By Olivia Whitley
Registered student organizations now have a new method of communication with the social networking platform, OrgSync. The social media site launched this semester.
According the Matthew Park, director of Student Development and Orientation, the student allocations committee approved the networking system this year. It costs $7,441 annually.
Park said the student organization management system gives campus organizations a way to manage themselves.
Everything that an organization needs is now just a click away.
“Combining the logistics of an organization with what’s going on with social media and sharing right now, it is modernizing the way that universities and student groups network,” Park said.
This web-based application will be easy to access for students and provides the university a new outlet to interact with student groups.
“It gives the university a way to manage and communicate with organizations in ways that we had to rely on paper and email in the past,” Park said.
Years ago, groups filled out stacks of mandatory paperwork that had to be kept current in order to remain an official organization.
OrgSync grants direct contact between groups and administrators at any time.
Ultimately, this makes it easier for campus organizations to request funds, reserve meeting spaces and booths, and to stay in touch with advisors and administration.
With OrgSync, students can stay up-to-date with university regulations and requirements. All this information is available with the click of a button or even the tap of a screen on a smart phone.
The OrgSync database will also let students text fellow members, have discussion forums, create and share events, as well as correspond with the administration about funds and other group-related issues.
The University Programming Board (UPB) was one of the first campus organization to reap the benefits of the software.
“OrgSync makes interaction with our members super easy,” said Cammie Dean, UPB advisor. “ It consolidates what would normally take six or seven different emails and websites all into one.”
The ability to share items on OrgSync to students via Twitter or Facebook eliminates the need to create several posts and events to reach fellow members who may use different social networking platforms to communicate, Dean said.
“This is the ultimate in communication and data tracking for your organization,” Dean said.
All of the recognized on-campus organizations, academic or social, can be found in the MSU community on the website.
A unique feature to the program is that it allows for inter-organization communication.
Now, different student groups have better approach to collaborate on events and projects.
The office of Student Development and Orientation is holding resources and training OrgSync session for student organizations through the fall semester.
The MSU OrgSync training workshops are given every Friday at 3 p.m. in the Dillard 335 computer lab.
Virtual on-site training webinars are also offered by Orgsync every Tuesday through Nov. 22 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. and every Friday through Nov. 18 from 11 a.m. to noon.
For students who would like individual organization training are told to contact the Office of Student Developement and Orientation to arrange a special traning workshop.
Getting started: creating your account
1. Go to http://mwsu.edu/orgsync.
2. Select “Log in Here.”
3. Select “Not a Member? Register Now.”
4. Enter your basic account information (name, email address, and password).
NOTE Р If you receive the message “Username has already been taken”, do not panic. MSU was proactive and built all currently enrolled students a basic/shell OrgSync account using their first/last name and preferred email address in WebWorld. Login to your preferred email account and look for an email dated Thursday, Sept. 22 that reads:
“Welcome to OrgSync.” In that message should be a temporary password for you to access OrgSync.
Still having trouble logging in? Stop by the Office of Student Development and Orientation in CSC 194 or call (940) 397-4500 so a trained professional staff member can assist you.
5. After you log in, complete your personal profile and start browsing/joining MSU organizations!
6. If you have a Facebook account, be sure to “Connect with Facebook” at the login screen during your next log in.