Information Technology Services

Eastern Arizona College has computer labs available for student use, so owning a personal computer is not required for every course.

However, many students find that having a laptop makes it easier to complete assignments, participate in online coursework, and study remotely.

For general coursework in programs such as English, business, communications, history, and similar fields, we recommend a laptop with the following specifications:

Windows laptop

• Processor: Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5, or better
• Memory: 16 GB RAM
• Storage: 512 GB solid-state drive (SSD)
• Operating system: Windows 11
• Battery life: At least 8 to 10 hours
• Screen size: 13 to 14 inches for a good balance of portability and readability

Apple laptop

• Processor: Apple M2, M3, or newer
• Memory: 16 GB RAM
• Storage: 512 GB SSD
• Operating system: A currently supported version of macOS
• Battery life: At least 8 to 10 hours
• Screen size: 13 to 14 inches for a good balance of portability and readability

We recommend avoiding computers with only 8 GB of memory, 256 GB of storage, or a traditional hard-disk drive, as these may become limiting during several years of coursework.

Some academic and career and technical education programs may require higher-performance computers, specialized hardware, or software that is available only for Windows or macOS. Before purchasing a computer, check with the department or program in which you plan to enroll for any additional requirements.

EAC offers a variety of ways to connect to the internet while on campus. Personal devices can connect to our student and guest wireless network (EacMonsterNet) from most areas. There are also many computer labs on campus that are available to students to use for schoolwork, including internet access.

The process for connecting to the EacMonsterNet wireless network has been greatly simplified. Simply enable wireless on your personal device and choose EacMonsterNet. There is currently no username or password required, but please realize that all activity is monitored to ensure compliance with the EAC – Information Technology Resource Usage Policy

EacMonsterNet is primarily dedicated towards providing wireless internet access for computing devices such as laptops, desktops, tablets, and mobile phones. Although you may connect television streaming devices (Roku, Apple TV, etc.) or gaming consoles (Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo, etc.), there is no guarantee they will function as intended.

Previously known as Office 365, Microsoft 365 is a cloud-based subscription service that provides you with the latest version of the Office desktop applications—Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.—and many other productivity services.

Go to https://portal.office.com
Sign in using your EAC email address (e.g., zyx22@monsters.eac.edu) and the password you use to access the Gila Hank Online student portal.

There is no cost for currently enrolled students to access all the tools we’ve made available withing Microsoft 365. Students who are no longer currently enrolled will only have access to email for three years before losing access.

OneDrive
Word
Excel
PowerPoint
OneNote
SharePoint
Teams
Installation of Microsoft Office on up to five devices

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/training

Learn the basics
Quick Starts
Time saving tips
Cheat sheets
Many YouTube videos, websites, etc.
What is OneDrive?

OneDrive is a cloud-based storage and synchronization service operated by Microsoft as part of its Office Online suite. Your student One Drive account offers 1TB of storage, which enables you to share and access files from all of your Internet-connected devices.

Only available for students who are currently enrolled.

Microsoft uses multiple defenses to protect the information within 365, but you should take precautions as well.

Install virus/malware detection software with the latest definitions.
Keep your operating system and software up to date.
Password-protect your workstation or device and use idle-time screen saver passwords where possible.
Can I Install the actual Office Suite on my personal computer or device?

As part of the Office 365 subscription, every currently enrolled student at Eastern Arizona College is able to install the most recent version of Microsoft Office on up to five personally owned computers or devices.

1. Select ‘Forgot password?’ on the Microsoft account sign-in page

2. Verify your identity for Microsoft account recovery

3. Get a Microsoft account verification code

4. Enter the verification code and reset your Microsoft account password

5. Sign in again.

For more information, visit Microsoft Support.

If you continue to have account sign in issues, contact Admissions and Registration or the EA Alumni Library.

• Users will be required to change their passphrases the first time they login in.
• Passphrases must be 15 characters long at a minimum.
• Although not required, it is strong encouraged to use upper- and lowercase letters, numbers, and some special characters.

• NEVER give your passphrase out to anyone, much less to someone over the phone. Your account is for your use and yours alone. YOU are responsible for all activity that occurs from your account.
• Choose a passphrase that is easy for you to remember, but not obvious to anyone else. Avoid using names which are personally associated with you, such as your name, the name of a family member or loved one, your pet’s name, your car or boat’s make, your home town, your job title or any other items associated with your work.

If you’ve set up password recovery options on your Microsoft 365 account, you should be able to reset it yourself by following the instructions here.

If you haven’t set up password recovery options or they’re not working, you can seek help from the EAC Records office or at the EAC Library.

Log into your Microsoft 365 student account at https://portal.office.com
If this is your first-time logging in, the site will notify you that you are required to set up the password reset options
The site will show you the available options you can choose for the password reset and you must select at least one. Although you only have to choose one option, it is recommended that you use at least two. If you choose to Authenticate via your mobile phone, you will need to enter your phone number and then type in the verification code Microsoft will send to that number
If you choose Email Authentication you will need to enter an alternate (non monsters.eac.edu) account and then enter the verification code Microsoft will send to that account. Click on the Finish button to complete your selection
Make sure to update these password recovery options if your mobile phone number or email address changes

Log into your Microsoft 365 student account at https://portal.office.com
Click on your profile link in the upper right-hand corner and select View account
On the Security info tile, click UPDATE INFO
The Security Info page will list the current methods you have to sign into your account or reset your password (including any multi-factor authentications)
Click the Add sign-in method at the top of that list and follow the directions

Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) is an authentication method that requires the user to provide two or more verification factors to gain access to a resource. Examples of multi-factor would be the use of password plus a one-time code that is texted to your personal device.

EAC has implemented MFA for students when accessing Gila Hank Online, Microsoft 365, Canvas, and other resources. This is required by law, but it is also just a good idea to better protect your information.

EAC uses your Microsoft 365 account as the source for a Single Sign On experience across the different online resources and systems. As such, you only need to add multi-factor authentication methods to it to be protected across all those systems.

Microsoft 365 Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) helps safeguard access to data and applications while maintaining simplicity for users. It provides additional security by requiring a second form of authentication and delivers strong authentication via a range of easy to use authentication methods

Follow these instructions to add or modify your current MFA Methods: EAC – Multi-Factor Authentication Instructions

The following options are available in order of recommendation and ease of use:

• Microsoft Authenticator app (Android/iOS)
• Other authenticator/OTP apps (such as LastPass, Google, etc.)
• Hardware OTP Token (Please contact ITS for information)

If you do not have a compatible device and would like one, assistance is available through the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). The ACP is a U.S. government program designed to help pay for internet service and devices.

With the Anthology system, students must be admitted and enrolled within a Program to be considered “Currently Enrolled”.

Depending on your enrollment status, certain systems and application may or may not be available to you.

“Currently Enrolled” students have full access to Anthology Student Portal, MonsterMail, Microsoft 365 apps (including local installs for up to five devices), Canvas, etc.

When a student’s Program status is changed by the Admissions and Registration department and no longer reflects an active status, student access to EAC online student systems (Microsoft 365, Anthology Student Portal, Canvas, etc.) will be discontinued.

Changes in enrollment status will either gain or remove parts of your access to EAC student systems such as Anthology Student Portal and Microsoft 365.  If you lose access to EAC online student systems (Microsoft 365, Anthology Student Portal, Canvas, etc.), please check with the Admissions and Registration department to verify that your student records have an associated active Program enrollment.

EAC reserves the right to block websites or applications on college owned computers for a variety of reasons, but mainly to comply with federal and state mandates or to help mitigate threats to our systems and data. If you believe a website or application you are trying to access is being blocked mistakenly, don’t hesitate to contact Information Technology Services:

• Email helpmehank@eac.edu with the following details:
• First and last name
• Daytime telephone number
• Website address or application that is being blocked.
• Best time to contact you within our typical work hours (M-F from 8am-5pm)