Learner Support

Technical Support

OneStop is an excellent place to seek help if you are having technical challenges in your Blackboard class. You can either enter "Blackboard" and any additional information in the search bar, or scroll down and click the "Blackboard and Technical" help link a little further down the page.

If you need guidance on Blackboard system requirements and computer skills you may need to succeed in an online learning environment, check the Computer Skills Preparation page.

If you need instruction on using Blackboard tools, check the student instructional videos created for you by the Instructional Design and Technology office.

Are you having persistent problems accessing information in your Blackboard class? You might need to check your browser.

Are you having technical issues that are not related to Blackboard? You should contact the WSU Technology Helpdesk. They can assist you with login, wireless, and email issues along with many other technical problems you might be having.

Wichita State Student Policies and Procedures

Purpose

To authorize and designate an operational policies and procedures manual for the University; to define policy initiating authorities; and to develop a standard policy format, review, approval and dissemination process.

Policy Statement

All policies and procedures are under the authority of the President. The Wichita State University Policies and Procedures Manual is to include policies and procedures applicable to the entire University and consistent with the Strategic Plan. Any policy or procedure that is inconsistent with the Strategic Plan must be reviewed and approved by the President or the policy or procedure is null and void.

The President, members of the Executive Team,?Faculty Senate, Unclassified Professional Senate, University Support Staff Senate and Student Government Association are hereby designated as policy initiating authorities. Policies or procedures shall not be changed without review of the Executive Team. The following procedures must be followed to change a policy or procedure:

Any policy or procedure being established or modified shall be sent by email to all members of the Executive Team for review and comment.
The policy or procedure shall be attached to the email as a Microsoft Word document with recommended changes highlighted.
Comments and edits to the proposed policy or procedure shall be made in Microsoft Word and sent by email to the initiating authority with the President and the Executive Team copied on the email.
The final draft shall be shared with the Executive Team by email prior to its final inclusion in the?Policies and Procedures Manual.
Any member of the Executive Team can request to discuss a policy or procedure change before it is promulgated.
The President or his/her designee will notify the Director of Internal Audit when the final draft is approved for promulgation.
The President has the right to waive these procedures if it is seen to be in the best interest of the University.

The?Wichita State University Policies and Procedures Manual?governs in those instances where policies or procedures published in other University or college documents differ from those stated in the manual. The?Wichita State University Policies and Procedures Manual?is subject to applicable federal and state laws and regulations and the?Kansas Board of Regents Policy Manual.

Any policy or procedure more restrictive than federal and state laws and regulations and the?Kansas Board of Regents?Policy Manual?as of July 1, 2014,?must be reviewed and approved by the President or it will revert back to federal and state laws and regulations and?the?Kansas Board of Regents?Policy Manual.

Academic Support Services

Do you need a tutor for one or more of your classes? The Office of Student Success is here to help you with free tutoring services. They also provide a lot of additional support. To see the full listing of their services, go here.

College-level research requires college-level sources. Appropriate sources differ by discipline. Whether you want current or historical newspapers, peer-reviewed scholarly articles, streaming music, or another type of source, University Libraries has you covered! Locate specific databases and indices on the A-Z Databases page. Librarians are available to assist students selecting and locating appropriate sources. Stop by the Reference Desk in Ablah Library, set up an appointment with a librarian, or visit the Ask A Librarian page to call, chat, text, or email. Connect to library services, research help, search engines for articles and other types of scholarly sources, and more from the library homepage.

The Student Support Services (SSS) is a federally funded program through the U.S. Department of Education. The program is funded to provide services to students from first generation and limited income families as well as students with disabilities. The primary goal of SSS is to help transition, retain and graduate college students. The program provides a variety of academic support services that include individualized tutoring, success skill development, course planning and advising.

Other Support Services

Get the emergency information you need instantly and effortlessly! With the Shocker Alert System, we will contact you by email the moment there is an emergency or weather alert that affects the campus.

Wichita State University's Office of Student Accommodations and Testing provides individuals with learning, mental or physical disabilities an equal opportunity to attain their academic and personal goals to the fullest of their abilities. From note-taking assistance to auxiliary aids, they provide students, staff, faculty and guests an assortment of accessibility services.

From providing personal counseling and psychological assessments to offering national exams, the Counseling and Psychological Services at Wichita State University provides a range of services designed to help students, faculty and staff succeed in their academic, work and personal lives. Call 316-978-3440 for more information.

The Office of Student Engagement and Belonging aims to cultivate and sustain an inclusive campus. We strive for academic excellence by creating an environment that educates, empowers and mobilizes our students, campus and community. In our community, our members view themselves as ambassadors for fundamental freedoms and respect the differences in others.

Student Health Services offers convenient and affordable on-campus health care for WSU students. Our medical staff provides a wide range of services from routine and preventative care, to managing acute illness and minor injuries. We offer the convenience of on-site lab and medication services, saving you time and money.

Whether you want to be active on campus, relieve the stress from classes or take care of your body, Wichita State Campus Recreation is the place for you. Campus Recreation, located inside the Heskett Center, contributes to the health, education, and development of Wichita State University students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members by offering quality programs and services. With many programs and facilities that are free to all students and members, Campus Recreation offers its members limitless opportunities. For more information about our services see the Heskett Center webpage.

The WSU Alumni Association is a group of Shocker supporters whose purpose is to serve WSU, alumni, students, and our community. We help Shockers stay connected to the University and one another by upholding traditions, fostering and maintaining relationships, hosting reunions and sponsoring social events. Click here to learn more about WSU's Alumni Association.

“Netiquette”

According to The Core Rules of Netiquette by Virginia Shea, Netiquette (known as "Internet etiquette") is a catch-all term for the conventions of politeness and respect recognized in live chats, discussions, and emails. In online learning, Netiquette includes a set of guidelines that everyone should follow to promote appropriate online communication. Here are a few guidelines to follow when posting in online chats, discussions, and emails:

Maintain a positive tone: When communicating online, we often forget that we are communicating with other human beings because we only see a computer screen. You do not see facial expressions, body language, or hear the tone of voice when you read messages. It's easy to misinterpret your correspondent's meaning, so always stop and think about your response before hitting submit. Always ask yourself, "Would I say that to a person’s face?"
Use appropriate grammar and structure: In other words, avoid using "R U" instead of "are you." There are some students in class that may not understand this type of communication and it does not enhance anyone’s writing or vocabulary skills. Emoticons are fine as long as they are appropriate. A smile :) is welcome, anything offensive is not.
Never use all CAPS: In online communication, caps are known as shouting, so refrain from using them.
Avoid personal attacks and flames: Do not respond to personal attacks or flames when responding online. If you believe that you are being attacked, please email your instructor.
Avoid offensive language: Cursing, racial slurs, and other types of language that would not be appropriate in a face-to-face class are also inappropriate online.
Be respectful: Always be polite and respectful in your discussions. Discussions are constructed so that they will allow you to think critically and offer theory plus opinion. There will be differences in opinions. There will be many viewpoints. Remember: Students taking online courses come from different parts of the country or even other countries. Cultural differences allow us to appreciate different perspectives.

Adapted from the following website:
Albion.com & Ross, S. T. (2011). The Core Rules of Netiquette. Retrieved on July 11, 2013.

Online Orientation

If you are taking a course at WSU, you will likely need to understand how to use and navigate online using Blackboard, Panopto and the university email system. This orientation is aimed at helping you understand, prepare, and participate in the online portion of all courses.
The orientation will help you:

Determine if your computer is adequate for online learning at WSU.
Decide whether your learning style and computer skills are well-matched to online learning.
Become acquainted with how to log on and use our online course tools.
Learn how to get help.

Use the navigation buttons on each page to progress or click on the right-hand menu to jump to a section of the orientation. You are encouraged to go through all steps in this orientation to ensure a good online learning experience. Click the links below to access different areas of the Online Orientation.

Policies and Procedures

Go here to view the full WSU Policies and Procedures listing.

The Privacy Policies for the University, Blackboard LMS, and commonly used Social Media websites used in online courses can be found at these sites:

Accessibility Statements for websites commonly used in online courses are listed below:

Note: Social Media websites are known to have certain issues regarding accessibility issues. Please use the Federal Social Media Accessibility Toolkit to learn tips and tools to improve accessibility for various social media websites.