The University of South Dakota

Student Accounts

All students are provided with a USD username and password. This username and password is their key to accessing many online resources, including the myU portal, student email, housing reservations, on campus internet access, printing on campus and taking advantage of software discounts.

The South Dakota Board of Regents also provide students with a WebAdvisor username and password, which provides access to registering for classes, ordering text books online and accessing tuition and billing information. (NOTE: Parents may have access to tuition and billing through other means. See the Business Office for more details.)

It is important that each student takes the time to setup both accounts and be familiar with the password reset process in case they forget their password in the future. If they have any issues gaining access to either account, or are unable to set it up, please have them contact our ITS Help Desk directly. Due to FERPA regulations and the South Dakota Board of Regents Acceptable Use Policy, we are only able to assist the student with account issues.

Student Computers

While attending USD, it is important to come to campus with a computer which meets hardware, software and academic needs. These requirements can be viewed on the Student Computer Requirements page.

Computer Discounts

There are multiple discounts available to students. Before making any purchases, we recommend taking a look at what is available, so that you can find the options that work best for you and you budget. Discounts can be viewed on the Personal Computer Discounts for Students page.

Student Computer Support Options

It is our desire to help students have the best computing environment possible what at USD. To help accomplish this, we have established three Personal Computer Support levels. These support levels are available based upon the model of the computer and do not require any fees to qualify.

• Ultimate computer support - our highest level of support available
• Premium computer support
• Standard computer support

For more information regarding our Student Computer Support Options and the services available for each level of support, go to the Student Computer Support Options page.

Hardware/Warranty Support

Unfortunately we are not able to provide hardware/warranty repairs on all computers. For those unexpected hardware issues, we recommend purchasing a minimum of a 3 year warranty and accidental damage protection for all new computers.

When making a computer purchase, it is to your benefit to take the time to research the warranty agreement, so everyone is prepared for any issues that may arise. Some key questions are:

• Where do you get hardware/warranty support?
• Does the computer have to be sent to the vendor for repairs?
• What's covered under the warranty agreement?
• Does the warranty cover accidental damages (spills, drops, etc.)?
• How long does the warranty coverage last?
• Who do you contact when in need of warranty/hardware repairs?

Create a Computer Emergency kit

To ensure that your son or daughter is prepared for whatever computer problems arise, we recommend creating a computer emergency kit with the following items stored safely in a location they can access quickly:

• ITS Help Desk contact information: we are happy to look into the issue and offer consultation and guidance for issues we are unable to resolve.
• Warranty documents: outlining what is covered under the agreement and when it expires.
• Warranty support contact information: phone numbers, locations, websites, etc.
• Recovery disks: these generally come with the computer, but may need to be created after purchase. Check with your computer vendor to be sure.
• Software disks: any software installed on the computer so it can be reinstalled in the future when issues arise.
• Receipts of purchase: may be needed when seeking support from the computer vendor in the future.

Personal Computer Checklist

Below is a brief checklist to help you ensure your son or daughter has a computer that meets their needs.

Software Discounts

All Students with the University of South Dakota are eligible for Symantec EndPoint Protection -- AT NO CHARGE! Additional software applications are available to students at a discount. These discounts are offered by the software vendors and most can be downloaded online. Current software discounts can be found on the Personal Computer Discounts for Students page.