myNSU Student Portal
Frequently Asked Questions

(Please note that this FAQ section is under development.)

myNSU Student Portal



1.0) What is a portal?
A portal is a website that organizes and displays information in a particular format. One of the most common features of a portal is the ability to show multiple types of information on one screen, where the screen is divided up into several smaller sections, called channels. Each channel has a unique function and displays different information. For example, the "myAnnouncements" channel on the home page contains targeted announcements for students. The "mySchedule" channel provides information about your class schedule.


1.1) What is a channel?
Channels act as windows to different information within the portal. They are displayed as smaller sections of a portal page. Some examples of channels in the myNSU portal are the myAnnouncements" channel that provides targeted announcements for students and the "mySchedule" channel that provides information about your class schedule.


1.2) What is myNSU?
myNSU is the student portal for Northwestern State University. myNSU is accessible from any Internet connection 24 hours a day/7 days a week. myNSU provides currently registered students with access to information and tools designed to enhance your academic experience at Northwestern. 


1.3) How does myNSU work? 
myNSU is a collection of links, tools, and student information that has been collected from existing automated resources. Every morning at approximately 4:00 AM a “snapshot” of information from different systems is taken and fed to the student portal. When a student logs into the myNSU this snapshot information is displayed. The myNSU display includes a date-time stamp indicating the currency of the data. Students may click on one of the links included (e.g., Detailed Schedule, Registration, Current Award Year Details, etc.) and be transferred directly into the appropriate section of the Student Services server (without the need to login a second time). It is possible that the Student Services server may have more current information that that displayed by the myNSU portal. For example, if a snapshot is taken at 4:00 AM and a grade is posted at 9:00 AM then the portal will not displayed the grade until the following day. It should be noted that this “information gap” is offset by the fact that the normal hours of operation for the Student Services server are from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Monday thru Friday, whereas, the

myNSU portal is normally operationally 24 hours a day/7 days a week. Therefore, students using the myNSU portal may access student information 24 hours a day/7days a week. Specific functionality of the myNSU Student Portal is described below. 


1.4) What can I find at the myNSU Student Portal?
The myNSU Student Portal is a website designed specifically for Northwestern students. The portal includes the following functionality/channels: 

Important Links

Directories: Find a telephone number. For privacy purposes, student information is not included.

Local Events

Movies: Find out what movies are showing in the area.

Concerts & Gigs: Find entertainment in the area.

Campus News: Read the latest campus news.

News & Views: Read world, national, regional, and sports news and the Current Sauce. 

Local Weather: Read the local weather forecasts. 

Online Resources: Access on-line search and research engines. 

myPersonal Information: View a summary of your personal information 

myStudent Records Information: View a summary of your student account information. 

myStudent Account Information: View a summary of your student account information to include your current balance, if you are participating in the installment plan, and your variable meal plan balance. 

myHold Status: Determine if you have any holds. 

myFinancial Aid: View a summary of your financial aid. 

mySchedule: View a summary of your schedule to include the class number, section number, title, and credit hours; mid-term and final grades; and the instructor. 

myAnnouncements: Receive targeted announcements based on your student status. For example, announcements can be targeted to Graduating Seniors, Freshmen, dorm residents, students using a meal plan, students taking classes at a particular campus, students associated with a certain College, etc. This capability will be available in July 2003. 

myAnnouncements Profile: Review and establish your profile for unofficial announcements. Unofficial announcements are for approved student organizations. Students may select the organizations for which they desire to receive announcements. This capability is not yet available. 

myAddress Book: Maintain email addresses for use with the student email system. A goal for the myNSU portal is to accomplish the transfer to myAddress Book without the need to log on a second time. 

myBlackboard: Transfer to the Blackboard Learning System. A goal for the myNSU portal is to accomplish the transfer to Blackboard without the need to log on a second time. 

myCalendar: Maintain your personal schedule and appointments. A goal for the myNSU portal is to accomplish the transfer to myCalendar without the need to log on a second time. 

myChat: Chat with your fellow students. An acceptable use policy applies to the use of this capability. This capability is not yet available. 

myDownloads: Download files and software (e.g., virus protection software). This capability is best suited for use with a high-speed Internet connection. This capability is not yet available. 

myEmail: Communicate using the NSU student email system. A goal for the myNSU portal is to accomplish the transfer to the email system without the need to log on a second time. 

myFiles: Access up to10MB of file space on a centralized server from any location via the Internet. This capability is not yet available. 

MyForum: Discuss topics of interest with your fellow students. This is a moderated forum. An acceptable use policy applies to the use of this capability. This capability is not yet available. 

myGPACalculator: Compute your current term and overall GPA using this tool that incorporates your current overall GPA and your current courses allows you to enter possible grades to determine the GPA outcomes. This capability is not yet available.

MyInstant Messenger: Communicate with your fellow students and maintain a buddies list. An acceptable use policy applies to the use of this capability. This capability is not yet available. 

myPassword: Change your myNSU password. The password change is immediate. 

myWebsite: Access your web page contained in the 10MB of file storage space provided.

 

1.5) How current is the information displayed?
The information displayed is a snapshot of information taken from the Student Information System. Normally, this information is no more than 24 hours old. The most current information may be obtained by clicking on one of the following links. These links will take you directly to Web for Students that is a real-time system. For this reason the information appearing on the portal page may not agree with the information in Web for Students. For example, if you add or drop a course in Web for Students this information will be immediately available in Web for Students. However, the portal page will not reflect this information until the following day.

Additional Personal Information
Additional Student Record Information
Account Summary/Online Payments
Hold Details
Current Award Details
Detailed Schedule
Registration
myNSU Account

 

2.0) Who is eligible for a myNSU account?
Currently registered students are eligible for accounts.

If you are pre-registered for the Fall term you account remains active during the summer. If you are not registered for the Fall term your account expires within 24 hours of the end of the Spring Semester. 
 

2.1) How do I receive an account for myNSU student portal?
The first requirement to receive an account is that you be a student enrolled for the current term.


myNSU Access


3.0) Who may access the myNSU student portal?
Only currently registered students may access the student portal.


3.1) What do I need to access myNSU?
To be provided….


3.2) When may I access myNSU?
myNSU is available 24 hours a day/7 days a week.


3.3) How do I access myNSU?
To be provided…. 


3.4) I am using Netscape 4.x browser. Why does my portal look different?
Some older versions of browsers do not support the complete functionality and formatting of the myNSU portal. For best results, use Netscape 4.5 and higher or Internet Explorer 5.0 and higher. To find out what browser type you are using, open a browser window. Click "Help" in the menu bar at the top of the screen. Click on the option beginning with "About." This will pull up browser version information. I you are using an older version, try upgrading to one of the versions listed above for best results.


myNSU Security


4.0) How do I change my password?
Click on the myPassword link to change your password. You will be prompted for the necessary information to change your password.

4.1) Does this site use cookies? What is a cookie?
The myNSU uses cookies to allow you to use the advanced features of the AKO portals such as the single sign-on feature that allows you enter your login information once and have access to all parts of the portal. Disabling cookies will disable several advanced user features.

A cookie is an electronic message sent to your web browser (Netscape, Internet Explorer, etc.) from a web server - the machine that serves the web page you are viewing (myNSU Student Portal). Each time you look at an myNSU web page, the message, or cookie, is sent back to the server to let it know that you are still the person who initially logged into the portal.

Please note that cookies DO NOT store personal data that can identify the user and they CAN NOT search your system for information.


4.2) What if I do not accept cookies?
It is recommended that you allow the use of cookies. By not accepting cookies, you will limit your access to active content on this site. Certain personalization and appearance features will not be available to you without accepting cookies. The cookies used by this site are harmless and pose no security threat to your computer.


4.3) Is my information secure?
The personal information displayed on the student portal page is transmitted in a secure manner to preclude anyone from monitoring the network and gaining access to your personal information.

As a security precaution, you should not create shortcuts or bookmark any of the pages accessed via the student portal. You should also close all pages accessed and the Internet browser when done. If you are using a public computer (e.g., in a library or computer lab) to access personal information (to include the student portal) you should always close all windows opened and close the Internet browser. Deleting the history file and the temporary Internet files on public computers, before departing the computer, may provide increased security.

To clear the history file and temporary Internet files when using Internet Explorer:

Click on Tools
Click on Internet Options
Click on Clear History
Click on Yes in response to the “Are you sure you want Windows to delete your history of visited Web sites?” prompt.
Click on Delete Files
Click on OK in response to the “Delete all files in the Temporary Internet Files” prompt.
Click on OK

 

The use of VeriSign is your assurance of end-to-end encryption for your data across the network.

4.4) How do I log out?
Click on the Logout button, located in the bar on the upper part of the screen. For security reasons, a pop-up window will prompt you to close all portal-related browser windows.


myNSU Help


5.0) How do I receive help?
Each channel on the portal page (after login) has a Help tab. Students may click on the Help tab and view an explanation of the data displayed and be the office to be contacted to resolve problems with the data or ask questions.


5.1) Where can I receive more help?
You can contact the Help Desk at the following numbers and email address:
The myNSU student portal is currently operating in a pilot test mode. Help information is being added to this portal and may not address all problems encountered. If you encounter any problems please contact the on-line help desk as follows:

318-357-6696 (Monday thru Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:PM)

5.2) Why do I receive the error message shown when I click on one of the following links?

Additional Personal Information
Additional Student Record Information
Account Summary/Online Payments
Hold Details
Current Award Details
Detailed Schedule
Registration
 

Error
The following error was encountered:

System temporarily unavailable for system maintenance. Normal hours are Monday – Friday from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Please try the student portal at my.nsula.edu. If the system is unavailable during normal hours please contact the Registrar's office at 357-6127.

 

System unavailable 

The above links are only available when the Student Information System/Student Services server is available. The normal hours of availability are 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM.

5.3) Can I change the background colors of the portal?
When entering the username and password, you may select a color scheme.