Campus Wi-Fi

Tags wireless

What This Service Is

Campus Wi-Fi is Bowdoin's wireless network. It lets faculty, staff, students, and guests connect laptops, phones, tablets, game consoles, and smart devices to the internet across campus buildings and most outdoor spaces. Bowdoin runs several wireless networks for different purposes:

  • BOWDOIN and eduroam — the secure networks for current faculty, staff, and students, using your Bowdoin username and password.
  • BOWDOIN-GUEST — short-term access for campus visitors.
  • BOWDOIN-PSK — for game consoles, smart TVs, streaming sticks, and other devices that can't sign in with a username and password.

Who It's For

  • Faculty, staff, and students — for connecting personal and Bowdoin devices, reporting problems, and registering consoles or smart devices.
  • Campus hosts and sponsors — for arranging Wi-Fi access for visitors and events.

How to Get Started / Get Help

  • Can't connect, keep getting dropped, or seeing a connection error? Use Report a Wi-Fi Problem.
  • Getting weak signal or consistently slow Wi-Fi in a specific location? Use Report Poor Wireless Signal Strength.
  • Need to get a game console, smart TV, or streaming device online? Use Register a Connected Device to go straight to the self-service registration page.
  • Already tried registering a device and it still won't connect? Use Report a Device Registration Problem.
  • Just need step-by-step setup instructions for your device? Use Campus Wi-Fi Information.
Setting up a personal computer, phone, or tablet for the first time? Most people don't need a ticket — step-by-step guides for Mac, Windows, iPhone, iPad, Android, and Chromebook are in the Related Articles section.

Not What You're Looking For?

  • Are you a campus visitor or guest having trouble on the guest network? See Guest Wireless in the Related Services section.
  • Working off campus and need to reach campus files, the HPC environment, or licensed software? See VPN in the Related Services section.
  • Is a wired network jack or port in your room or office not working? See Report a Bad or Broken Network Port in the Related Services section.
  • Trying to set up a smart speaker, smart light, or smart switch? Those generally can't be used on campus Wi-Fi — see the explanations in the Related Articles section before submitting a request.

Service Promise

Most Wi-Fi problems are acknowledged within 1 business day. Resolution time depends on the cause — a single-device connection issue is often resolved quickly, while a coverage or hardware problem affecting an area may take longer. Outages affecting many users are prioritized. For urgent issues, contact the Service Desk at (207) 725-3030 or servicedesk@bowdoin.edu.

Provided By

Front-line support for this service is provided by the Service Desk (Front Line Support), which escalates to IT Network Services when needed. For urgent issues during business hours, contact the Service Desk at (207) 725-3030.

 
Report a Wi-Fi Problem Report Poor Wireless Signal Report a Device Registration Problem Register a Connected Device Campus Wi-Fi Information

Related Articles (5)

Connect Android and Linux Devices to Bowdoin or eduroam Wi-Fi
Step-by-step instructions for connecting an Android phone or a Linux computer (including Ubuntu) to the eduroam or BOWDOIN campus wireless networks at Bowdoin College.
Connect iPhone and iPad to Bowdoin or eduroam Wi-Fi
Step-by-step instructions for connecting an iPhone or iPad running iOS or iPadOS to the eduroam or BOWDOIN campus wireless networks at Bowdoin College.
Connect Macs to Bowdoin or eduroam Wi-Fi
Step-by-step instructions for connecting a Mac running macOS Sequoia or Tahoe to the eduroam or BOWDOIN campus wireless networks at Bowdoin College.
Connect to Campus Wi-Fi Using eduroam or BOWDOIN Networks
Instructions for Bowdoin faculty, staff, and students on connecting to campus Wi-Fi using the eduroam or BOWDOIN wireless networks. Explains which network to use, how to sign in, and where to find device-specific connection guides.
Connect Windows devices to Bowdoin or eduroam Wi-Fi
Step-by-step instructions for connecting a Windows 11 laptop or desktop to the eduroam or BOWDOIN campus wireless networks at Bowdoin College.

Service Offerings (5)

Report a Wi-Fi Problem
Report a Wi-Fi problem on campus — can't connect, dropped connections, slow performance, or coverage gaps on the BOWDOIN or eduroam networks.
Report Poor Wireless Signal
Report a location on campus where wireless signal is consistently weak, unreliable, or absent, so Networking can investigate coverage.
Report a Device Registration Problem
Report a problem registering or connecting a game console, smart TV, streaming device, or similar device on Bowdoin's BOWDOIN-PSK network when self-service registration doesn't work.
Register a Connected Device
Register a game console, smart TV, or streaming device on Bowdoin's BOWDOIN-PSK network. This button opens the self-service registration portal — it does not create a ticket.
Campus Wi-Fi Information
Step-by-step instructions for connecting your device to Bowdoin's campus Wi-Fi (BOWDOIN and eduroam). This button opens a Knowledge Base article — it does not create a ticket.