MSU Portal promises accessibility, enables aspects of Facebook

*Update* : This story has been modified from the original version posted online. Certain quotations in the story were inaccurately attributed. They should have been attributed to Keith Lamb. The Wichitan apologizes for the error.”

On May 20 students will have access to the new MSU Portal.

“We are signed up for a base five-year contract with an option to continue on at the same cost per year,” Robert Clark, vice president of administration and institutional effectiveness, said. “In the first and second year the cost is $29,500 and in the third through fifth year the cost is going to be $20,000.”

The university is using money from technology fees to create an effective portal system allowing students to handle all MSU related business with one click.

“With the new portal system one can see all holds, grades and other information in one spot,” Robert Steflik, technology analyst, said.

According to Steflik, the single log-in is one of the features of the portal becoming more accessible to students.

“A single sign-in would be more efficient for students faculty and will also be user-friendly,” Julie Gaynor, public information marketing director, said.

Another major feature will be the creation of communities. Within these communities, the university will be able to place students with something in common in the same group, therefore relevant information could be exchanged.

“We are able to put certain students in groups and send only the people in that group a message that is relevant to them,” Steflik said.

According to Steflik, the final major feature is My Messages.

“We could make a community for freshmen students and send them messages about Spirit Days,” Steflik said. “Or we could make a community for people who live in dorms and send the students messages about and send a community of seniors a messages about commencement.”

The MSU Portal will also have a social aspect similar to Facebook.

“Students will be able to have friends,” Steflik said. “They will be able to send friend requests. Students will also have a wall where people could write on and see what others have written on the wall as well. Students will also be able to blog.”

The system was to be finished in February, he said, but the date was pushed back.

“We had an issue with student usernames, so it had to be postponed,” Steflik said. “We are using a new system for the username. It would have been bad for students if we changed it in the middle of the semester because many students will not be able to get into WebWorld to check anything.”

Steflik said they are still working on establishing a username system.

“We chose May 20 because it was in the middle of semesters and we will have time to advertise what the log-in information will be.” Steflik said.

Faculty also underwent training for using the new portal.

The portal will be used for enrollment applicants and to keep the university connected.

“When MSU is prepared to use the portal for applicants, we will have the ability to communicate with the applicants via this medium,” Keith Lamb, vice president of student affairs and enrollment management said. “It would allow MSU the ability to more seamlessly communicate with applicants and admitted students in an electronic medium, without the student needing to visit multiple sites and/or offices.”

Lamb said the portal will also help recruiting services.

“This would allow more applicants to complete the application process and be admitted to MSU,” Lamb said. “The real benefit in recruiting, then, is the opportunity to increase the yield of applicants to matriculated students.”

Portal systems are not common among many universities, Lamb said.