New students

Computer Facilities

Every student has a BSU computer account with e-mail, calendar and on-line storage space. You will need your user name and password to access a range of important services such as the student portal, (where you register, choose your modules and receive your results).

User name and password

Your user name is the six digit student ID number on your registration documents/ID card. Passwords should be a minimum of 6 characters made up of both letters and numbers. It should also contain a hyphen, e.g. abc-123

Help and support pages for using computers and software at BSU are available at:

http://it-help.bathspa.ac.uk

and at the student IT wiki

https://wiki.bathspa.ac.uk/display/computing/BSU+Student+IT+Guide

E-mail

Your Bath Spa e-mail account has already been set up for you, using the first name and last name that you have supplied. Do get used to using your BSU e-mail account – this is the e-mail address that staff will use to communicate with you. Remember that you can access your e-mail remotely using web mail, which is also available from the main page of the BSU website, or you can redirect your BSU mail to another e-mail address (the one that you check more regularly).

To access your account, follow instructions provided via the Student Portal when you register. An outline of how to set up your account is also given below.

All students will be using Googlemail. You can access your University email account from this website:

https://google.com.bathspa.ac.uk Your email address will be in the format john.smithYY@bathspa.ac.uk , where YY indicates the year of joining the University. For help with email, please visit

http://it-help.bathspa.ac.uk/email/default.htm

Your Googlemail password is independent of your BSU passwords as they are separate systems. Your initial Googlemail password will be in the format of XXXX.Yyy (where XXXX are the last 4 digits of your student number and Yyy are the first three letters of your birthday month e.g. Nov (please note the first letter is uppercase and the second and third are lower case. Don’t forget the full-stop between the two parts of the password). You will be asked to change your Googlemail password on first use and Googlemail insists on you using an 8 character password. It is essential that you read the Frequently Asked Questions on the email service at: https://wiki.bathspa.ac.uk/display/computing/Google+Apps+FAQ

You can set up a message rule to forward all your BSU messages to a preferred e-mail address. To learn how visit:
http://it-help.bathspa.ac.uk/emailfaq/email-forwarding.html

You can use web mail to search for student or staff e-mail addresses by name.

Staff e-mail addresses follow the format:

initial.surname@bathspa.ac.uk e.g. j.bloggs@bathspa.ac.uk

Note on sending email messages

When writing an e-mail to university staff, please bear in mind that you are writing to a member of the academic team and therefore should use more formal language than you might use when messaging your friends!

ICT rooms

There are several ‘open-access’ computer rooms at Newton Park that provide access to word-processing (MS-Word), spread sheets (MS-Excel), e-mail and other more specialist software. These PCs are linked to the University network and to the Internet. Printing and scanning are also available.

There are four rooms of networked PCs in the Library at Newton Park. These are available during normal library opening hours. In addition, LY119 is a short-stay room (up to 15 minutes), where the student helpers sit (SOACS) are available for most of the day and are there to help with IT issues as a first line support. There are networked computers available in the Stanton and Newton foyers. There are ICT rooms in Corston (CN.114), Compton (CP.103) and Stanton building (SN.G14 and SN.G15). Some computer rooms are occasionally used for teaching or training and notices are posted ahead of these times.

Saving work

You have 50MB of network storage space provided (your ‘S’ drive as it is referred to), which is backed up on a daily basis. You will also need to back-up work in some other format as ‘losing’ work, for whatever reason, is not accepted by the university as a reason for not submitting work on time.

Probably the cheapest and easiest form of backup device to use is a USB pen drive. Almost all computers in the university have USB ports. Please do remember to dismount a USB device before physically removing it from the computer. Failure to do this can result in data becoming corrupted.

Other devices such as DVD/CD writers are also available in most locations.

Please do get into the habit of saving your work on a regular basis (10 minute intervals at maximum) and more often if you are undertaking a procedure you are not sure about.

Printing

Printing can be done via the network and there is a charge. You will need to use your on-line computer account to pay for printing. To top up your account use the money loader machine in the ICT room upstairs in the library. If a printer needs paper contact SOACS (Student Open Access Computer Support) situated within the open access rooms in the Library.

Wi-Fi – studentnet and visitornet

BSU has a free wi-fi network for students called studentnet. You can log in to studentnet using any wi-fi enabled device with your student number and password. Once logged in, your device should always be recognised on the network and you should not have to log in again, studentnet also provides access to your remote storage area, known as your S-drive. Alternatively, you can use visitornet, this does not require a log in, but it does not allow you to access stored files.

Minerva VLE

Minerva VLE is a virtual learning environment (VLE). Minerva VLE contains dedicated information related to your modules to enhance your learning. Minerva VLE also supports discussion groups and the electronic submission of assignments through the Turnitin system.

Minerva VLE is available at:

https://minerva.bathspa.ac.uk/webapps/login/

When you use Minerva VLE you will be presented with a list of the modules that you have registered for – if they are not there, contact the help desk.

IT problems/support

Extensive help pages are available for BSU students at:

http://it-help.bathspa.ac.uk/

IT help desk technicians are available in the library Monday to Friday from 8.30 – 17.00.

Student portal

The student portal offers access to your module choices lists, your timetable and your module results. You can resolve many common computer log in problems through the ‘Help with your account’ link on the student portal, for example you can reset your password.

Note

IT technicians will not repair or retrieve corrupted or damaged data. You should also back up important files, such as assignments onto your ‘S drive' (where you have 50mb of personal file space), which is backed up each night).