New Portal Makes It Easier to Access Your College Information

Starting Today, students, faculty and staff at Connecticut’s twelve community colleges will find it easier to access course and account information with the introduction of myCommNet, the new system portal. [ Brochure]

Your Single Stop For All Your College Information

• Single Sign-on
• WebCT Vista
• Banner Self-Service
• System Announcements
• Library Databases

The most frequently asked question anticipated from students is, “How do I log in?” To get into the portal, simply use your current NetID (the account you use to log onto campus computers) and password, for example:

myCommNet (http://my.commnet.edu) provides access to a broad array of personal and academic services to both credit and credit-free students. myCommNet will make it easier to conduct college business, communicate with others in your classes, check your academic progress, interact with classmates, and manage your college finances, all with a single sign-on. Beginning November 21, you only have to remember one ID and one password to reach all of your college’s online services.

Once inside myCommNet, you’ll find:

• MyCourses: Check on class materials, receive class-related messages, review syllabi, interact with your classmates, and participate in online discussion forums through WebCT Vista.
  
  
• Student Self-Service: Apply for admission, check on the status of your financial aid; register, add and drop classes from your current schedule; check your academic progress; view your account and make payments; and access grades and transcripts.
  
  
• College Libraries and Online Databases: Conduct a quick search of your college’s library catalog, and tap into the online research materials and other resources that your college library has available.
  
  
• College websites: Access the individual college websites through myCommNet.
  
  
• Customization: Your myCommNet home page is also the source for announcements and other information you need. Each page is customizable; many of the “channels,” or boxes of information, found on the myCommNet pages can be moved, deleted or resized to meet your own needs.
  
  
• Online Tutorials: Inside myCommNet, these tutorials demonstrate the full range of features.

Why is a single sign-on important? Currently, Banner Student Self-Service, WebCT Vista, and the off-campus Library Electronic Information Databases each require you to log on using your Banner ID and PIN. Now, with myCommNet, you will log in only once per session and be able to access all of these services. By providing a single login for critical information such as system announcements, and access to coursework, grades and schedules, communication will be enhanced at all levels of the Community College System.

Preparation for myCommNet has been in the works for two years, and the final pieces will be put in place beginning Saturday, November 17. From November 17 through November 20, Banner Student Self-Service, WebCT Vista and off-campus access to the library databases will be unavailable and their Internet addresses will be deactivated. On November 21, myCommnet will “go live” and all access to these online services will only be available through myCommNet (http://.my.commnet.edu).

According to Chancellor Marc S. Herzog, “the pre-Thanksgiving time-frame reflects a period of typically lower system usage and avoids times that correspond to critical registration, Financial Aid, grading and other key semester activities.” Chancellor Herzog also recognized the need for our systems to be running 24/7 and to minimize any downtime or inconvenience for all our [students].}

Chancellor Herzog has indicated that this version of myCommNet is just the first step; other functions will be identified and implemented in future phases. “Ultimately, myCommNet will become the entry-point for each of our students, faculty and staff to access the full range of dynamic information and services that are relevant to them in their respective roles.”

According to Community College Chancellor Marc S. Herzog, “Once logged into myCommNet, students will have direct access to Banner Student Self-Service, to WebCT Vista, and to our library databases. myCommNet will utilize the existing NetID accounts, and will eliminate the need to maintain separate passwords for Banner Self-Service and WebCT Vista. myCommNet will also allow users some flexibility to configure the display of information and tailor it to meet their personal preferences. It will automatically notify students when a [course] is cancelled, or a hold is placed on their accounts, or a grade is changed.”

Individual community college websites are public sites for information about each college’s admissions, programs, services, events and news. myCommNet is a private website that allows you to access and manage all your college information that requires sign-on and authorization. myCommNet is a portal, similar to My Yahoo or My Excite, that has a personalized website where you can access your information and use customized tools.