReg system which, among other things, required students to use their EUID and EagleMail password to register, the Helpdesk became the de facto first line of contact for confused students. At one point, according to Sandy Burke, Manager of Computing Center Help Desk Support Services, they were answering over 600 phone calls per day! That doesn't count the E-mail and walk-in help they provided either.

Clearly the Helpdesk staff was up to the recent registration challenge. They will most likely be able to help you too. If you are a faculty or staff member and are having problems that may be related to departmental configurations of your computer/network connection, you should always check with your Network Manager first. If they can't help you and recommend you seek help elsewhere, who are you going to call? That's right, the Helpdesk!