Classroom Technologies

Audio-visual equipment for hybrid (aka electronic) classrooms.

CUIT's Classroom and Desktop Technologies, the Office of the Registrar, and Facilities Management have collaborated to construct over 100 Hybrid Classrooms. These classrooms may be reserved as a regular class meeting place, for individual class sessions, or for events.

Electronic Classroom Features
  • Dell or Apple Computer 
  • Blu Ray/DVD Player 
  • Projector/display System
  • Sound Reinforcement
  • Crestron Control of Source Components
  • Software Download Ability *
  • Technical Support for In-Class Technology Issues

The Electronic Classrooms locations page provides details on the exact features of each room on campus.

* Please note that all software installed will be removed upon the next restart. If you require software long term on the podium provided computer please email [email protected]. Software requests may take up to 8 weeks depending on the request. CUIT will make best effort to fulfill your request in a timely manner. 

Classrooms technologies emergency support can be reached 8AM-8PM M-F. For all non-urgent requests please email us at [email protected]

Software Suite in Electronic Classrooms

*Updated January 2023*

  • Adobe Acrobat Reader: View and create PDF files
  • BBEdit 13.x: Text editor
  • GeoMapApp 3.x: Data visualization tool for marine geoscience data systems
  • Google Chrome: Web Browser 
  • Google Earth Pro: Satellite imagery
  • Mathematica 13.x: Mathematical analysis
  • MatLab 2020a: Mathematical analysis
  • Microsoft Excel 2021: Spreadsheet program
  • Microsoft Powerpoint 2021: Presentation program
  • Microsoft Word 2021: Word processor
  • Mozilla Firefox: Web Browser
  • Poll Everywhere 3.x: Survey response
  • QGIS 3.8.x: Geographic software
  • R 4.2.x: R for statistical computing
  • RStudio 2022: R studio for statistical computing
  • Safari: Web browser
  • Stata SE 14.2: Statistical analysis
  • TeXworks 0.6.5: TeX front-end software
  • VLC 3.x: Media player
  • XQuartz 2.8.2: X Windows
  • Zoom 5.x: Cloud-based video communications app
  • Zotero 6.x: Bibliographies

*Updated January 2023*

  • 7Zip: File Extractor
  • Adobe Acrobat Reader 2020: View PDF files
  • ArcGIS 10.8.x: GIS/Mapping
  • Arduino 2.0 *
  • AutoCAD 2021: Computer-aided design *
  • COMSOL 5.6: Finite element analysis *
  • Cyberduck: FTP client
  • DesignBuilder 7.0.x: Modeling and Simulation **
  • Dymola 22.0.x: Modeling and Simulation **
  • Endnote X8: Bibliography manager
  • Google Chrome: Web Browser
  • iTunes: University podcasts
  • Mathematica 12.2: Mathematical analysis
  • Matlab R2022A: Mathematical analysis
  • Microsoft Access 2021: Relational database
  • Microsoft Edge: Web browser
  • Microsoft Excel 2021: Spreadsheet program
  • Microsoft Powerpoint 2021: Presentation program
  • Microsoft Visual: C++ Programming
  • Microsoft Word 2021: Word processor
  • Mozilla Firefox: Web browser
  • Putty: Secure SSH
  • Poll Everywhere 3.7: Survey response
  • R 4.2: Statistical analysis
  • SAS 9.4: Statistical analysis
  • SPSS Statistics 28: Statistical analysis
  • Stata 14 SE: Statistical analysis
  • VLC: Media player
  • WinSCP: Secure FTP
  • X-Win32 14: X-Windows
  • Zoom 5.x: Cloud-based video communications app that allows you to set up virtual video and audio conferencing, webinars, live chats, screen-sharing, and other collaborative capabilities.
  • Zotero 6: Bibliographies

* Available in Engineering Terrace 252 & 273
** Available in Engineering Terrace 252 only

  • Adobe AIR
  • Adobe Flash Player
  • Adobe Media Player
  • Adobe Shockwave Player
  • Citrix online plug-in
  • Cn3D 4.3
  • GoToMeeting
  • Java Runtime
  • LibX Firefox extension
  • LizardTech ExpressView
  • Microsoft .NET Framework
  • Microsoft Silverlight
  • Sibelius Scorch
  • WebEx
  • Write-N-Cite
  • X Tools Pro 7.1
  • Zotero Firefox extension
  • Zotero Word Processor plug-in

Classroom Training Requests

Please note that touch panel tutorial videos are available.

  1. To schedule your training, please email [email protected] or call 212-854-3633 at at least five days in advance.
  2. You will receive a response within one business day of submitting the request.
  3. If you are scheduled for a training and no one is in the room at the scheduled training time, please call 212-854-3633.

New Software Request Guidelines and Process

Columbia University Information Technology (CUIT) regularly evaluates and installs software packages requested by instructors. The following guidelines apply to any software request installed in CUIT’s classrooms and computer labs. Instructors may request additional software, in support of teaching, to be installed. Please review the software request guidelines below before submitting your software request.

  • Every software package needed for teaching purposes must be requested each academic year. Software that is not part of the core suite that was available in previous years may be removed from computers if it is not requested again.
  • Requests must be submitted at least 8 weeks prior to the time you need the software.
  • Requests received with less lead time will be processed on a “best effort” basis and the software may not be available for use at the start of the semester.
  • New versions of existing applications are generally not updated after the start of a semester.
  • More time may be needed for applications that require a license server, are difficult to install on public shared systems, or have compatibility problems with the existing application suite (see below).

    In order to provide software within the classroom and labs environment, you must determine if it is suitable for this purpose and confirm that there will be no compliance issues.

    Common terms that can be problematic include, but are not limited to:

    • coverage or restrictions on use
    • data privacy
    • export control
    • accessibility
    • intellectual property
    • termination of services

    For software to be used in a class, it must be reviewed and authorized by the University to ensure it meets the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and accessibility requirements. To start the process to get your software reviewed, submit a ticket to the Service Desk.

    The requestor is responsible for reviewing the terms of use or End User License Agreement (EULA), and CUIT requires a copy of this documentation for validation before installing any software in classrooms or labs. This process can take up to several weeks, so please provide the required documentation as soon as possible.

    • Students seeking support for academic software should contact their instructor. Instructors should provide usage instructions and help with the software to the students in their class.
    • Any problems or issues with the installed software (i.e. error message, missing, etc.) should be reported by submitting a ticket.
    • Contact the CUIT Service Desk for support questions around "General Use" software installed in all locations.

    Occasionally CUIT cannot install an application because of incompatibility with our systems. The challenges with installing applications on numerous shared, locked-down public systems are much greater than installing the same thing on your own private system. Common issues include, but not excluded to:

    • The application is outdated or conflicts with software already installed on the system.
    • Software Licensing prevents installation in a multi-user environment or cannot be properly controlled.
    • Violates Acceptable Usage of Information Resources Policy.

    There are two types of software that can be requested:

    General Use
    • Installed on all classroom and lab computers
    • Beneficial to many students in different curricula
    • Purchased and supported by CUIT
    • Usually a permanent addition to the software suite
    Specific Classroom/Lab
    • Needed to teach a specific course in a specific classroom or lab
    • Purchased by the department and supported by the requesting instructor
    • A request must be made each semester to maintain the software in the classroom/lab
    1. Review the new software request guidelines above.
    2. Submit a ticket at least 8 weeks in advance. Include:
      1. Software details (Name of product and purpose)
      2. Software Type (General Use or Specific Classroom/Lab)
      3. If this is not an upgrade of existing software, include a copy of the software's terms of use or End User License Agreement (EULA).

    FAQ

    X-Win32 is StarNet's X terminal application for Windows computers. X-Win32 allows Windows users to connect to Linux/Unix servers on a local network or via the Internet.

    X applications running on those servers will be displayed onto the Windows desktop. The X applications can run right alongside Windows applications and you can copy and paste data between the X and Windows applications.

    X-Win32 is an IP-based service distributed to the Columbia community only via departmental licenses. Those, such as students, that wish to run X-Win32 off the Columbia network should contact Starnet directly to purchase their own educational license.

    For further information on how to obtain a departmental license to be run on the Columbia network including pricing, please please submit a request to the CUIT Service Desk.