Written by Jordan Grummer
There are five general access computer labs on campus, but there is a need for about five more. The two main labs are in the Student Union and Mullins Library; however, they get extremely busy from about 10:30 a.m until mid-afternoon. Don't expect to be able to walk straight up to a computer; the wait can be long for a computer and sometimes longer at the printer, since both labs only have four printers (one color). Plan ahead if you need to print something important for class. In the past, it was an all too frequent occurrence to get stuck behind someone who decided to print off an entire semester's worth of PowerPoint presentations. It could be very frustrating, but now the University of Arkansas has implemented a new quota on printing. Luckily, it's large (roughly 700 single-sided, non-color pages per semester), but it will definitely deter a lot of the unnecessary printing.
The network is very reliable, and Wi-Fi can be accessed almost anywhere on campus. The dorms all have their own Internet, but the wireless can still be accessed. The IT services are decent; they try hard, at least. You will soon be annoyed by their e-mails, but if you need help with anything, a simple phone call is all it takes. The computer store in the Union is also very helpful if you have computer issues. Each student is also given a set of files, like a My Documents folder, that can be accessed anytime students sign on to a computer on campus. Students can also get to their My Docs folder from the UA's e-mail service, which is very cool.