Information Services

Monmouth College is a Microsoft-based campus. While you’re welcome to bring either a Windows laptop or a Mac, we strongly recommend a Windows device for full compatibility with campus systems and stronger IT support. Computer labs are available for those students who do not bring their own device with them to campus.

For best performance and compatibility, we recommend the following minimum laptop specifications:

• Operating System: Windows 11 Home or higher

• Memory: 8 GB RAM or more

• Storage: 256 GB SSD or larger

• Processor: Dual-core (6MB cache, 4-thread, Windows 11 compatible)

• Webcam: Integrated HD (720p or higher)

• Battery Life: 7+ hours

• Connectivity: Wi-Fi (802.11ac), Bluetooth

• Ports: USB-A, USB-C, HDMI, headphone jack

No. Chromebooks and tablets are not robust enough for most college-level academic work. They often can’t run necessary software, have limited multitasking capabilities, and may be incompatible with course materials. We strongly recommend using a Windows-based laptop that meets our suggested specifications.

Yes. Macs will connect to campus Wi-Fi and can access most services. However, some academic software or systems may not be compatible with macOS, and IT support for Macs is limited.

No. Printers are available across campus, and wireless printing is supported for student devices. Students also receive a printing allotment each semester. Personal printers are optional but not necessary. More information about printing on campus is available on the Information Services page.

Yes. All students receive access to Microsoft 365 (including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) at no additional cost as long as you have an active Monmouth College account. Your professor/instructor will inform you of any additional course-specific software needed.

Yes. Campus-wide Wi-Fi is available in all academic buildings and residence halls. We also recommend bringing an Ethernet cable for wired access—especially useful for large file uploads, video calls, or for students who game and want a more stable internet connection. Please do not bring a personal router.

For additional support, contact us at helpdesk@monmouthcollege.edu or 309-457-2106 or visit Information Services.

Students, faculty, and staff should connect to the ScotsWireless network.

If asked, choose the drop-down under “CA certificate” and choose, “Do not validate”.

Log in with your ID (portion of the email before the @) and password.

Alternatively, you can log into ScotsGuest using ScotsGuest as a password.

Specify your password reset preferences:

Microsoft Authenticator

1. Open the Microsoft Authenticator and choose your Monmouth College account.
2. Log in
3. Add phone number for text or calls and personal email addresses to use as backup.

Any Office.com site including outlook.office.com

1. Log into your email or any official Microsoft Office website.
2. Click on the icon with your initials in the top right corner and choose View account.
3. On a PC you can choose Security info in the far-left column or on most devices, there is a Security Info section in the center that you can click UPDATE INFO.
4. Log in to your Monmouth College account if any of these steps request a login.
5. Add phone number for text or calls and personal email addresses to use as backup.

DISCLAIMER: The Information Systems Center provides minimal support for mobile devices. Follow the instructions below at your own risk. Monmouth College is not responsible for any damages to your mobile device or data on your mobile device.

If you run into any issues or would like assistance setting up MC email on your mobile device, then please stop by the Information Services office during normal business hours.

Android

General instructions for setting up MC email on an Android device are below. (Please note that there are various versions of the Android operating system, so the instructions for your device may be slightly different from the ones that appear below.)

1. Select Settings on your device.
2. Select Passwords & Accounts.
3. Add Account.
4. Choose the (Google) Exchange icon.

Enter the following information when prompted:

Email address: Your MC email address (e.g., jdoe@monmouthcollege.edu)
Password: Your MC password

5. Authenticate the login.
6. Open the Mail app (Gmail) and choose the avatar icon at the top right to change accounts and your mail should be loading there.

iOS (Apple)

General instructions for setting up MC email on an iOS device (iPhone or iPad) are below.

1. Select Settings on your device.
2. Select Password & Accounts.
3. Select Add Account.
4. Select Exchange.
5. In the Email field, enter your MC email address (e.g., jdoe@monmouthcollege.edu).
6. If desired, in the Description field, change the account description.
7. Select Next.
8. Select Sign In.
   
   Note: If you receive a message that says “Error Signing In,” then click OK, click Next again, and select Configure Manually.
9. Enter your MC password.
10. Click Next.
11. If you selected the Configure Manually option in step 9, then enter the following information:
    Server: outlook.office365.com
    Username: Your MC email address (e.g., jdoe@monmouthcollege.edu)
12. Click Next
13. Click Save.

• At least 14 characters in length.

• Contain characters from at least three of the following categories: uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers and symbols.

• Cannot include any part of your name or username.

• Cannot be a previous Monmouth College password.

• Should not be used for any other account.

If you forget your Monmouth password, you can reset it yourself using Monmouth’s web-based password reset program, but only if you’ve first specified your password reset preferences. 

To reset your password:

1. On your personal device, go to any Monmouth College page and select MyMC.
2. Under Academic choose Student Planning (Self Service).
3. Enter your user ID (email before the @)
4. On the next page, enter your full email address- make sure not to use any autofill on this page.
5. On the password page, click the blue link that says Forgot my password.
6. Verify the email is filled in correctly and enter the characters in the box. 
7. Follow the various steps to prove you are the account holder and change your password. If you have not setup your password preferences, you will need to call the Help Desk at (309) 457-2106 

If you haven’t setup your password reset preferences, please see the Specify your password reset preferences FAQ.

To submit a Help Desk ticket, go to https://monmouthcollege.myportallogin.com/ and log in. 

Alternatively, you can call 309-457-2106 and a Help Desk technician will help you. 

To create a strong password:

• Use at least 14 characters.
• Use a combination of letters (upper and lower case), numbers, and symbols (including spaces).
• Never use a password that is based on personal information, such as your user name, pet’s name, mother’s maiden name, hometown name, birth date, social security number, driver’s license number, PIN number, etc.
• Try using a pass-phrase. Here are some examples:
  • I wish I could visit Wallace.
  • Scotland? That’s paradise!
  • 1853: fantastic year.

To help keep your password secure:

• Don’t write down your password. (If you must write down something, then write down a hint that will remind you of the password and keep it in a secure location, such as your wallet.)
• Change your password periodically (e.g., every 60 to 90 days) or whenever you feel it may have been compromised.
• Don’t choose to save your password if prompted by your browser or other program.
• Don’t enter your password on a shared computer in places with open Wi-Fi access, such as Internet cafes, public libraries, etc.
• Log off and close the web browser whenever you’re finished using a site that you had to log in to.

Install Microsoft 365 apps on a Personal Device

Monmouth College students, faculty, and staff may install Microsoft 365 apps on up to five personal devices for free.

To install Microsoft Office on a personal device:

1. On the MyMC page, under the Campus column choose College Email.
2. If prompted, log in to your Office 365 account using your MC email address and password.
3. Click the app launcher icon in the upper-left corner of the page.

4. Choose the Microsoft 365 icon

5. Click the Install and more Office drop down in the upper-right corner and select Install Microsoft 365 apps.

Follow the instructions to install Microsoft Office.

1. On the MyMC page, under Campus, click College Email. 

2. If prompted, log in with your MC email address and password.

3. Click the Apps icon (9 small squares) in the upper-left corner of the page.

Mobility Print Setup (NOTE: Campus owned devices need to enter a ticket for installation.) 

1. In a browser and type the URL https://print.monmouthcollege.edu/setup

2. Click on download button

3. Open the downloaded file (Downloaded file will be at upper right corner) and double click on it.


4. Choose English and click OK.

5. Accept the license Agreement & click on next

6. It will show the available printer locations, select the printer(s) you want to add and click on next. 

7. The installation Process is completed, click on finish.

8. Please test your ability to print. Navigate to a document you want to print, press (Ctrl+P), and your system should automatically display the selected printer(s) and you can print the document.

Information Services provides limited support for student computers.

We can assist with problems related to network connections and virus/spyware infections, but we can’t fix hardware problems or reinstall operating systems.

Beware of Phishing Emails

Phishing emails are fraudulent emails sent by cybercriminals who are trying to lure confidential information (e.g., passwords, bank account numbers, etc.) from you. Usually, phishing emails look like they are coming from trustworthy sources (e.g., a bank, credit card company, PayPal, etc.), but there are numerous ways you can identify them.

Three Ways to Recognize Phishing Emails

1.Look at the sender’s email address.

In a phishing email, the sender’s email address may be unexpected, unfamiliar, or contain an odd domain name. (The domain name appears after the @ sign in an email address, and it identifies the mail sever from which the email was sent.)

2. Examine link URLs.

Links in phishing emails usually take you to fake websites that will install malware on your computer and/or ask you to enter confidential information, such as your MC user name and password.

To check where a link actually goes, hover your cursor over the link and look at the URL (i.e., the link’s real web address) that appears in the pop-up box.

In a phishing email, the URL might not match the link shown in the message text or it may contain a misleading domain. (The domain defines the destination. Examples of domains are monmouthcollege.edu, microsoft.com, yahoo.com, etc.)

When examining link URLs, it’s important to look at the last domain name listed because this will be the actual domain. For example, a URL that looks like https:||microsoft.com.onlinesafety.maliciousdomain.com is going to the Malicious Domain site, not the Microsoft site.

3. Look for numerous spelling, grammar, and/or punctuation errors in the message.

Phishing emails usually contain A LOT of spelling, grammar and/or punctuation errors.

As phishing emails become more sophisticated and harder to detect, it’s important to trust your instincts when trying to determine whether an email is legitimate. If something just doesn’t seem right, assume it’s a phishing scam.

The more urgent the email, the more fearful the email makes you, DON’T CLICK IT! 

Pause - Take a deep breath and think. Look up the company on the web and contact them.

You can always forward them to the Help Desk at helpdesk@monmouthcollege.edu and ask for assistance verifying it. 

Monmouth College is a Microsoft-based campus. While you’re welcome to bring either a Windows laptop or a Mac, we strongly recommend a Windows device for full compatibility with campus systems and stronger IT support. Computer labs are available for those students who do not bring their own device with them to campus.

For best performance and compatibility, we recommend the following minimum laptop specifications:

• Operating System: Windows 11 Home or higher

• Memory: 8 GB RAM or more

• Storage: 256 GB SSD or larger

• Processor: Dual-core (6MB cache, 4-thread, Windows 11 compatible)

• Webcam: Integrated HD (720p or higher)

• Battery Life: 7+ hours

• Connectivity: Wi-Fi (802.11ac), Bluetooth

• Ports: USB-A, USB-C, HDMI, headphone jack

No. Chromebooks and tablets are not robust enough for most college-level academic work. They often can’t run necessary software, have limited multitasking capabilities, and may be incompatible with course materials. We strongly recommend using a Windows-based laptop that meets our suggested specifications.

Yes. Macs will connect to campus Wi-Fi and can access most services. However, some academic software or systems may not be compatible with macOS, and IT support for Macs is limited.

No. Printers are available across campus, and wireless printing is supported for student devices. Students also receive a printing allotment each semester. Personal printers are optional but not necessary. More information about printing on campus is available on the Information Services page.

Yes. All students receive access to Microsoft 365 (including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) at no additional cost as long as you have an active Monmouth College account. Your professor/instructor will inform you of any additional course-specific software needed.

Yes. Campus-wide Wi-Fi is available in all academic buildings and residence halls. We also recommend bringing an Ethernet cable for wired access—especially useful for large file uploads, video calls, or for students who game and want a more stable internet connection. Please do not bring a personal router.

For additional support, contact us at helpdesk@monmouthcollege.edu or 309-457-2106 or visit Information Services.

Students, faculty, and staff should connect to the ScotsWireless network.

If asked, choose the drop-down under “CA certificate” and choose, “Do not validate”.

Log in with your ID (portion of the email before the @) and password.

Alternatively, you can log into ScotsGuest using ScotsGuest as a password.

Specify your password reset preferences:

Microsoft Authenticator

1. Open the Microsoft Authenticator and choose your Monmouth College account.
2. Log in
3. Add phone number for text or calls and personal email addresses to use as backup.

Any Office.com site including outlook.office.com

1. Log into your email or any official Microsoft Office website.
2. Click on the icon with your initials in the top right corner and choose View account.
3. On a PC you can choose Security info in the far-left column or on most devices, there is a Security Info section in the center that you can click UPDATE INFO.
4. Log in to your Monmouth College account if any of these steps request a login.
5. Add phone number for text or calls and personal email addresses to use as backup.

DISCLAIMER: The Information Systems Center provides minimal support for mobile devices. Follow the instructions below at your own risk. Monmouth College is not responsible for any damages to your mobile device or data on your mobile device.

If you run into any issues or would like assistance setting up MC email on your mobile device, then please stop by the Information Services office during normal business hours.

Android

General instructions for setting up MC email on an Android device are below. (Please note that there are various versions of the Android operating system, so the instructions for your device may be slightly different from the ones that appear below.)

1. Select Settings on your device.
2. Select Passwords & Accounts.
3. Add Account.
4. Choose the (Google) Exchange icon.

Enter the following information when prompted:

Email address: Your MC email address (e.g., jdoe@monmouthcollege.edu)
Password: Your MC password

5. Authenticate the login.
6. Open the Mail app (Gmail) and choose the avatar icon at the top right to change accounts and your mail should be loading there.

iOS (Apple)

General instructions for setting up MC email on an iOS device (iPhone or iPad) are below.

1. Select Settings on your device.
2. Select Password & Accounts.
3. Select Add Account.
4. Select Exchange.
5. In the Email field, enter your MC email address (e.g., jdoe@monmouthcollege.edu).
6. If desired, in the Description field, change the account description.
7. Select Next.
8. Select Sign In.
   
   Note: If you receive a message that says “Error Signing In,” then click OK, click Next again, and select Configure Manually.
9. Enter your MC password.
10. Click Next.
11. If you selected the Configure Manually option in step 9, then enter the following information:
    Server: outlook.office365.com
    Username: Your MC email address (e.g., jdoe@monmouthcollege.edu)
12. Click Next
13. Click Save.

• At least 14 characters in length.

• Contain characters from at least three of the following categories: uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers and symbols.

• Cannot include any part of your name or username.

• Cannot be a previous Monmouth College password.

• Should not be used for any other account.

If you forget your Monmouth password, you can reset it yourself using Monmouth’s web-based password reset program, but only if you’ve first specified your password reset preferences. 

To reset your password:

1. On your personal device, go to any Monmouth College page and select MyMC.
2. Under Academic choose Student Planning (Self Service).
3. Enter your user ID (email before the @)
4. On the next page, enter your full email address- make sure not to use any autofill on this page.
5. On the password page, click the blue link that says Forgot my password.
6. Verify the email is filled in correctly and enter the characters in the box. 
7. Follow the various steps to prove you are the account holder and change your password. If you have not setup your password preferences, you will need to call the Help Desk at (309) 457-2106 

If you haven’t setup your password reset preferences, please see the Specify your password reset preferences FAQ.

To submit a Help Desk ticket, go to https://monmouthcollege.myportallogin.com/ and log in. 

Alternatively, you can call 309-457-2106 and a Help Desk technician will help you. 

To create a strong password:

• Use at least 14 characters.
• Use a combination of letters (upper and lower case), numbers, and symbols (including spaces).
• Never use a password that is based on personal information, such as your user name, pet’s name, mother’s maiden name, hometown name, birth date, social security number, driver’s license number, PIN number, etc.
• Try using a pass-phrase. Here are some examples:
  • I wish I could visit Wallace.
  • Scotland? That’s paradise!
  • 1853: fantastic year.

To help keep your password secure:

• Don’t write down your password. (If you must write down something, then write down a hint that will remind you of the password and keep it in a secure location, such as your wallet.)
• Change your password periodically (e.g., every 60 to 90 days) or whenever you feel it may have been compromised.
• Don’t choose to save your password if prompted by your browser or other program.
• Don’t enter your password on a shared computer in places with open Wi-Fi access, such as Internet cafes, public libraries, etc.
• Log off and close the web browser whenever you’re finished using a site that you had to log in to.

Install Microsoft 365 apps on a Personal Device

Monmouth College students, faculty, and staff may install Microsoft 365 apps on up to five personal devices for free.

To install Microsoft Office on a personal device:

1. On the MyMC page, under the Campus column choose College Email.
2. If prompted, log in to your Office 365 account using your MC email address and password.
3. Click the app launcher icon in the upper-left corner of the page.

4. Choose the Microsoft 365 icon

5. Click the Install and more Office drop down in the upper-right corner and select Install Microsoft 365 apps.

Follow the instructions to install Microsoft Office.

1. On the MyMC page, under Campus, click College Email. 

2. If prompted, log in with your MC email address and password.

3. Click the Apps icon (9 small squares) in the upper-left corner of the page.

Mobility Print Setup (NOTE: Campus owned devices need to enter a ticket for installation.) 

1. In a browser and type the URL https://print.monmouthcollege.edu/setup

2. Click on download button

3. Open the downloaded file (Downloaded file will be at upper right corner) and double click on it.


4. Choose English and click OK.

5. Accept the license Agreement & click on next

6. It will show the available printer locations, select the printer(s) you want to add and click on next. 

7. The installation Process is completed, click on finish.

8. Please test your ability to print. Navigate to a document you want to print, press (Ctrl+P), and your system should automatically display the selected printer(s) and you can print the document.

Information Services provides limited support for student computers.

We can assist with problems related to network connections and virus/spyware infections, but we can’t fix hardware problems or reinstall operating systems.

Beware of Phishing Emails

Phishing emails are fraudulent emails sent by cybercriminals who are trying to lure confidential information (e.g., passwords, bank account numbers, etc.) from you. Usually, phishing emails look like they are coming from trustworthy sources (e.g., a bank, credit card company, PayPal, etc.), but there are numerous ways you can identify them.

Three Ways to Recognize Phishing Emails

1.Look at the sender’s email address.

In a phishing email, the sender’s email address may be unexpected, unfamiliar, or contain an odd domain name. (The domain name appears after the @ sign in an email address, and it identifies the mail sever from which the email was sent.)

2. Examine link URLs.

Links in phishing emails usually take you to fake websites that will install malware on your computer and/or ask you to enter confidential information, such as your MC user name and password.

To check where a link actually goes, hover your cursor over the link and look at the URL (i.e., the link’s real web address) that appears in the pop-up box.

In a phishing email, the URL might not match the link shown in the message text or it may contain a misleading domain. (The domain defines the destination. Examples of domains are monmouthcollege.edu, microsoft.com, yahoo.com, etc.)

When examining link URLs, it’s important to look at the last domain name listed because this will be the actual domain. For example, a URL that looks like https:||microsoft.com.onlinesafety.maliciousdomain.com is going to the Malicious Domain site, not the Microsoft site.

3. Look for numerous spelling, grammar, and/or punctuation errors in the message.

Phishing emails usually contain A LOT of spelling, grammar and/or punctuation errors.

As phishing emails become more sophisticated and harder to detect, it’s important to trust your instincts when trying to determine whether an email is legitimate. If something just doesn’t seem right, assume it’s a phishing scam.

The more urgent the email, the more fearful the email makes you, DON’T CLICK IT! 

Pause - Take a deep breath and think. Look up the company on the web and contact them.

You can always forward them to the Help Desk at helpdesk@monmouthcollege.edu and ask for assistance verifying it.