Resources for Online Learning and Work

MSU Information Technology is here to help navigate the sudden increased demand for remote work and learning. Below you will find resources for faculty, staff, and students to supplement learning online.

Faculty and staff may turn in a VPN Request (as determined necessary by your supervisor or chair). Here is a list of the resources that require a VPN. A VPN connection will allow remote access to resources that are typically only available when using the on-campus network.

**VPN access is limited. When you do not need access to these resources please disconnect from the VPN server.**

If you use the campus VPN service on an MSU laptop the laptop must be kept up to date with patching and the campus antivirus solution.  If you are using a personally owned system you must have an antivirus package installed and it must be kept up to date.  There are several good free solutions for home PC use such as Sophos Home, Avast Free, and AVG Free.

 

Cybersecurity Information Regarding COVID-19

 

Students:

  • Log in to WebWorld and make sure you have set your preferred email address, as your instructors and other university staff may reach out during this time. It is also important to note that all general announcements (Postmaster) from the university as a whole will be sent to your student MSU Texas email account.

  • Monitor your email closely as instructors will send out additional information to their classes. All courses are now online with the exception of skills-based labs that are required for licensure or certification. Those will be handled on a case by case basis. Contact your professor or the department if you have questions.

  • AT&T, Comcast, Charter, Cox, Google Fiber, Sprint, Verizon, and T-Mobile will not disconnect anyone for the next 60 days. They participated in the "Keep Americans Connected" Pledge. 

  • View the campus public computer lab availability.

  • D2L/Brightspace Tutorials YouTube Channel for Students

  • The third floor Dillard labs, first floor Dillard lab, and the Clark Student Center lab all have Respondus Lockdown Browser installed for testing.

Faculty:

At this time, we ask that you be flexible and patient. This may be the first time both you and your students are using D2L for course assignments. For more information, see the Distance Education online transition resources page.

  • Screencast-O-Matic has a free version that can record up to 15-minute videos.
  • Microsoft PowerPoint also allows screen recording and voice-over. For tutorials, check these Microsoft articles about screen recording and slide shows with narration.
  • Virtual Classroom has been enabled for D2L utilizing a tool called Bongo. Please reach out to Distance Education for setup and support. 
  • Distance Education has additional information and tutorials. 
  • Skype for Business can be used to set up virtual meetings as part of our Office 365 package. We have created a page of installation instructions for your convenience. For use on campus computers please contact Information Technology if the product is not already installed. To quick-start your use of Skype for Business, view this Skype for Business video training.
  • MSU Faculty and Staff have access to Microsoft Office 365 and its associated applications. Access the Office 365 portal. (Applications: OneDrive (1TB per user), Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, SharePoint, Teams, etc)  Do not use Outlook in Office 365. To quick-start your use of Office 365, view this Office 365 training.
  • You can use this Training for Microsoft Teams.
  • To quick-start your use of OneDrive, please view this OneDrive video training.  Click on the video training links under the Work or School section of the page.
  • Please see the available social media resources.
  • Setup your voicemail options before you leave campus.  Make sure that you have a current voicemail message and that you know your voicemail password.  To check voicemail from a remote location you can dial 940-397-4444.  Press # and then enter your 4 digit office phone number and your voicemail password.  If you would like to set up an extended absence greeting that will play until you return to campus and turn it off, you can use the quick reference card by selecting 4-3-2 from the voicemail menu and recording the temporary greeting. If you have not set up voicemail to email delivery and wish to do so, please contact Information Technology at extension 4278 or by email at helpdesk@msutexas.edu. 
    • Example voicemail message:
You have reached (Office Name) at Midwestern State University. To help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in our community, the University is operating with essential personnel until further notice.
Your call is important to us. Please leave a message with your name and number, and a member of our staff will return your call soon. You may also reach us by email at (Email address).
  • MSU full-time faculty and staff have access to Zoom licensing for online meetings. Enter the MSU Zoom portal.  The Zoom licensing for MSU allows for meetings up to 24 hours in length with up to 300 participants.  To quick-start your use of Zoom, view this Zoom video training.

Staff:

  • Skype for Business can be used to set up virtual meetings as it is part of our Office 365 package. We have created a page of installation instructions for your convenience. For use on campus computers please contact Information Technology if the product is not already installed. To quick-start your use of Skype for Business, view this Skype for Business video training.
  • MSU Faculty and Staff have access to Microsoft Office 365 and its associated applications. Access the Office 365 portal. (Applications: OneDrive (1TB per user), Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, SharePoint, Teams, etc)  Do not use Outlook in Office 365. To quick-start your use of Office 365, view this Office 365 training.
  • You can use this Training for Microsoft Teams.
  • To quick-start your use of OneDrive, please view this OneDrive video training.  Click on the video training links under the Work or School section of the page. 
  • Please see the available social media resources.
  • Setup your voicemail options before you leave campus.  Make sure that you have a current voicemail message and that you know your voicemail password.  To check voicemail from a remote location you can dial 940-397-4444.  Press # and then enter your 4 digit office phone number and your voicemail password.  If you would like to set up an extended absence greeting that will play until you return to campus and turn it off, you can use the quick reference card by selecting 4-3-2 from the voicemail menu and recording the temporary greeting.  If you have not set up voicemail to email delivery and wish to do so, please contact Information Technology at extension 4278 or by email at helpdesk@msutexas.edu. 
    • Example voicemail message:
You have reached (Office Name) at Midwestern State University. To help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in our community, the University is operating with essential personnel until further notice.
Your call is important to us. Please leave a message with your name and number, and a member of our staff will return your call soon. You may also reach us by email at (Email address).
  • MSU full-time faculty and staff have access to Zoom licensing for online meetings.  Access the MSU Zoom portal.  The Zoom licensing for MSU allows for meetings up to 24 hours in length with up to 300 participants.  To quick-start your use of Zoom, view this Zoom video training.