Computing is thoroughly integrated into the curriculum as an essential component of course work and communication at Rensselaer.

Campus computing facilities offer students a variety of software including:

• Programming language compilers (C, C++, Fortran)
• Numeric and symbolic computation programs (Maple and MATLAB)
• Desktop publishing packages (Microsoft)
• Spreadsheets (Excel)
• Computer-aided design packages (SolidWorks)

Specialized software for course work also is installed in some locations.

Campuswide Access

As part of the Mobile Computing Program, all undergraduates are required to have a laptop computer. Every first-year residence hall room is wired for phone and Internet access. There are network ports in public buildings across campus, and wireless access is available in over 50 buildings including the Voorhees Computing Center (VCC), the Student Union, Darrin Communications Center (DCC) Great Hall, Folsom Library, and several classrooms on campus. The network is expanded each year.

Campus computing facilities offer students several platforms including PCs running Windows and remote access to UNIX. Several hundred public workstations in classrooms and labs are connected to the network.

From a single workstation, personal computer, or laptop, a student can connect to several different host computers on campus, as well as to off-campus host computers, data services, and networks.

Some of the larger public workstation areas are located in the Voorhees Computing Center, Troy Building, Folsom Library, and Russell Sage Laboratory. Many of these sites are open 24 hours a day and weekends, depending on the academic calendar.

For high-performance computing (long-running, numerically intensive jobs), a batch facility for serial and parallel jobs is available.

Learn more about Academic & Research Computing.