What do course registration, reading assignments and Facebook all have in common? Each depends on a working computer that can use the University network.
"Each of us really needs to have access to be able to function 100 percent in the U.Va. community," first-year College student Michael Murphy said.
Murphy is one of the University's first-year computing advisers. One adviser lives in each first-year dormitory, and they will all be on hand today to greet incoming students entering the University community.
On their minds are the stresses of adapting to a new academic and social environment, finding places to park and lugging belongings up flights of stairs, Murphy said.
First-year College student and fellow adviser Michael Praught said he wants to make everything as convenient for his busy classmates as possible.
"Classes start in less than a week, so we want everyone to be able to get on top of things and do what they need to do to make sure they're prepared," Praught said.
The last thing Murphy said he wants students to worry about is getting their computers to work.
According to Student Computing Services Manager Janet Belew, this is a legitimate concern.
Although access to computers at very early ages has become more common, "we still have students who are not really proficient with computing," Belew said.
When these students need help settling into their new dorms, they can turn to the first-year computing advisers, who moved in three days early to begin their training.
"We can do all kinds of things, from setting up your computers on move-in day, installing software for you, setting up a printer, giving advice," Praught said.
The advisers can also recover lost files and remove Spyware and pop-up ads.
While they are not allowed to fix hardware, advisers can direct students to other sources of help when necessary.
According to Belew, the advisers are expected to be available five hours a week to provide assistance to their fellow dormitory members, especially after 5:00 p.m. and on weekends, when the University's formal computing help desk is closed.
Murphy said his job is particularly important because it gives a face to the help desk.
"People have someone they can go to when they first get a computing problem instead of just a number they can call," Murphy said. "It improves the U.Va. experience by hopefully taking away some of the mystery and the distancedness of our help."
This distance is in part geographic. While the University's Department of Information Technology and Communication does operate a physical help desk, Belew said it is no longer located on Central Grounds.
Because of this, "the computing advisers are our eyes and ears out in the field," Belew said. "It's nice to have some personal service."
The position can also be helpful for the advisers themselves. Praught said it cannot hurt for people coming to his room asking for help.
"It's a good way to get friendly with my hallmates," Praught said.
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