WiFi Tethering?

Is this possible on the iPhone. I know you can pay your service provider to tether your 3G connection but is there anyway to tether the Wifi connection for free?

I want this because I am studying Forensic Computing in University and for our Digital Investigations lecture we have all been given a computer which we installed Linux on because of this we can't connect to the University network as the computer wouldn't pass the security requirements the University network requires before a computer can connect to its network. Plus the University won't let us connect anyway because of the Forensic Tools we are installing and going to be using on the computer.

I have my iPhone connected to the University network via Wifi so was just wanting to do this if there is a way so I can connect to the internet on the linux computer in the labs.

My iPhone isn't jailbroken but I will do it if needed to get this to work.

 

I am not really sure if the computers have a wireless card need to check on that.

Is there anyway to do it through the iPhone USB cable?