Student Life
Enriching your extracurricular experiences with technology
Whether living on campus or commuting, both full-time and part-time students find that the school's social, extracurricular, and career services activities constitute an important part of the educational experience. Find out about the technology tools that facilitate different communities on campus, allowing for communication, personal development, and getting together (in person and virtually).
Accessing computer services
What public access for computing is available to students?
Undergraduate students have access to nine divisional and departmental computer labs on the Oxford campus, plus two labs in Hamilton, four in Middletown, two at Voice of America Learning Center (VOALC) and two at the Luxembourg campus.
Additionally, Miami's campus-wide wireless network service allows students to connect devices to Miami's network in any building and many popular outdoor areas on campus.
Does the campus provide institutional email accounts for all students and use email as an official medium of communication?
All students are granted a lifetime Miami email account through Google Apps for Education. Since Miami email is an official means of communication, it is expected that students check their email accounts frequently.
Does the campus provide and support electronic space for personal student web pages?
Each student has access to file server space that can be used to publish web pages. Training on web development topics is provided through computer-based training modules. For more information on publishing web pages, visit the IT Help knowledge base.
Is network bandwidth limited for peer-to-peer software, gaming, web cams, or other programs requiring high levels of network resources?
The University believes that Internet traffic associated with academic courses and university business processes should get the highest priority of all of our Internet traffic. We ensure that we have sufficient bandwidth for academic work by limiting the traffic for entertainment services.
We do not guarantee either performance or priority of entertainment services; however, our policies for keeping the network clean help to maximize the bandwidth available for all legal uses.
Miami offers a total of 1.6 Gigabits per second of Internet bandwidth for use by students, faculty, and staff.
Peer-to-peer network traffic is banned at Miami in order to protect the institution from virus activity (which occurs on these ports); protect the institution's bandwidth; and limit the institution's and students' legal liability for copyright infringement claims.
In accordance with our Responsible Use of Computing Resources Policy, all students are expected to behave responsibly while using Miami's computing and information resources.
Does the campus have policies addressing peer-to-peer file sharing, virus software, and copyright?
The University considers that as both the generator and user of intellectual property, it is vital to have policies regarding protection of intellectual property. The University's Responsible Use of Computing Resources Policy addresses copyright and illegal peer-to-peer file sharing explicitly:
"Respect copyrights, intellectual-property rights, ownership of files and passwords. Unauthorized copying of files or passwords belonging to others or to the University may constitute plagiarism or theft. Accessing or modifying files without authorization (including altering information, introducing viruses or Trojan horses, or damaging files) is unethical, may be illegal, and may lead to sanctions."
IT Services has published extensive information to educate students about the value of installing and updating virus and spyware protection software. Miami provides virus and spyware protection software free of charge to students and highly recommends that students living in residence halls use it to protect their computers and the Miami network.
Connecting with others
Is contact information for students, faculty, and staff readily accessible electronically?
The Search Directory function available from the university's homepage and the search options available from the myMiami site provide easy access to contact information for any member of the university community. You can also find this information in the Miami Directory. Students who wish to exclude data may notify the Office of the Registrar.
What social activities and services are available online?
Information on events, social activities, and services can be obtained from the following sources:
- Miami University App—Members of the Miami University community can connect to the latest campus news, events and general information with a free iPhone application developed by students. Features include dining hall menus, athletic updates, campus maps, and directories listing university faculty, staff and students.
- Miami Events Calendar—Prominently linked from the university homepage, this calendar lists university events from across the Oxford, Hamilton, Middletown, and VOALC campuses.
- Student Life—This link on the university homepage includes access to information about such topics as housing and dining, health and safety, student organizations and activities, transportation and parking, and the city of Oxford and outlying areas.
- Student Affairs—The Division of Student Affairs provides many opportunities for service, learning, and fun through offices such as Student Activities, Office of Diversity Affairs, and the Office of Community Engagement and Service.
- The Hub—Over 400 student organizations are represented on this "virtual bulletin board."
- Miami Entertainment—combines AfterDark, the late night programming organization on campus; Program Board, the Shriver Center (and soon to be Armstrong Student Center) programming organization; Miami Memos, the official student planner of Miami University; and Miami Entertainment Design Division, a student-run graphic design company.
- Miami RedHawks Athletics—RedHawk fans can access the latest information about Miami sporting events.
- WMSR—This cable and carrier-current radio station is operated entirely by Miami students.
- The Miami Student—Published twice weekly, the Student is Miami's official student newspaper.
- The Miami University e-Report—Published daily, the e-Report is a newspaper for faculty and staff.
Are there websites for student organizations and clubs?
The Office of Student Activities provides access to a comprehensive directory of student organizations. Many of these organizations have their own websites, which can be accessed from The Hub, Miami's "virtual bulletin board" of student organizations. There are over 400 registered student organizations in categories such as Career/Professional, Religious, Sports Club/Recreation, Cultural & Diversity, Service, and Honorary. The Cliff Alexander Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life and Leadership provides specific information about the Greek community at Miami University.
Does the campus make online communities available?
The university provides several online forums, including student community sites accessible via the myMiami portal. Any faculty member can create a discussion board for use in their class. In addition, any group on campus can register their organization site on The Hub to enable them to communicate with their members.
What technology-supported career-planning services are available to students?
Career Services provides extensive career and job-search information and numerous links to related sites, including CAREERlink, a powerful online recruiting system. After completing Miami CAREERlink profiles and uploading resumes, students are automatically added to a Master Resume Book for employer viewing. On-campus recruiting and mock interviews are also available to students who attend a Career Services 101 workshop.
Career Services offers an online appointment request system so that students can schedule a personal meeting with a career advisor.
