OSU Computer Helpdesk

Whoa! First week of Fall term 2011! It has been crazy busy around the Helpdesk this week! I hope all of you are getting settled and that syllabus week hasn’t been to rough.

I want to send a big WELCOME to all of the freshman who are brand-spanking new to campus. I trust that all of you are enjoying the spoils of you new found freedom. Well all of you except those who had their parents do all their prep-work for college, obviously. I’m sure you know who you are.  And welcome back to all of the student’s who made their annual summer pilgrimage to their parents’ homes this summer. Weren’t those days of no class and free food wonderful? I’m sorry to say those days are over but, on the bright side, Corvallis is a much livelier place now that you are back. And to those that had to stay in Corvallis this summer… well I guess I don’t really have much to say to that group. Sorry about that.

Now that classes are underway, it’s time to buckle down, start a routine, and figure out what resources you’re going to need for this term to be successful. But have you ever noticed how overwhelming the OSU’s home page can get? Now I know the freshman know what I am talking about. There are links all over the place and all you want to do is register. Or check my email. Or look at blackboard. Am I right?

The links are organized by who would most likely use the links (Current students, Future Students, Faculty/Staff, etc.)  but it can still be difficult to find the exact link that you need. The truth is that there are just so many links that have varying levels of importance to different people to have them all on one page. That is why earlier this month the MyOSU portal was launched.

The MyOSU Breakdown

What is MyOSU? Good question, glad you asked.

Well, it is a single site where you can access a variety of information, tools, and links that you will need to be successfully at OSU.  This type of webpage is known as a Portal, in geek speek.

MyOSU is:

• single sign-on (which means that you only have to log-in to MyOSU and then every link you click on with-in the portal will allow you to go directly to that site. For example: if you log-in to MyOSU and click on the Blackboard link, you will bypass the Blackboard sign page and be directed straight to you’re My Course’s Tab)
• tuned specifically to your affiliation with the university. (If you are a student you will only see links relevant to student life. If you’re a staff member, you won’t have to wade through links for bill pay and class registration.)
• the cat’s pajama’s
• a page that will cut down on the amount of time you spend searching for information and links at OSU, allowing you to get done what needs getting done and moving one with your life.

With that said, have you logged into MyOSU yet? What are you waiting for?! Just log-in with your ONID account and start exploring!