WELCOME TO ONLINE COURSES AT UMASS BOSTON SPRING 2006!

PLEASE READ THIS IMPORTANT INFORMATION CAREFULLY.

SAVE THIS E-MAIL FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.

Information contained in this document:

… UMASS Boston Email Account Information

o Obtaining email address & password information

… Web CT Vista Overview

o Logging in to Web CT Vista

o Learning about Web CT Vista

o Java Software

o Browser/plug-ins

o Technical Support

UMASS Boston E-mail Account Information

Starting this semester, all UMASS Boston campus communications will be sent to your UMB student e-mail address. Students in face-to-face courses on campus may obtain their email address and password information at Customer Service in the Quinn Administration Building. Distance students can obtain this information by calling Customer Service via telephone at 617.287.4000 between the hours of 7AM ñ 10 PM EST. Note: Your UMB email address and password are completely separate from your WISER username and password you will need to log in to Web CT. (*WISER is the system that includes the Universityís general student registration and records management system.)

… Note: If you wish to forward e-mail received in your course mail box to another email address, you may do this at http://webmail.umb.edu/

Web CT Vista Overview

Upon registering for your on-line course(s), a Web CT Vista account was created for you. If you are familiar with Web CT Vista, you may go directly to http://boston.umassonline.net and log in using your WISER username and password.

Logging in to Web CT Vista

… Upon registration, your WISER username and password was mailed to you. If you do not have this letter on-hand to look up your log in information, you may do so online by going to: https://www.umassadmin.net/isis/id_lookup/ and following the directions there. Note: Do not log in to WISER en route to visiting Web CT Vista. These sites are not linked.

… Once you have obtained your WISER username and password, you may log directly into Web CT Vista at http://boston.umassonline.net.

… Note: It will take one business day after registration before you can access your account.

… For WebCT you will need to change your password when you first log in. Be sure to enter a secret question/answer. If you forget your user name or password you can only use the ìForgot your WebCT passwordî link on the Boston UMassOnline log in page if you have previously provided this information.

Learning About Web CT Vista

… For a quick start guide and other information about the WebCT Vista learning management system visit http://www.lms.umb.edu/webct_students.htm

Java Software

… Java software is required for WebCT Vista to run properly.

… Installation instructions are available for both Windows and Macintosh at http://www.lms.umb.edu/Java.htm

Browser/plug-ins

… Remember that some links to some files within your course require you to have specific software installed. If you don't have a full version of the software, most often, there are free viewers available. For example '.doc' requires MSWord Viewer, '.ppt' requires PowerPoint Viewer, '.xls' requires Excel Viewer, '.pdf' requires Acrobat Reader etc. Links to download plug-ins are available at: http://www.lms.umb.edu/webct_tech_specs.htm

… Please click on the "Check Browserî link located in the top right corner of youíre my UMassOnline page to be sure that you are using a supported web browser and that it is set up correctly every time you log in to WebCT Vista.

Technical Support and Password Help

… Periodically you can expect to receive email from your instructor, from support@umassonline.net , bostonsupport@umassonline.net and if you are taking and umb.centra@umb.edu. If you have spam blocking enabled on your email client please be sure to disable it or include these addresses in your address book. Throughout the semester, if you have technical questions about using the software, please see the Technical Support information area on the login page (http://www.boston.umassonline.net) ñ this includes an e-mail address, phone number and chat link all available 24x7. MAC users please note that only OS 10.1 and 10.2 are supported. OS 10.4 (Tiger) is not supported by our current Vista release. Safari 1.3 and 2.0 are also not supported.