Technology & Access

More than 2,000 computers are available in labs on campus, with roughly two-thirds located in specialized departmental labs. Explore general university computer lab locations on the ATUS website. 

Western has a wide variety of equipment available for student checkout, from hundreds of laptops available in a number of locations across campus, to digital still cameras, video cameras, tripods, microphones, lighting kits, digital audio recorders, projectors/screens, public address equipment and much more! Explore items available to checkout through the Student Technology Center.

Funded through the Student Technology Fee, all students can download fully licensed versions of the latest Microsoft Office applications. Students will have access to the apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android and in any web browser until they leave Western. Find out more about installing Microsoft Office.

Students access online materials including class discussions, assignments and exams by signing into Canvas from myWestern. Students log in to Canvas using their Universal Account information. New students can self-enroll in a WWU Canvas Orientation from the Canvas Help page for tips about navigating Canvas. 

Through the Student Technology Fee, students have a print quota with 50 prints per quarter. Additional printing is also available for a modest fee in all the labs, including black and white, color, and large-format color options. Learn more about printing at Western. 

ResTek is a program of University Residences, providing internet service and tech support to students living on campus. Residence halls offer wireless and wired connections as well as computer labs with laser printers. All residence halls also offer basic cable television. For more information, visit ResTek - Residential Technology Services. 

When students first come to Western, they are issued a Universal Account that will be used to gain access to most services on campus including:

• the myWestern portal which gives access to email, Canvas, registering for classes, access to grades, timesheets, and other university systems
• log on to computers in the computer labs
• log on to the University's wireless network
• log on to Office 365, including OneDrive file access, Office apps, and Teams

Students can find information about activating their account on the ATUS website.

Western students can drop in at the Student Technology Center (STC) on the second floor of Haggard Hall for help with software applications and other advanced technologies. The center offers scanning, 3D color and poster printing, video production, editing and conversion tools as well as online tutorials and manuals. The STC also offers free workshops and peer-to-peer software tutoring.

The University’s wireless network offers excellent coverage throughout campus, including outside areas near the Viking Union and Red Square on north campus through Haskell Plaza and the Student Rec Center on south campus. Many buildings have strong signals, and coverage areas continue to improve. Additionally, students can enjoy this widespread wireless network coverage by checking out laptops from the library, Viking Union, Student Rec Center, or the Help Desk in Academic West.

Guests of Western Washington University can access the internet from their personal devices using the public Wi-Fi network. No guest account or password is required. University residence halls have their own separate guest Wi-Fi. To connect:

1. Browse available wireless networks from your device’s wireless settings

2. Select WWUwireless-Guest

3. Review the Terms of Service and select ‘Accept’

4. When you see the Western home page select ‘Done,’ you can now connect to the internet from your browser or applications.