Frequently Asked Questions
What is distance education at Missouri Western State University?
What is an online class?
Are online classes self-paced?
How do I know if taking an online class is right for me?
What equipment and skills are needed to take online classes?
What resources are available online from Missouri Western’s library?
By using the computer, how will I communicate with my instructor and other class members?
Do I need a Missouri Western user ID and password to access the Internet and the library’s online resources from campus computers?
Do I have to use my Missouri Western e-mail account?
If I have difficulty with assignments, whom do I contact?
What happens if I cannot connect to the Internet?
What do I do if I cannot access my WebCT course?
What if I need assistance with my computer skills?
How do I get help learning to use WebCT?
What do I do if I experience non-technical computer problems during my Internet course?
How can I take instructor and course evaluations online?
If I have a disability, what should I do to prepare for an Internet course?
What is distance education at Missouri Western State University?
Distance education courses offer an opportunity to expand your education at a time and place that conforms to your schedule and environment. By taking distance education courses, you can learn and complete your course assignments from anywhere there is an Internet connection and generally at anytime.
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What is an online class?
Course materials, assignments, and communications with the instructor and other classmates are available through a course web site, which you can access through an Internet Service Provider. Courses designed for the Internet usually involve:
- Reading assignments and textbooks
- Writing papers
- Submitting assignments via e-mail
- Online discussion with classmates and the instructor
- Group activities
- Online exams
Streamed audio and/or video lecture materials may also be included in an online course. Some instructors may require or make it optional for students taking an online course to come to MWSU and attend a class session and/or view additional supplemental materials.
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Are online classes self-paced?
Western’s online classes are not self-paced. Each course has a beginning and ending date, and instructors have deadlines for assigned homework, reading, and online discussions. Instructors will provide specific instructions for submitting assignments either through the course website, e-mail, regular mail, or fax.
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How do I know if taking an online or televised class is right for me?
You may take an online self-assessment survey, which will help you decide if you are a good candidate for a MWSU distance education course.
Take the survey.
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What equipment and skills are needed to take an online class?
You are required to have access to a computer with an Internet connection when enrolling for online courses. You may come to campus and use one of the computers in the MWSU computer labs if it is convenient. For locations of the computer labs on campus, please visit
General Computer Lab Schedule. You must know how to operate a computer, download and upload files, search for information using a web browser, have an active MWSU e-mail account, send documents as attachments, and know how to use an e-mail listserv.
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What resources are available online from Western’s library?
Many library resources are online and available to all enrolled students at Missouri Western. Currently, there are over 40 electronic databases that are available online. For more information on what our library has to offer, please visit the Library website.
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By using the computer, how will I communicate with my instructor and other class members?
You will access the course web site, online message boards, e-mail listserv, and the instructor's e-mail address to stay informed regarding assignments, syllabus changes, exam dates, and to communicate with other classmates online. Your instructor will most likely give you instructions on how to communicate and find course announcements. Most instructors will require students to submit their homework assignments through the course web site or via e-mail. Instructors usually try to respond to your e-mail questions in 24-48 hours.
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Do I need a Missouri Western user ID and password to access the Internet and the library’s online resources from campus computers?
To log on to any computer workstation on campus, you must have a user ID and password, which you may obtain from the Information Technology Office. Your user ID and password are the same ID and password you use to check your Western e-mail account. You must use your Missouri Western user ID and password to access our library’s online resources which includes over 40 electronic databases.
For more information, please contact the Information Technology Office at 816-271-4555 or visit their website at
Information Technology website.Top of page
Do I have to use my Missouri Western e-mail account?
It is highly recommended that you use your Missouri Western e-mail account, but it is not required at this time. All official information (mid-term grades, access codes, etc.) the university sends out to you, by electronic means, goes only to your Missouri Western e-mail account. Some instructors will only communicate with students through their Missouri Western e-mail accounts.
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If I have difficulty with assignments, whom do I contact?
If you have difficulty with your assignments, you should first contact your instructor for help. The
Center for Academic Support may also provide assistance with your assignments.
You should always start your assignments early in case a problem or questions arise. This will give you enough time to e-mail your instructor or contact the Center for Academic Support for assistance. Online courses are dependent upon web servers to be up and running at all times. However, web server and/or computers may be down unexpectedly and therefore, you may not be able to connect to the course web site to work on your assignments in such instances. It is always important to work ahead.
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What happens if I cannot connect to the Internet?
You should do the following:
1. Contact your Internet Service Provider to see whether the problem is theirs or not.
2. If it is not a problem with your Internet Service Provider, then you should contact the Information Technology Office Help Desk at 816-271-4555 for assistance. The Information Technology Office will also be able to tell you if there are any problems with the course web site.
3. If you are unable to solve the problem with the Information Technology Office, or if the problem will take more time to solve, contact your instructor. Inform the instructor of your situation, and make arrangements to complete your work in another way. It is usually best to find another computer that you can use to complete the work (i.e. at a friend's house, work, the library).
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What do I do if I cannot access my WebCT course?
If you cannot get the WebCT login page to open, or if it is telling you that you have an incorrect user ID or password, contact the Information Technology Office Help Desk at 816-271-4555. For all other WebCT technical questions, you may send an e-mail to webct@missouriwestern.edu or contact the Instructional Media Center at 816-271-4172.
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What if I need assistance with my computer skills?
Missouri Western offers several basic
computer courses, which you may take through the
Western Institute.
You can also come to the Center for Academic Support on campus to find out how to use some of the basic computer software programs. If you cannot come to campus, then you may visit the
Center for Academic Support website to learn more information on how to submit your questions or assignments. There are many great tutorials and free courses available on the Internet to help you with your computer skills.
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How do I get help learning to use WebCT?
There are many resources available to help you learn to use WebCT. They can be found at
Student WebCT Resources website. If you are not able to get your questions answered from these resources, please e-mail webct@missouriwestern.edu or call (816) 271-4172.
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What do I do if I experience non-technical computer problems during my online course?
You need to first contact your instructor for non-technical questions. The instructor will help you resolve the problem or help you contact the person who can.
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How can I take instructor and course evaluations online?
Before taking any instructor or course evaluations, wait until you are asked to do so by your instructor. Your instructor will tell you when evaluations are available. Please make sure you complete the evaluations because your feedback helps us to continually improve the distance education program at Missouri Western. Instructor and course evaluations
are anonymous and will be available toward the end of each semester.
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If I have a disability, what should I do to prepare for a distance education course?
It is your responsibility to notify the instructor of any disability you may have that may require special accommodation in the distance education course.
Missouri Western offers a range of services to allow students with disabilities to participate in distance education courses. If you are in need of assistance, you should first contact Missouri Western’s
Disability Services Office at 816-271-4330 or visit
Disability Services website.Top of page
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