We offer computing support for the Faculty of Science. We want to help you...
Stay connected
- Email client configuration for on-campus and off-campus email accounts
- Wireless connection for laptops and other mobile devices
- Nexus lab locations and scheduling information
- Mapping your R: drive and connecting remotely so you can work from anywhere
- Troubleshooting wired connections on campus
- Troubleshooting login problems (Nexus accounts, Office 365, WatIAM/Quest, etc.)
Get the content you want
- Help avoid spam
- Support for software and web resources (e.g. MS Office, library resources, Refworks, LEARN, adding funds to WatCard, printing)
Maintain the high performance you need
- Troubleshooting performance issues
- Support for malware detection and removal
Connect with resources
- Setup for meetings/defences (usually requested through departmental grad coordinator)
- Faculty member lab bookings
- Backups for faculty member research
- Flatbed scanner for student scanning
- Hardware configuration/hookup, upgrades, and troubleshooting assistance
News
Teams Chat Retention Policy
The University is implementing a 90-day retention policy for Microsoft Teams Chat messages starting August 19th, meaning private 1:1 chats, group chats, meeting chats, and chats with yourself will be automatically deleted 90 days after being sent or received. This change does not affect Channel posts or shared files, and aligns with the University policy to manage information risk. You can use the UW Teams Message Export Tool to save a copy of your exchanges.
SPSS Licence Being Discontinued in January 2026
IST will be discontinuing the existing SPSS licence due to relatively low usage starting in January 2026.
Faculty, researchers, and students can purchase SPSS from one of the following sources:
- StudentDiscounts.com – SPSS Student and Teacher Discounts on Gradpack
- University of Waterloo | Academic Software Discounts (OnTheHub)
- Other vendor options from IBM are listed at: Gradpack and Faculty Packs - IBM SPSS Statistics
- Note: Some faculties are exploring Download JASP - JASP - Free and User-Friendly Statistical Software as an alternative
Microsoft 365 Data Storage Changes - Information Sessions, Training, and Support
IST is providing Information Sessions and IT Professional Development (ITPD) training courses for employees through the Spring term to learn more about the Microsoft 365 storage and platform changes. Please visit the IST Events page and the ITPD course brochure for session links. You can also view our page, Microsoft 365 Data Storage Changes - Information Sessions, Training, and Support for more details about the topics, dates, and times offered.
Additional resources and support:
Please visit the M365 storage quotas and information page to learn more. If you would like assistance with managing your storage, please contact Science Computing or IST.