ITS Checklists and Tech Recommendations

Follow the steps below to become familiar with and use campus technology services and resources effectively.

Access Your Accounts

• Activate your SLU Net ID and password at MySLU (auth.slu.edu).
• Follow the instructions to set up and register your account.
• Log in to your SLU email at MySLU.
• Saint Louis University has two different methods through which students can grant access to third parties; Student Consent of Disclosure of FERPA Records and Banner Proxy. For additional information, see Parents and Third-Party Record Access.
• Learn how to make a bill payment.

Get Up-to-Date Information

• Sign up for emergency messages from Public Safety at dps.slu.edu.

Get Free Software

• Use the link below to see what software is available for free. (Please log in to MySLU and then click the Google tile first)

Browse Software Downloads

Get Discounts

• Find information on buying a computer specific to your major in the section below, then use your SLU discount to make needed purchases.
• Buy cables and adapters at a SLU Student Tech Services location. We offer small hardware and peripherals for purchase. You can also order your items online through the SLU Marketplace.

Plan for Campus Living

• SLU students can print inexpensively from high-quality campus printers.
• Don't want to carry your laptop? You'll also have access to SLU's open and specialized computer labs.

What Technology to Bring

• Your laptop/desktop and mobile devices
• UL-approved fire and surge protector strip rated for computer use
• 15- to 25-foot Cat5 Ethernet cable
• USB cord for your printer if you bring a printer
• 8GB+ flash drive
• Security for a laptop, either Lo-Jack or a cable lock
• A wired/wireless headset with microphone
• A built-in or external high-definition web camera
• HD webcam (built-in or external)

What to Leave at Home

• Wireless routers
• Wireless printers

Before arriving, back up your important files using Dropbox, Carbonite, external hard drive, or SLU's OneDrive (2TB storage).

Set up Devices in Your Room

• Register devices to use Ethernet or SLU_IoT WiFi.
• Configure your TV to cable or Ethernet
• Install the Billiken Print
• Turn off wireless on personal printers 

Plan for Emails to go to a Personal Account

Your SLU email account will remain active for 60 months (five years) after graduation. Before the five-year post-graduate date, we suggest you migrate your existing SLU email to your personal email account if you wish to keep your SLU messages.

Health.slu.edu users: upon graduation, you'll receive a new @slu.edu account. Save required emails before graduation as mailbox migration violates HIPAA policies. 

Request Transcripts

Official transcripts of your academic record at Saint Louis University, including work done in the 1818 Advanced College Credit program, are available through the Office of the University Registrar.

Update Your Personal Information

Up-to-date information is vital for the University to stay in touch with you. The University is also required to send your diploma to you. To update or view your personal information through Banner, click the "Personal Information" tab on the top menu bar.

• Verify your address and phone number by selecting the "View Addresses and Phone Numbers" link. If updates are needed, return to the Personal Information page and select "Update Addresses and Phone Numbers."
• Changes to your emergency contacts, marital status, name and social security number through the "Update Emergency Contacts," "Update Marital Status," "Name Change Information," and "Social Security Number Change Information" links, respectively.

Prepare for Move-Out

If you live in the residence halls, you must complete the following steps to avoid incurring additional housing fees:

• Return any mini-hub or borrowed equipment from ITS
• Report any problem or broken network jacks
• Make sure to take your Ethernet cable and power strips with you

Purchase Microsoft Office

The free student license for Microsoft Office is only available for registered students. You will lose your license once you have been marked as officially graduated by the registrar's office. If you want to keep using the software, you must purchase a license from Microsoft.

The program provides a computer to each CADE student. No additional purchases are necessary.

Use standard recommendation above

Use standard recommendation above for a Windows laptop

Use standard recommendation above

Use standard recommendation above

Use standard recommendation for a Windows laptop

Use standard recommendation above

Use standard recommendation above

Review the appropriate student handbook for more information regarding program-specific technology requirements. Student handbooks can be located on each Program Resources page. You can locate the appropriate program via the Current Students webpage.

Use standard recommendation above

Required System Requirements

• Broadband wired or wireless (LTE/5G) 
• Speakers & microphone (built-in/USB/Bluetooth) 
• HD webcam (built-in or USB)

Required Operating System

• macOS 12+
• Windows 11 Home or Pro
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9+
• Ubuntu Linux 22 LTE+

Required Browser

• Windows: Edge 142+, Firefox 145+, Chrome 142+
• macOS: Safari 18+, Firefox 145+, Chrome 142+
• Linux: Firefox 144+, Chrome 142+

Required Processor and RAM

• See recommended Hardware Section above

Required Bandwidth

• 800kbps/1.0 Mbps (up/down) for high-quality video
• 2.5 Mbps for receiving 1080p HD 
• 3.0 Mbps for sending 1080p HD

• Follows standard requirements above, plus: 
• Bring laptop to orientation for configuration (special helpdesk available)
• SPSS required for intro/intermediate biostatistics and epidemiology
• SAS required for advanced biostatistics and epidemiology
• Mac users: need virtualization software running Windows 11
• Install all required software before orientation
• Students are responsible for backing up files (use external USB drive)
• Contact vendor for hardware/software issues 

To guide your selection of a computer for your Saint Louis University experience, the faculty and staff of the School of Science and Engineering recommend the following minimum guidelines when selecting a computing platform and operating system. These recommendations are intended as a school-wide minimum platform, not necessarily tailored to a specific program or course. If you have questions about the usability of a particular computer, feel free to ask the chairperson of the department you are interested in joining.

Note that:

• Important:  most engineering applications only work with Windows. Apple Macs are not recommended but you can possibly use Parallels to run Windows applications (compatibility not guaranteed).  
• A discrete graphics card is not needed but would be beneficial for 3D applications in civil engineering or aerospace and mechanical engineering

Minimum Hardware Requirements

These requirements are intended for first- and second-year students at SLU.

• Processor/RAM/Storage: see recommended Hardware Section above 
• Memory
  • 16 GB RAM
  • 512 GB or more hard drive capacity, SSD
• Networking
  • Gigabit Ethernet (or adapter)
  • Wireless NIC 802.11ac
• Graphics
  • 256 MB integrated memory or Intel HD graphics
  • HDMI / Thunder Bolt 3 (USB-C Video)
• Additional devices
  • 2 x 3.2 USB port Type A
  • 3.2 USB port Type-C with power
  • HDMI port/display port
  • Extended two-year warranty with accident coverage

Recommended Hardware

These recommendations are intended for third- and fourth-year students at SLU.

• Processor
  • 13th Gen Core i7, Core Ultra 7, AMD 7000 or M3 (Mac)
• Memory
  • 24 GB RAM (Windows) or 8 GB RAM (Mac)
  • 1 TB or more hard drive capacity, SSD
• Networking
  • Gigabit Ethernet (or adapter)
  • Wireless NIC 802.11ac
• Graphics
  • 6 GB discrete memory video card
  • HDMI / Thunder Bolt 3 (USB-C Video)
• Additional devices
  • 3 x 3.2 USB port Type A
  • 2 x 3.2 USB port Type-C with power
  • HDMI port/display port
  • Extended four-year warranty with accident coverage

Recommended Software

• Cloud Account - Google Drive, One Drive, Box, AWS, Dropbox - SLU will provide one drive space

Optional Items

• Touch screen
• External hard drive and flash drives
• Padded water-resistant laptop backpack
• USB 3-button scroll mouse/trackball (for CAD) 
• Power strip - surge suppressing
• Cable - HDMI Cable / USB Type-C to HDMI cable
• Antivirus - keep Windows Defender up to date

Use standard recommendation above.

Special notes about the College of Social Work system requirements:

• All students must have access to a computer to complete their coursework, especially those enrolled in our online programs or taking online courses.
• Students will be responsible for backing up their files. It is recommended that students purchase and use an external USB flash drive or hard drive to back up all files.
• Students must contact the appropriate vendor to resolve hardware or software issues.

Use standard recommendation above.