Wharton Computing Student Support

Computing at Wharton: An Overview of Student Services

Wharton Computing and Information Technology supports research, instructional, and administrative computing at the Wharton School. Wharton Computing works with students to develop student services like SPIKE, the MBA Course Auction, the online Facebook and many other applications. Wharton Computing also works with faculty to enhance webCafé and the School's instructional environment as well as interactive learning simulations used in Wharton classes and elsewhere. Wharton Computing operates the computer labs and group workstations in Jon M. Huntsman Hall (JMHH); provides a computer student support "hot line" to help students use the School's computing resources; and supports the technology in the School's classrooms.

Table of Contents

Computing Resources Software and Data Resources Wharton Student Computer Labs and Group Workstations Instructional Technology Wharton Computing Support Services Additional University Computing Resources

Computing Resources

Electronic communications tools are central to the curriculum at the Wharton School. Wharton Computing supports a wide range of services for faculty and student communications including electronic mail, news groups, mailing lists, and other Internet-based communications tools.

SPIKE

Each year Wharton Computing works with Wharton students to develop the next generation of SPIKE, a suite of Internet-based communication tools for Wharton students. SPIKE provides a single, customizable interface for:

• Accessing Wharton computing resources.
• Viewing current headlines and automatically updated "channels" of information from Wharton's Student Calendar, School offices, and student groups.
• Participating in electronic discussion groups and visiting virtual "meeting places" for group collaboration.
• Accessing research resources such as WRDS and Lippincott Library.
• Locating other Wharton students, staff, and alumni.
• Using SPIKEmobile to provide handheld devices access to SPIKE's announcements, calendar, weather, and market snapshot.
• Personalizing SPIKE for your own interests.

SPIKE can be found online at http://spike.wharton.upenn.edu.

webCafé

webCafé provides easy-to-use digital project workspaces for coursework, research and collaboration. A webCafé "room" is a virtual place on the Web where faculty and students can:

• Discuss and vote on topics of interest
• Share and search documents, to-do lists and Web links
• Work together on projects regardless of location or schedule conflicts

Students use webCafé in a variety of settings at Wharton. Academic webCafé rooms offer shared folders for group projects and downloadable course materials. Discussion areas for community and career concerns help students exchange ideas. Student organizations use webCafé to coordinate day-to-day business and transfer knowledge to future classes. To find out more about webCafé, visit : http://webcafe.wharton.upenn.edu or click on the webCafé tab in SPIKE.

Wharton Computing Account

All Wharton students have an "account" used for e-mail and authentication for many of the online services at Wharton.

Wharton's Media Network

Wharton's Media Network provides streaming video of pre-recorded class lectures, special events and guest speakers. Digital videos are available from the public computing workstations in any Wharton lab as well as from off-campus. The videos can be accessed via the web at http://spike.wharton.upenn.edu/wvn/index.cfm or through SPIKE's 'Media' tab.

Software and Data Resources

The Wharton School provides students with access to a wide range of specialized instructional software and data resources.

Instructional Software

Special software applications for class work are accessible through Wharton's computer labs and group workstations (see "Wharton Student Computer Labs and Group Workstations" below). Although these workstations also have conventional applications such as word processing, spreadsheet and presentation software, they are primarily intended for instructional applications and student communications services.

Wharton Research Data Services

Wharton Computing maintains the Wharton Research Data Services (WRDS), a comprehensive set of financial data and software tools licensed to the School for use by faculty, staff, and students. The data consists of historical and real-time financial information for banks, government bonds, stock exchanges, and major companies. These services include CRSP, Compustat, and many more. Support services include regular updates and user documentation.

WRDS can be accessed from the top toolbar in SPIKE.

Knowledge@Wharton

Knowledge@Wharton is the School's online business resource that offers the latest business insights, information, and research from a variety of sources. Students can review analyses of current business trends, interviews with industry leaders and faculty, articles based on the most recent business research, book reviews, conference and seminar reports.

Knowledge@Wharton can be found online at: http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu.

Financial Market Information Systems

Online financial information services available to students and faculty include:
Bloomberg Systems for access to the Bloomberg Financial Markets data services. They provide up-to-date financial data and many online analytical functions. The Bloomberg terminals located on the 2nd floor hallway of JMHH at the end of the row of workstations. These terminals do not run the same software as typical lab machines, they are specifically designed for Bloomberg research.

Lippincott Library Databases

The Wharton School's Lippincott Library, located in the west wing of the Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center, contains a large selection of datasets available online. The type of datasets available include financial, marketing, and economic data, as well as full-text business literature. Popular databases include Factiva, Reuters, and Business Source Premier. Most of these datasets require a valid University PennKey username and password to access if connecting from off campus. For more information about Lippincott Library see their website by clicking on the link in the Research tab in SPIKE or at http://www.library.upenn.edu/lippincott/.

Alfred West Jr. Learning Lab

The Alfred West Jr. Learning Lab develops simulations, web-based exercises, and interactive programs for Wharton professors to engage Wharton students in exercises that help them to apply principles which are taught in the class.

Wharton Student Public Computers

Wharton Computing and Information Technology operates computer labs and group workstations in Jon M. Huntsman Hall (JMHH). Laptop network ethernet jacks and wireless access are available at various locations in JMHH. By design, there is no wireless access in most Wharton classrooms. Although a weak signal may be detected in some classrooms, students are expected to focus on in-class activities. For more information about connecting your laptop to the Internet at Wharton, consult the document entitled Connecting to Wharton and Penn online at http://spike.wharton.upenn.edu/support/connect/

Computer Labs

• Access: Wharton's computer workstations are available to Wharton faculty, staff and students. Students attending Wharton classes also have access to the Wharton workstations.
• Equipment: All lab stations run Microsoft Windows. Lab stations in JMHH are equipped with audio jacks for personal headsets.
• Locations:
  • Forum Level of JMHH: F75 and F80
  • 3rd Floor of JMHH: 375 and 380
• Hours: Wharton's general-purpose computer labs and group workstations are usually available whenever the building is open. Wharton's computer labs are occasionally reserved for teaching and computer training. When a lab is not being used for instruction, it is available for general use. Schedules are generally posted on the doors of the labs. Labs may be closed for University holidays, weekly maintenance periods, or for instruction.

Group Workstations

In addition to Wharton's computer labs, group workstations designed for use by student workgroups are available at a number of locations throughout Jon M. Huntsman Hall.

Wharton's group workstations typically provide the same software and network access as Wharton lab systems.

Group Study Rooms

Group study rooms provide a place to meet for groups of students working on class projects together. Each room is equipped with network access, a lab computer with two display monitors, laptop hookup access that allows the laptop screen to be displayed on the room computer and a white board. These rooms are located throughout Jon M. Huntsman Hall. For further information on these rooms, see the Group Study Rooms website by clicking on the Reservations link in the Group Study Room section in SPIKE or at: http://spike.wharton.upenn.edu/group_study/ .

Lab Printing

Printing to networked laser printers can be done from a Wharton public computer or wireless from your laptop. There is a per-page charge for laser printer output. For more information about using the networked laser printers, consult the documentation available on Wharton's Computing Student Support website by clicking on the Computing tab in SPIKE or at: http://spike.wharton.upenn.edu/support/wharcomp/labprinting.cfm

Instructional Technology

Wharton Computing's Instructional Technology provides technology and support for academic instruction, special events, and presentations in Wharton's classrooms. Instructional Technology offers a wide variety of services, including:

• Public address and data/video display systems
• Equipment rental for academic projects and for club activities held in Wharton's buildings
• Video editing (limited) and duplication services
• Streaming video over the Wharton Media Network

There is no charge for most academic uses of Instructional Technology equipment or support. A price list is available on their website.

• Presentation Tip

  Always test your presentation with a display system before presenting it in class. This helps to avoid hardware or software compatibility problems and enables you to assess display differences between your presentation's settings, colors and applications and the classroom's projection technology. Document formatting does not always look the same through a projector as it does on a computer screen.

• Reservations

  You must make a reservation at least 48 hours in advance to use Instructional Technology equipment or services. To place a request, visit the Public Technology website at: http://publictechnology.wharton.upenn.edu/. There is often a high demand for equipment and services; last-minute requests frequently cannot be accommodated.

• Classroom Equipment

  All Wharton classrooms are equipped with multimedia presentation equipment including some or all of the following:

  • Networked computer workstation and/or laptop connections; workstations have the complete complement of software available in Wharton's computing labs.
  • High-resolution data/video projection system
  • Video playback equipment and cable television (Penn Video Network)
  • Public address system (larger classrooms only)

  Some of the computer teaching stations are available for student use evenings and weekends when classes are not scheduled in these rooms. For more information about Public Technology including how to reserve equipment, please see the Public Technology website: http://publictechnology.wharton.upenn.edu/
  Make sure to perform a test in advance of the presentation to avoid hardware or software compatibility problems and to assess display differences between your computer system and the classroom's projection technology.

Wharton Computing Support Services

Wharton provides a wide variety of computer-related services to support Wharton student's educational experience.

Student Support

Wharton Computing's Student Support representatives in F35 Jon M. Huntsman Hall (JMHH) assist students, faculty, and staff in using Wharton's computer systems, software, and services. Student Support representatives are available for one-on-one help, by phone at (215) 898-8600 during regular office hours, or by sending e-mail to support@wharton.upenn.edu. Office hours are posted on the website.

Computing information, services and documentation are available on the web through the Computing tab in SPIKE or at: http://spike.wharton.upenn.edu/support/

No representative is an expert in all areas. Student support representatives can generally answer basic questions about the operating systems and software used at the School and work with users to find solutions to problems. If necessary, the representative on duty may forward the question to a specialist on the topic, or refer the user to the correct documentation or other outside resources for more information.

Computing Education and Training

Special classes are offered throughout the University on topics of specific interest to students. In particular, Wharton students may want to attend sessions on accessing the Lippincott Library's data resources, offered throughout the year by the Lippincott Library.

In addition, the University's Technology and Training Group (TTG) offers a variety of courses and seminars on a wide range of computing topics (for more information, contact TTG at 215/573-3102 or visit their website at http://www.upenn.edu/computing/isc/training).

Student Computer Purchase Advice

To help Wharton students select computer systems suitable for their work at the School, Wharton's Computer Buying Guide provides background on computer hardware and software options, and contains information on how computers are used at the Wharton School. The Buying Guide is available online at http://spike.wharton.upenn.edu/support/buyguide/index.html.

Additional University Computing Resources

In addition to the computing services and facilities offered by the Wharton School, Wharton students have access to a wide array of computing resources provided by the University of Pennsylvania.

"First Call" Computing Support Services

The University's Information Systems and Computing (ISC) "First Call" service provides support for computing and networking services that are not addressed by Wharton Consulting. Walk-in support is provided by the Computing Resource Center (see below). First Call can be reached as follows:

Telephone: (215)-573-4778 [57FIRST]
E-mail: help@isc.upenn.edu
Fax: (215)-573-4021

Computing Resource Center and Technology Learning Services

The Computing Resource Center (CRC) and Technology and Training Group (TTG), located in Graduate Tower B, also called Sansom Place West, provide computing support and training services, including:

• Consulting on supported computer hardware and software, file-transfer services, and distribution of virus-protection software.
• Training classes on computer-related topics, lunchtime seminar series and more extensive hands-on computer training courses.
• Disseminating publications, journals, and other information to the University community on computer-related topics.

The Computer Connection

The Computer Connection, located in the University Bookstore, offers computer hardware and software for sale to full-time University students, faculty and staff at a substantial discount. The Computer Connection carries computers, printers, and peripherals from several vendors. In recent years, vendors carried by the Computer Connection have included Apple, Dell, and Lenovo IBM.

Penn's Web Site

The University's world-wide web site contains information on topics ranging from the University's calendar of events to information about counseling and support services for students. Penn's website also contains links to many independently managed School, departmental, and student web sites.

Penn's home page on the web is located at: http://www.upenn.edu