Computers & Tech Support

The College of Media provides system administration, wireless networking, software installation and troubleshooting for all College computer labs for use by students, faculty and staff. The College also offers recommendations for students' computer hardware and software. In addition, the University maintains computer labs across campus.

Computer Labs

The College maintains the following computer labs. For hours of operation and specific uses, please refer to room signs and information from your professor for a specific class.

  • Room 9 Gregory Hall
  • Room 3 Gregory Hall
  • Room 1 Gregory Hall
  • Richard L. Hildwein Photojournalism Lab, Room 13 Gregory Hall
  • Richmond Journalism Teaching Studio graphics lab, Room TF103 Richmond
  • Audio editing lab, Room 41 Gregory Hall

See the lab schedule for College of Media computer labs

For information on College of Media Technology Service, visit here.

For details about other computer labs on campus, see the Campus Technology Services website.

Recommendations for Student Computers

College-specific

Courses in the College of Media use state-of-the-art technology to analyze statistical information and to create and edit images, Web sites, printed pages, audio and video. The hardware and software involved is sometimes expensive specialized software that could be cost-prohibitive for most students. The College makes these technologies available to students on computers located in free, open labs in lieu of more generic labs operated by the University.

Because of the specialized hardware, software and configurations involved, some coursework is likely best done within the College's labs. It is neither required nor recommended that a student obtain a personal computer capable of performing those tasks. However, if a student wished to do so, the student might consider:

  • particularly if planning to become a news-editorial journalism major—purchasing an educational version of Adobe Creative Suite that includes InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, and Flash.
  • particularly if planning to become a broadcast journalism major—purchasing an educational version of Adobe Audition.
  • Microsoft Office 365, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, are available to all students free of charge from the Webstore.
  • at least 4GB of memory (RAM) with 8MB being much better, an i5 or i7 processor, and a DVD/RW drive.
  • adding a color inkjet printer.
  • purchasing a 32 gigabyte USB 3.0 flash drive or similar removable media (compact flash, memory stick, etc.) for file transfer and storage.
  • a 7-megapixel or greater digital camera or smartphone.

Most labs, classrooms and conference rooms within the College of Media are equipped with 802.11g wireless networking. A laptop computer with built-in or add-on wireless capabilities would be a plus, not only for course work but also for use in the field, particularly in completing assignments in professional skills courses.

The College uses Windows 7 and Mac OS X operating systems in some courses. The software involved works similarly on both platforms in most cases.

Campuswide

New students also may want to consult computer recommendations from Technology Services. The page also contains useful information about passwords, e-mail, connectivity and more. Included is a link to the campus WebStore, where enrolled students can buy software (often at discounted prices, some at no charge): webstore.illinois.edu.

Computer Support Staff

If you need assistance with a computer question or problem in a College of Media office or lab, please call or e-mail the Help Desk at media-help - at - illinois.edu. The first attempt at resolution will be via phone or e-mail. If you call and it's during very busy times, you may be connected to voicemail; please leave your name and number (and, when possible, details of your request), and we will get back to you as soon as we can. We will attempt to handle all non-critical help desk requests within two business days.

Please note that the duties of staff or lab monitors do not include technical "how-to" questions on achieving certain effects within programs.

Computer support staff members are regularly available Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-noon and 1-5 p.m. We are closed on University holidays.