Off-Campus/Abroad Students Page

Changing Passwords

Pomona College uses an online password reset service. Please go through the following steps before leaving campus. This will allow you to reset your password while abroad at any point without the help of ITS.

In order to use this service, please visit the https://mypassword.pomona.edu website. The first time you will be asked to login with your alpha-numeric user id, e.g. abc02004. You will then be prompted for your current password. You will then need to answer at least three of six questions, and/or input your own custom questions with answers. You can then reset your password.

If you forget your password, the questions you filled out will be used the next time you login to this service to verify your identity.

Setting your password with this site will reset your password for most services on the Pomona College network, such as lab, email, and userspace logons. (It will not change your password for the spam filtering service Postini.)

E-mail

Most students find that Webmail is the most convenient way to check their Pomona e-mail from off-campus. If you have set up an e-mail client to check your e-mail, it should continue working from off-campus. However, some Internet Service Providers will not allow email to be sent from a server that is not their own to prevent spammers from using their service. If you can receive mail but not send, this may be the problem.

If you are using Internet Explorer and experience repeated prompts for you to log in to Webmail, click on Tools, then Internet Options. Click on the Advanced tab at the far right, and scroll to the bottom of the window. Uncheck the box next to Enable Windows Integrated Authentication (requires restart) and click OK at the bottom. Close Internet Explorer and reopen the program, and the repeated login requests should go away.

If the above solution does not work or is not available, or Webmail does not work for another reason, you can try clicking the link for Squirrelmail from the Webmail homepage. Squirrelmail is a text-based e-mail service which sometimes works when the more complex Webmail service does not. In the past, we have found that Webmail may not work behind some firewalls. If you continue to have problems accessing your e-mail, please contact us!

If you would like to set up a program such as Outlook or Thunderbird, see the information on how to set up an e-mail program.

Connecting to On-Campus Resources

When you are not on the wired network at Pomona, you can use a service called Virtual Private Networking (VPN) to make it seem as though you are. This way, you can connect to network shares like your userspace or run keyserved software. To set up a VPN connection, please see this page. It is also possible to acces it through dial-up.

The Libraries

The Libraries of the Claremont Colleges allows access to most of their online resources from off-campus. This can be a helpful resource for finding English-language sources in a place where English is not widely used. Most of the electronic journals the libraries subscribe to are available off-campus. You should see a link at the top of their homepage which will allow you to log in and access these resources. You can find more information here or by contacting the libraries directly.

Using Other Languages on Your Computer

Windows XP

Please see our page on installing non-English language support in Windows and Office.

In Windows XP, you can use many foreign languages with your computer after installing them for use. This will allow you to use different keyboard layouts which can make it easier to enter foreign characters. Please note that to install East Asian, Thai, and right-to-left languages like Hebrew and Arabic you will need administrator privileges on the computer and a Windows installation CD. If you do not have a Windows installation CD, ITS can help you access the necessary files while you are still at Pomona.

If you would also like to install languages for the Microsoft Office 2003 suite, you will need access to either the CDs or the network, depending on where you installed the Office suite from. For off-campus access to the network, see the section on Connecting to On-Campus Resources.

Macintosh OS X

Click on the Apple menu, then System Preferences. Open the International preference pane. You can select which language is used in menus as well as adding additional keyboard layouts.

To use additional languages in Office 2004 programs, pull down the Tools menu, and select Language.... You can set the language for an individual document there, or for the entire program by selecting a language and then clicking the Default... button.

Computer Hardware and Warranties

If you are planning on taking your computer with you, make sure that all hardware and accessories are in good working order before you leave. You may not be able to get warranty service while abroad, and there may not be compatible replacement components for electronics readily available in all areas. Also, your warranty may expire while you are abroad, so any service should be done before you leave. It is a good idea to make sure that your computer is in excellent working order before leaving so any problems can be dealt with ahead of time. You may also want to consider purchasing a laptop lock if you don't already have one. Most laptops have a power converter for 220V built in, but you should check this before leaving the country. You may still need an adapter for the wall socket, and these may not be available outside of the US.

Printing

Some students are startled when paper is a different size abroad! Since much of the world uses the metric system, their standard size paper is called A4. This is slightly larger than the standard American paper which is 8.5" x 11". You can adjust many programs to use A4 paper by adjusting printer properties or by clicking on File and then Page Setup.

Unmapping Network Drives

While on campus, many students choose to map their userspace or a class folder to a drive letter. However, this can cause irritating messages when not connected to the Pomona network. To unmount the drive, right-click on My Computer and then click "Disconnect Network Drive". The drive will no longer be mapped on startup.

How to contact us

Have a problem or question not addressed here? Please contact us!

• By phone: +001-909-621-8062
• By fax: +001-909-621-8060
• By e-mail: helpdesk@pomona.edu

Staffed hours at the Helpdesk:

• Monday - Thursday: 9AM-12AM
• Friday: 9AM-5PM
• Saturday: 1PM-5PM
• Sunday: 1PM-12AM

If you are going to call, remember that there is probably a time difference! Unfortunately, the phone system at the Helpdesk does not allow us to make international calls, so we will respond to any voice mail messages via e-mail. If the problem involves your Pomona e-mail account, please leave an alternate e-mail address if possible. Do not send us your password.

Useful Links

• Pomona College Homepage
• Pomona College Webmail
• Pomona College Office of Study Abroad
• Pomona College ITS Homepage
• Password Reset Page
• Claremont Colleges Libraries