Faculty Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How do I log in to WebCT?
A. To log in to WebCT, go to http://webct.missouriwestern.edu. Click Log In to my WebCT. Enter your ID and password. Your ID and password are the same that you use to check your Western email. Click the 'Log In' button. You will then be logged in to your My WebCT entry page where you will see the courses you have been enrolled in listed on the left.

Q. Why doesn't the ID and password that I used to use on WebCT work?
A. If you had an ID and password from a previous semester that you used to log in to WebCT, it will no longer work. You must use your Western ID and password (the same that you use for email) to log in to WebCT.

Q. I forgot my password. How do I reset it?
A. Because of security reasons, if you forget your password and need to have it reset you need to go in person to the Computer Center in LRC building, room 110. You must show a valid photo ID (preferably your Western ID) and fill out a password change request form.

Q. How do I change my password?
A. There are two ways to change your password. If you are on-campus and logged into your computer, you can press CTRL+ALT+DEL on the keyboard and click 'Change Password'. You may also change your password any time from any place by logging into your Western e-mail. Go to https://goldlink.missouriwestern.edu and log in to the email system. View the instructions for changing your password.

Q. Why don’t I see any courses when I log in to WebCT?
A. You must first submit a course request form before using WebCT.

Q. What is the difference between WebCT email and Western email?
A. WebCT has its own internal email system. This is completely separate from your Western email. You do not have an actual WebCT email address. Every course in WebCT has an email tool. This allows students and instructors in that specific class only to communicate through email. This means that you have to check email in every WebCT course you teach. You may decide to use your Western email as your preferred method of communicating with students. This is completely your preference, but if you decide to do so, make sure you indicate in your syllabus that you prefer students to contact you at your Western email address and not through WebCT email.

Q. How do I forward my WebCT email to my Western email account?
A. To forward your WebCT email to your Western email, log in to WebCT and your course. Go to the Email tool. Click the 'Message Settings' button. Next to 'Mail forwarding', place a checkmark by 'Forward my mail to' and enter your western email address in the box. Click the 'Update' button. Please note: If you forward your email from WebCT to your Western account, you cannot reply to the sender. You will have to know the person's email address and send a new message to the person or go back into WebCT and send the message using WebCT email.

Q. When I click the print button, why does it only print the navigation menu on the left?
A. WebCT is comprised of a series of web pages that use frames. Frames are what allow you to see the WebCT toolbar at the top of the screen and the course menu on the left of the screen at all times even while you are reading down through a document. To print a page in WebCT, you first have to indicate which frame you want to print. To do this, all you have to do is click your mouse anywhere on the text you want to print. You don't have to highlight, just click. Then, hit the 'Print' button in your browser toolbar or choose 'Print' from the File menu in your browser.

Q. Is my browser and operating system compatible with WebCT?
A. WebCT has tested and supports the following operating systems with WebCT 8:

Microsoft Windows 98 2nd Edition, 2000, and XP operating systems
Macintosh OS 9, OS 10.1.x, and 10.2.x operating systems. WebCT has tested and supports the following web browser versions with WebCT 8:

	Netscape Navigator	Microsoft Internet Explorer	AOL	Not Supported
Windows 98 2nd Ed., 2000, and XP	6.2.x and 7.0	5.0, 5.5, and 6.0	7.0 and 8.0	Netscape 4.7x to 4.8, 6.0 and 6.1 Internet Explorer 4.0, 5.5 SP1
Macintosh OS 9.x	6.2.x	5.1		Netscape 4.7x to 4.8 and 6.1
Macintosh OS 10.1.x	6.2.x and 7.0	5.1 and 5.2	AOL for OS X	Netscape 4.7x to 4.8 and 6.1
Macintosh OS 10.2.x	6.2.x and 7.0	5.2	AOL for OS X	Netscape 4.7x to 4.8 and 6.1

For the most current information on supported browsers, visit the WebCT Browser Tune-Up page.

Q. How should I configure my browser?
A. Your browser may need to be configured in order for you to access all of WebCT's features. Follow the links below for instructions, or visit the WebCT Browser Tune-Up page and follow the prompts to prepare your browser settings.

Windows Operating Systems:
Netscape Navigator
Microsoft Internet Explorer

Macintosh Operating Systems:
Netscape Navigator
Internet Explorer

Q. A student dropped the course. What do I do?
A. Contact the Instructional Media Technologist at (816) 271-4172 or webct@missouriwestern.edu to discuss the procedures for dropped students.

Q. Why can't the students open the documents I have uploaded to WebCT?
A. If you upload Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or any other documents produced from specialized programs such as these, your students may not be able to view them if they do not have the same software installed on their own computers. In order to ensure that all students can access the documents, save them as HTML or RTF before uploading. If you must upload a document in another format, give clear instructions to students beforehand on how they can view the document. Some software that students may need is available in the download section.

Q. How do I add a guest speaker to my WebCT course?
A. Send an email request to webct@missouriwestern.edu with the course name and number, the guest speaker's name, and the duration for which the person needs access to the course as a guest. Be sure to communicate clear expectations to the guest about his or her role and responsibility when accessing the WebCT course.

Q. How do I contact technical support?
A. You can send an email to webct@missouriwestern.edu. If you are not able to log in to WebCT or certain tools in WebCT don't work, contact the Computer Center Help Desk at (816) 271-4555. For all other questions regarding WebCT and your courses, contact the IMC at (816) 271-4172.