New Student Technology Checklist

We at UMBC’s Division of Information Technology (DoIT) wish to welcome you to the Retriever family!

The following is an overview of the technology resources available to you as UMBC students: guidance on technology recommendations and requirements, essential software and applications, and valuable links to campus resources.

Step 1: Technical Requirements

To effectively complete your studies at UMBC, the Division of Information Technology (DoIT) recommends the following:

Step 2: Essential Applications

There are some applications and websites that you will need to use on a daily basis. Start at the UMBC Software Downloads page to find most of these applications for students, faculty, and staff of UMBC.

  • myUMBC – Easy access to university resources like your Profile, class registration, account balance, Blackboard, online groups, and more.

  • Blackboard – Access your online course content, interact with instructors and peers, post discussion, upload assignments, review instructor feedback, and participate in Blackboard Collaborate sessions.

  • Office365 – Use the Microsoft Office suite online, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more.
  • Webex Meetings – Everyone has their own personal Webex room with an easy to remember name https://umbc.webex.com/meet/<username>
  • eLumin VDE – UMBC’s Virtual Desktop Environment available to all students 24/7

  • Respondus Lockdown Browser – Complete your tests, exams, and other assessments securely. Some instructors require the use of the Respondus LockDown Browser for their assignments.

  • Panopto – Watch your instructor’s recorded lecture content from inside your Blackboard course on any device. Create, edit, and upload videos through the Panopto dashboard.

  • Google Meet – Quick and easy video conferencing for meeting as a group or one-on-one.
  • Microsoft Teams – Chat, call, or meet with your classmates from a single application.
  • Windows Defender (PC) – Free virus protection for Windows devices.
  • Avira AV (Mac) – Free virus protection for your Mac device.

Step 3: Resources for Success

A large variety of software is available to download or use on your own computer to do homework or projects assigned in class.