CSU Online Support for Students

Need to learn at home, at work, or at a time convenient to you? Distance Learning affords motivated students the opportunity to study at their own pace and in a manner that suits their often-difficult schedules. Chicago State University’s Office of Distance Learning realizes that schedules should not hinder educational advancement.

With advancements in technology geography is no longer a barrier for students to further their education and enhance their career prospects. While Distance Learning does not replace traditional face to face classes they do provide an alternative for students to complete a majority of their course from home, work or anyplace else with Internet access. Online courses can be entirely web based or traditional courses supported by multimedia over the Internet. The primary objectives of online learning are communication, interaction and access to resources. Online courses can provide a much sought after solution for the busy student who has work, family, and other obligations that are barriers to traveling to a campus at a specified time.

If you are unfamiliar with using the Internet, e-mail or managing files, you may not be ready for online learning. But if you are somewhat interested in taking a class online, learn these skills before you take an online course. Please take some time to find out if Online Learning is for you. Follow the link to the Online Assessment System for Internet Students (OASIS) to find out what to expect in an online course. Once you arrive at the OASIS home page, select register, go to the Non-IPIC member and submit. From here you select guest and begin your online assessment. http://www.ilcco.net/oasis

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Getting Started

Once you have completed registration, your online courses will be accessible from your Personal Home page at Chicago State University Online. To access this page direct your browser to the Office of Distance Learning at http://www.csu.edu/DistLearn/. When you arrive at this page, click on the "CSUOnline" link. From the menu on the left, click "Course Login". From here you will be prompted to enter your User Name and Password. Your assigned Username (in lower case) has been set to begin with the initial of your first name and then continues for the next 6 digits, which includes your the first 4-6 letters of your last name possibly followed by a 1-2 digit arabic numeral. Your default Password has been set as the last 4 digits of your social security number. For example Mary Smith's Username would be msmith6. Her SSN would be XXX-YY-4444 and her password would be 4444. Once you enter the Blackboard web site you may change your password.

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Getting Admitted

New Students: If you have never attended the university you will need to apply for admission. Prospective students can receive admissions materials online by accessing Chicago State University online at http://www.csu.edu/Admissions/.

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Getting Registered

In order to register you must first be admitted to the University (For admissions information, please refer to Getting Admitted). Students are required to register with the university according to the schedule published in the university Class Schedule Bulletin. Registration is not complete until all fees are paid or fee payment arrangements have been made with the bursar, and all registration materials are filed in the Office of the Registrar. Students should consult the Class Schedule Bulletin for specific details prior to Registration. http://www.csu.edu/CourseBulletin/

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Getting Connected

To take an online course you need an e-mail address and access to the Internet. If you are already admitted to Chicago State you can access the Internet by dialing the university’s system. Local dial-up numbers are available on the CSU website at http://www.csu.edu/is/itservices/dialupnumbers.htm Dial-up access may be made with numbers available at http://www.csu.edu/is/itservices/dialupnumbers.htm You may obtain the settings configure your computer to access the CSU server from a home or other external computer by calling the Division of Information Technology at (773) 995-3963.

You may however, choose another service provider. Any company that allows you to call their system via a telephone line in order to connect to the Internet is an Internet Service Provider (ISP). Once you subscribe your provider will provide you with the information needed to connect to the Internet. To access WWW you will need a “browser”. We strongly recommend you use either Mozilla Firefox or Microsoft Internet Explorer (Both are free for downloading).

Minimum Hardware and software requirements:

• A multimedia computer (you cannot use Web TV)
• Windows Me, 2000, or XP or later (Mac Os 9.2 of OS X 10.1 or later)
• Pentium III (500 mhz or faster Processor) or a (Mac) G3, G4, G5 Processor minimum
• 512 MB of Ram or more
• 56K Modem, broad band preferred (DSL or Cable etc.)
• Sound Card with speakers or earphones
• Adobe Acrobat Reader v7.0: to read certain online documents (Free Download)
• RealOne Player: to view audio/video clips (Free Download)
• Quicktime v7.0 (audio visual software) may be downloaded free for both PC and Mac.
• Browser: Internet Explorer v6.0 or later, Mozilla Firefox (Free Downloads)
• A CSU E-mail account is required for a CSU online course. You should have received your E-mail ID and password from Informational Technology. If you have difficulties with your E-mail account, call the Information Technology Department at (773-995-3963) for assistance.
• You may access your E-mail account by using E-mail software such as Netscape, Eudora, Outlook Express, Apple mail etc. or by using a browser. If you use a browser, you may access your E-mail from the CSU homepage or you may access it from inside the Blackboard course website by using the tab labeled Webmail.
• An Internet Service Provider: i.e. SBC-Yahoo, net Zero etc. (CSU students may use CSU server free) AOL is NOT recommended.

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Who Can I Call?

The Office of Distance Learning is your point of contact with the university for Distance Learners. The staff of our office makes certain that processes are put in place for you to succeed in your course. Once you have enrolled, all administrative HELP questions should be directed to this office at OD-Learning@csu.edu or by phone at (773) 995-2960.

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