First-Year Programs

Hofstra's Electronic Edge

Hofstra's Electronic Edge

Among the most advanced campuses in the nation

Hofstra students enhance their college experience by taking advantage of access to advanced technology that will greatly assist their academic life - whether in classrooms or laboratory facilities - and play a vital role in their eventual career search efforts.

Our fully computerized Axinn Library boasts 66 PCs with additional power outlets throughout the newly renovated first floor of the Axinn Library for laptops. Wireless Internet access is available throughout the building and our research database links students via the Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe to 5,000 publications in the news, financial, medical and legal fields.

Wireless access throughout the campus is constantly expanding with indoor and outdoor student gathering areas fully accessible as well as many of the academic buildings on campus.

C.V. Starr Hall, home to the Frank G. Zarb School of Business, contains a Wall Street-like trading room complete with 34 industry-standard Bloomberg terminals, stock tickers and 15 additional technically enriched classrooms. Our students make simulated trades using the same real-time data as financial and investment professionals.

The Hammer Computer Lab, which holds 79 PCs, is fully accessible to students 24/7 with a lounge for students who prefer to use their laptops. Calkins Hall, with an 80 IBM workstation computer lab, houses a fully digital language laboratory for the independent study of foreign languages; this lab, adjacent to two high-tech classrooms, greatly enhances practicing foreign language skills from any Internet-connected computer.

Hagedorn Hall, home base for the School of Education, features classrooms that use all forms of media and computer technology, including interactive white boards, computer-driven instructor stations and VHS/CD/DVD presentation capabilities. The Lawrence Herbert School of Communication features one of the largest and most technologically advanced broadcast studios in the Northeast.

The Hofstra Online Information System offers electronic access to class registration, transcripts, grades and more. There is a wealth of online resources accessible via Hofstra's portal, My.Hofstra.edu, with a single login. Hofstra Blackboard enables students to view assignments and other materials on password-protected class Web sites. Available 24/7, this course management tool also allows students to e-mail professors or classmates, submit class work and check grades.

Students can also obtain pertinent information within Hofstra's own closed circuit digital display system called HofCast. This system, the first of its kind in a New York state university, is a 24/7 information station for students. Information, including academic deadlines, student activities, athletic events, academic lectures and guest speaker appearances, is displayed in a loop schedule on 21 LCD screens easily visible throughout the campus as well as a large video wall in the Mack Student Center and on Hofstra's own Channel 32 so students can watch in their residence halls.

While watching HofCast in their rooms, students can also hear the smooth sounds of WRHU 88.7 FM, Radio Hofstra University. WRHU is regarded by many people to be one of the top college radio stations in the country for pre-professional development. The operating staff of more than 160 people, most of whom are Hofstra students, is supervised by six School of Communication professionals.

Student Computing Services

Hofstra provides a full array of computing services and support services tailored specifically for its community. Below is a sampling of additional technology services available FREE to Hofstra University students:

  • Microsoft Office Professional Suite (approximate retail value: $525).
  • McAfee Virus Anti-Spyware Enterprise Edition (retail value: $99.99).
  • Access to on-site computer repair service.
  • Help Desk telephone support 24/7.
  • 1,200 pages of free laser printing per year.
  • Every residence hall room has OC-3 Ethernet connection and satellite television services. OC-3 is about 10 times faster than the average cable broadband connection and 1,000 times faster than dial-up. Each student has an e-mail account with 10 MB of storage space and network storage space of 100 MB.
  • Student Computing Services also provides ongoing training programs in computer skills - from Microsoft Word to PowerPoint and Excel, Dreamweaver, Flash and HTML - without charge.