•    Computing Assistants
  Old Campus 1

  
  

  Old Campus 2

  
  

  276 Prospect

  
  

  Hall of Graduate Studies

  
  

  Helen Hadley Hall

  
  

  Berkeley

  
  

  Branford

  
  

  Calhoun

  
  

  Davenport

  
  

  Ezra Stiles

  
  

  Jonathan Edwards

  
  

  Morse

  
  

  Pierson

  
  

  Saybrook

  
  

  Silliman

  
  

  Timothy Dwight

  
  

  Trumbull

  
  

 Expectations

 Feedback

 FAQs

 The CA Job

 Other Support

Expectations

Computing Assistants (CAs) provide computing support for students living in the on-campus residence halls. The best way to reach the CAs is via this website.

The primary job responsibility of a CA is to provide networking support to you. CAs assist in configuring your computer for use on Yale’s network and also help to schedule repairs for broken network jacks.

In addition to providing networking support, CAs can troubleshoot your hardware and software problems. If a CA cannot solve a given problem, he or she will refer the problem to another CA who will investigate it further. While CAs will try to solve all of your computer problems, sometimes there are problems that they cannot fix. For example, if you have a malfunctioning printer or another serious hardware problem, a CA may recommend that you have your computer professionally serviced.

CAs can also attempt to recover data from dead or malfunctioning hard drives. Data recovery is limited to your personal files and documents, including emails, office documents, and personal pictures. We will not recover any copyrighted media (including MP3 and video) files. The data recovery process is lengthy and involved, and not always successful. If you have critical files and documents that require immediate recovery, you are encouraged to seek professional data recovery service.

CAs will help you with your computer and network problems, but they cannot assist you with your coursework assignments, nor will they create web pages for you. You may, however, consider contacting the Web Assistants for assistance with web page creation.

Finally, please remember that CAs are your fellow students and members of your residential colleges. They should be treated with gratitude and respect. Like most students, CAs are extremely busy; much of their time is spent helping fellow students with computer dilemmas. Although CAs work hard, they are not on-call 24 hours a day. CAs are expected to respond to a help request within 48 hours – not within minutes. If you are seeking computer help, we ask that you be reasonably patient.