Technology
Help Desk
Academic/Accepted Software
Academic/Accepted software includes any application that Technology has no reason to believe will cause undue harm to a Simmons computer. Many such applications, including those referred to as Discipline-Specific Technologies, are used at Simmons for academic purposes or to support the business of the College. Departments bear the cost of academic/accepted software.*
With a completed software installation request form, proof of licensing, and installation media, Technology installs and upgrades academic/accepted software on Simmons-owned computers in classrooms and labs, and faculty and staff offices. Only software used by faculty, staff, or students for Simmons College business purposes, including academics, may be installed on Simmons-owned computers.
The Help Desk assists with universal software functions of academic/accepted software (e.g. open, save, print); answers basic questions about use; diagnoses software flaws and recommends solutions; and attempts to restore corrupted files. The Pottruck Technology Resource Center provides training for faculty, staff and students in the use of selected academic/accepted software.
| Purpose | Examples of Accepted Software (when possible, use the item in bold) | Examples of departments using such software |
|---|---|---|
| Accessibility: vision impairment | Freedom Scientific JAWS, Kurzweil 1000, Kurzweil Learnstation 3000, features built into Apple/Windows operating systems | Disability Services, installations around campus |
| Accessibility: voice recognition | Dragon Naturally Speaking (Windows only), ViaVoice | Disability Services, GSLIS |
| Audio file production |
Audacity, Apple GarageBand (Mac only) | |
| Bibliographic data / discovery | EndNote, SciFinder, Write-n-Cite | EndNote: SHS, SOM. SciFinder: Chemistry, Library. Write-n-Cite: Library, available around campus. |
| Chart, diagram, and formula authoring | CambridgeSoft ChemDraw, IBM Rational (UML diagrams), Microsoft Visio (Windows only), Omni Group OmniGraffle (Mac only) | ChemDraw: Chemistry. Visio: Technology. Rational: Math. OmniGraffle: Technology. |
| Color management | Monaco EZ Color/Optix | Art & Music, Communications |
| Databases (local) | Access (Windows only), FileMaker Pro | Access: Public Safety, Technology. FMP: Education, GSLIS, Nursing, SILC, SOM, Special Education, Technology. |
| Development: computer code | Active Perl, C++, PhP, Code Gear JBuilder, JGrasp, Lejos (Java for Lego Mindstorms), PLT Scheme, Praat (acoustical analysis) | Active Perl, PhP: Math. JBuilder: GSLIS. Others: Computer Science and Information Technology. |
| Desktop publishing | Adobe InDesign, Adobe PageMaker, Microsoft Publisher (Windows only), Quark Xpress | Quark: Marketing, and many staff doing marketing projects within departments and schools. |
| FTP/sFTP, SCP, SSH, terminal emulation, telnet (file transfer, remote connection) | CoreFTP Lite 1.3 ((Windows only), Fetch 5.2.1 (Mac only), Fugu 1.2 (Mac only), PuTTY, Winscp 3.8.2 (Windows only) | Faculty and staff campus-wide. PuTTY: Math. |
| Fundraising management | Blackbaud The Raiser's Edge (Windows only) | Advancement |
| GIS (Geographical Information System) data | ArcExplorer, ArcView | Chemistry (Technology at the Crossroads) |
| Image creation, manipulation | Adobe Illustrator, Adobe PhotoShop*, Apple iPhoto (Mac only), Microsoft Photo Story (Windows only) |
Photoshop: most academic and administrative departments and schools. iPhoto: Art & Music, Communications. |
| Mathematical analysis | Geometer's Sketchpad, Maplesoft Maple | Math |
| Media: DVD Burning | Toast (Mac only; enables duplicating non-copy protected DVDs) | General Access computers, Technology |
| Molecular simulation | Molecular Workbench | Chemistry |
| Moving image production | Apple iMovie/iDVD (Mac only), e frontier Poser, LightWave 3D, Macromedia Fireworks, Macromedia Flash, Macromedia Director, Microsoft Movie Maker (Windows only), Revolution |
Communications, Technology. Revolution: Chemistry. |
| Nutrient analysis | Food Processor (Windows only) | SHS Nutrition |
| Personal information management / Palm, Blackberry |
Palm Desktop/Hot Sync, Blackberry/sync tools (Technology's support is limited to installation, initial configuration, and brief troubleshooting before referring people to the vendor for assistance) | Some people within most academic and administrative departments and schools use Blackberries and Palms. |
| Placement assessments | F-Cape, S-Cape (both Windows only) | Modern Languages / Center for Academic Achievement |
| Psychological experimentation | E-Prime, PsychMate | Psychology |
| Project management | Microsoft Project (Windows only), FastTrack Schedule | Project: Facilities. FastTrack: Technology. |
| Statistical analysis: quantitative |
SAS, SPSS*, Minitab* | Minitab: Math. SPSS: GSLIS, Psychology, Math, SOM, SSW. |
| Statistical analysis: qualitative | Atlas.ti, NVivo | Atlas.ti: SSW. NVivo: Communications, GSLIS. |
| Text editing | BBEdit (Mac only), Notepad (Windows only), Notetab Lite (Windows only), TextWrangler (Mac only), WinEdt (Windows only) | BBEdit: Technology. Notetab Lite: GSLIS. WinEdt: Math. |
| Type setting / non-English character rendition | Protex LaTex (Windows only), RichWin NJStar (Windows only) | Math: Protex LaTex. RichWin NJStar: Modern Languages |
| Visual learning / organization | Inspiration, Mindjet MindManager | Inspiration: Education, SSW. MindManager: Scott Ross Center |
| Web page/site authoring | EvrSoft 1st Page, Macromedia Dreamweaver*, Microsoft FrontPage (Windows only; avoid whenever possible) | 1st Page: Math. Dreamweaver: Finance, GSLIS, Marketing, SOM, Technology. |
| Windows emulation for Mac OS | Undergoing testing | Parallels: Communications, Library, Marketing, Special Education, Technology |
| XML authoring | XMLSpy | Math |
*In some cases, in order to purchase sufficient licenses for the public lab computers it is cost effective for Technology to purchase a site license for software, which can then be installed on any Simmons computer free of charge. To request installation of any of the starred applications on this list, please contact the Help Desk (617-521-2222).
Also see the list of software installed in all general access, classroom, and lab computers.
>>Back to Software Standards