The Gateway Technical College wants to ensure that students have the proper equipment needed to complete their coursework. If laptops are not available for personal use, the college provides on-campus workstations throughout campus.
This guide will provide information about how to request a device for the term that you are enrolled in classes.
If you have further questions, feel free to reach out to library staff by PHONE, EMAIL or you can initiate an online CHAT SESSION with a staff member.
Devices will need to be returned at the end of the semester, or at the latest by the due date that was listed on the Liability Agreement that you signed.
For example, students not taking classes in the Fall 2024 semester must return their computer by August 30th, 2024. It is very important that you honor this due date in order to give library staff and IT staff time to clean, re-image, and prepare devices for the upcoming semester.
You must return your device to any one of the three campus libraries. It does not matter which library you checked out your device. Please be sure that you are making your return during library open hours to ensure that it is safely checked in.
Please do NOT return your device in a library drop box. This is to ensure that the equipment is not damaged.
Please arrive with your device charged so that you do not have to wait for us to remove it from your account.
Library staff will check to make sure that the laptop is in working condition before checking it in from your library account.
If you need your laptop for the upcoming term, and you are currently registered for classes through the college, you may hold onto your device. Library staff will extend the due date of your equipment on your behalf. You do not need to contact us.
Your first step will be to contact the Gateway Technical College Tech Central Department.
You can call 262-564-3695 OR you can SUBMIT A TICKET through the Tech Central website.
Instructions on how to submit a ticket to IT are available HERE.
Tech Central staff will assess your situation and let you know if you will need a replacement laptop, or they might schedule an appointment with you to fix your current laptop.
If you are told that you will need a replacement laptop, first contact the library where you would like to pick up a new computer. CALL AHEAD to speak to staff so that we can prepare a replacement device for you in advance. It is possible that you will be placed on a waiting list until one is available for you to borrow. Once a replacement is ready, we will contact you by email with pick up instructions.
In order to check out the replacement laptop, you must first return the device with technical issues. This can be done at the same time that you pick up the new device.
Tech Central has provided the following Instructions.
The Student Liability Agreement Form that was signed at the time of checkout confirms your responsibility for the equipment during the borrowing period. If a laptop is lost or stolen while checked out to you, replacement costs will be charged to cover the value of the item.
In the event that equipment is returned with damaged parts that can be repaired, your account will be billed for the replacement cost of the damaged component. We understand that accidents can happen, and our staff will assess the damage to determine the appropriate charges.
If you disagree with the charges assessed for lost or damaged equipment, you have the option to fill out paperwork requesting a review by library staff. This paperwork should detail the reasons for the disagreement and provide any relevant documentation, such as a police report in the case of theft.
More information about appealing library charges can be found here.
You will be able to download programs onto any of the laptops you are borrowing. This includes the Adobe Creative Cloud Apps, Microsoft Office Apps, and testing programs. Gateway Tech Central has provided instructions on how to create a free Microsoft 365 account, and how to download the apps.
If you are an student in the Engineering, IT or Interior Design program, the college can provide access to all the software that you need using Splashtop.
You can borrow a laptop from us and have Splashtop added, or Splashtop can be added to your personal device.
Speak to a Library staff member about how to gain access to Splashtop.
We understand that reliable internet access is essential for your academic pursuits, which is why we'd like to provide you with alternative options. We encourage you to visit the following websites for assistance:
[https://apps.psc.wi.gov/
[https://maps.psc.wi.gov/Apps/
As always, you can visit one of the college campuses to access free wi-fi, or use the computer labs.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST A LAPTOP FOR THE FULL LENGTH OF THE SEMESTER, FOLLOW THESE STEPS.
To borrow a laptop from the Gateway College Libraries for the length of a semester, please ask your instructor, advisor, or a Gateway staff member to fill out a laptop request form on your behalf.
If a laptop becomes available for you to borrow library staff will contact you at your student email address to confirm your request and provide pickup instructions.
Laptops will be held under your name for a period of 2 weeks. If you do not pick up the device within those two weeks, the laptop will move on to the next student on the waiting list.
When picking up your reserved laptop, you will be required to present your library card or a valid photo ID for identification purposes. NOTE - You must be the person picking up your laptop. We can not check it out to anyone other than yourself.
At the time of checkout, you'll be required to sign a borrowing agreement that staff will present to you. This agreement outlines the terms and conditions of laptop usage and borrowing policies.
A google document is available HERE with more details about how you can place a request on the behalf of a student, including the link to the google form.