Support Options
Click
If you need assistance with a VCUarts computer, then please submit a service request. All available VCUarts Technology Support technicians will be notified, and the first available support technician will respond.
Step by step instructions on how to submit a service request are here.
Call
If you are having trouble submitting a ticket, or if it is a time sensitive emergency, then please call us at (804) 828-7045
University Support
Please reference Technology Support for VCU Students for detailed information about the student computer support options offered by the VCU ITSC, VCU fixIT, and VCU ResNet.
VCUarts Support
If the university student computer support resources can not resolve your problem, then you are welcome to visit VCUarts Technology Support to receive assistance and guidance. Just be aware that we do not staff a help desk, and technicians are not always in the workshop.
Borrow a Laptop
If you are having trouble with your laptop, then VCUarts Technology Support can loan you a laptop, while your personal laptop is being repaired. Loan periods are for a defined amount of time, not to exceed two weeks.
Current Events
Adobe Creative Cloud Synced files service is being discontinued on October 1, 2024.
For more information about how this might affect you, please click here.
Students graduating in December should review the VCU Graduating Student Technology Checklist.
Resources
Browse computer requirements for students, organized by program of study.
Your eID is your university account that controls your ability to log into computers, use the WiFi network, and access online services. The myeID portal contains information and links for managing your password.
The university operates several different WiFi networks.
Faculty, Staff, and Students should use the VCU SafeNet Wireless network.
Use your eID name and password to authenticate.
Instructions for connecting to the VCU SafeNet Wireless network from an Android device are here.
Maintenance Routines
VCUarts classroom computers reboot every night to perform maintenance. Make sure that you save your work and log out before leaving. If you need the computer to run overnight without rebooting for maintenance, then go to the vcuarts help desk menu, and select Cancel maintenance reboot. This is not an on/off switch. It only cancels the next maintenance routine.
Daily File Deletion
In order to maintain a stable and usable classroom environment, most VCUarts classroom computers delete files daily at 4:00 AM.
Instead of the local drive of the classroom computer, students should save their work to Google Drive or external storage devices.
Any computer that has the daily file delete routine implemented will present a full screen notification each time someone logs into the computer.
If you need the computer to run overnight without deleting files, then go to the vcuarts help desk menu, and select Cancel maintenance reboot. This is not an on/off switch. It only cancels the next maintenance routine.
Software Notes
Adobe software can be installed, updated, and upgraded by any user of a VCUarts classroom computer. You do not need to be an administrator.
Unity will be updated to the current Long Term Service (LTS) version at the start of each semester. Students and faculty will have the ability to install newer versions of Unity via the Unity Hub application, but VCUarts Technology Support will not be updating those versions throughout the semester.
Click here for a list of VCUarts Computer Labs
Adobe
The Adobe Creative Cloud suite of software is available to all students who are currently enrolled in at least one credit bearing course.
Students do not need to pay for a retail subscription.
On classroom computers, it is pre–installed.
On personal computers, it can be downloaded here.
Logging in to Adobe Creative Cloud Applications with your VCU Account
How to migrate an Adobe Portfolio from your School Adobe account to a Personal Adobe account
Moving Your Adobe Assets — A How–To Guide for Graduating Students
Microsoft Office
The Microsoft Office suite of software is available to all currently enrolled students.
Students do not need to pay for a retail subscription.
On classroom computers, it is pre–installed.
On personal computers, it can be downloaded here.
Autodesk Software
Autodesk software is available for free to students.
On some classroom computers, it is pre–installed, or can be requested to be installed.
On personal computers, it can be downloaded here.
Ableton Live Studio
Ableton provides a rent to own program for students.
More information is available here.
Other software provided by publishers for free or at reduced cost
Hardware available for checkout from VCUarts departments
Hardware available for checkout from other university departments
OnePrint Pay student printing queues are configured on all VCUarts classroom computers.
OnePrint Pay student printing queues can be added to your personally owned computer, by downloading the installer from here.
Prints sent to OnePrint Pay student printing queues can be released on any OnePrint Pay student printer, anywhere on campus.
Within VCUarts buildings, OnePrint Pay student printers are available in the following locations:
- Franklin Terrace 1st Floor Hallway
- Murray N. DePillars Building 101 (formerly known as the Fine Arts Building)
- Pollak 3rd Floor Hallway
- Pollak 4th Floor Hallway
Pricing and additional information can be found here.
We do NOT recommend using the Mobile Print feature of the OnePrint system.
OnePrint Pay student printing queues are configured on all VCUarts classroom computers.
OnePrint Pay student printing queues can be added to your personally owned computer, by downloading the installer from here.
If you need assistance with installing the print queues, or guidance with using them, then we are available to assist Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm.
Always double check your Page Setup:
Remember that in some applications, Document Size and Page Setup are two different things.
Make sure that Page Setup is correctly set for either 8.5 x 11 or 11 x 17 — any other paper size will result in an out of paper message
Use the override feature of the printer:
If you have already sent and released a job with the wrong Page Setup, then you can tell the printer to ignore the paper size that it is requesting, and pull paper from an alternative tray instead.
To force the job onto 8.5 x 11 paper, press the button labeled 1 LTR
To force the job onto 11 x 17 paper, press the button labeled 2 11×17
Be aware that forcing the print job onto a different paper size may not preserve the scale of a measured drawing.
The VCUarts Creative Printing Bureau provides professional printing services.
The CPB web site also provides information about professional printing options outside the university.
Using AI at VCU — Generative AI tools offer exciting possibilities for our learning, work and personal lives. VCU has licensed Microsoft Copilot, a generative artificial intelligence chatbot for all faculty, staff, and students to use for free.
Student Technology at VCU — This site includes lots of good information for new and current students, including hardware and software coverage. Please tell students who need Adobe or Microsoft software to go here first.
Campus Tech Guide — Listing of the services available to students and employees that are supported by VCU Technology Services.
fixIt Hardware Support at RamTech — Take your Apple and Dell devices to fixIT for repair.
IT Support Center — The portal for in–person and remote technology assistance for students and employees.
TS Status — With one click, receive complete, real-time VCU TS systems status. Students and employees can subscribe to the notices for just the systems they care about.
VCU Student Technology Advisory Committee (STAC) — This is the group that advises VCU TS on student-related current and proposed services and programs. The group meets five times each during the fall and spring semesters. Please share with any students who might be interested. Here is the application form. We are accepting applications throughout the year.
Graduating students should review the VCU Graduating Student Technology Checklist.
What We Do And Why We Do It
To support an environment where teachers can teach and where students can learn.
To provide the highest level of service in the areas of deployment, maintenance, and support.
To implement the technology decisions of your department.
To enable and ensure compliance with state and university policies, guidelines, and standards.
To ensure compliance with software licensing.
To maintain a comprehensive inventory of relevant technology assets, with a goal of providing accurate life–cycle reporting to both the departments, and the Office of the Dean.
To advise departments in specifying software and hardware for purchase, with a goal of ensuring compatibility with VCUarts support standards.
These documents govern the use of computing resources throughout the university, including within the School of the Arts.
VCU Technology Policies, Guidelines, and Standards