Our campus is really a “community within a community.” In addition to classrooms, a library, computer labs and residence halls, our campus has a student union with a food court, games room, and movie theatre, several recreation and fitness centers, a nationally accredited health center, a full-service bookstore, a shuttle bus system, and much more.

Technology can play an important role in creating and managing these social communities. Missouri State helps students understand and appreciate the tools that facilitate electronic communities on campus, allowing for greater communication, interaction, and integration within the broad campus environment.

Accessing computer services

3.1 What public access for computing is available to students? Examples include computing labs, cyber cafes, residence hall computers and wireless access.

The University provides four open-access computer labs, totally over 300 computers for student use, including a facility with five days of 24 hour access. In addition to the open-access computer labs, a number of public access workstations are located throughout the campus, and a computer lab is located in each residence hall.   Wireless access is broadly available for students, allowing students with laptops to access University resources from many convenient locations.

3.2 Does the institution provide institutional email accounts for all students and use email as an official medium of communication?

Missouri State University provides an email account to all students once they are officially enrolled at the university. Email is one of the primary forms of communication for the university community and is often used to communicate campus events, important updates and notices, information from the Career Center and to help faculty and students communicate.

3.3 Does the institution provide and support electronic space for personal student Web pages?

Students may publish personal web pages which are accessible through a People Search on the Missouri State website.

Connecting with others

3.4 Is contact information for students, faculty and staff readily accessible electronically?

Contact information for all members of the university is available through the University’s People Search.

3.5 What social activities and services are available online?

Activities and services for students are outlined on the Current Students web page. Information about services such as the bookstore, transportation, housing, Plaster Student Union, health and safety, registration, and more can be accessed on the site, as well as links to social activities including, athletics, Greek life, student organizations, and the Student Activity Council.

Students may access additional information about a number of activities and services on the web including:

• Events and Activities
• University Policies and Procedures
• Financial Aid
• Health and Wellness
• Safety and Transportation
• Maps
• Directories
• Computer Services
• Federally Mandated Information

3.6 Are there Web sites for student organizations and clubs?

Yes, student organizations may develop and store their web sites at Missouri State. Student Activities provides links to the more than 250 student organizations.

3.7 Does the institution make available online discussion forums or bulletin boards for un-moderated use?

Missouri State University organizations, students, faculty and staff may post discussion forums or bulletin boards on their web site. Many organizations and campus units use these to promote active discussion and collaborations. Additionally, discussions play an integral part of many online courses and are made available through the university’s course-management system, Blackboard.

3.8 What technology-supported career-planning services are available to students?

Through the Career Center, students may access many resources to aid them in career-planning. Focus, a career and educational planning service, is one of the many assessments available through the Career Center’s website. Also available on the website are links including, career exploration pages, career options for every major, and Job Tracks, a listing of internships and full-time jobs.

Videotaped mock interviews and classroom presentations are another way the Career Center helps students during the career search.