Kansas State University

Frequently Asked Questions

General Information

Getting Started

Privacy and Security

Technical Support


General Information

Am I a good potential distance education student?

The following are some basic questions to help you decide if distance education is right for you.

 YES     NO  I am self-disciplined, work well independently and complete tasks and assignments ahead of schedule.
 YES     NO  I have good time-management skills that will enable me to balance coursework with my personal and professional life.
 YES     NO  I can devote 5-6 hours per week to a three-hour course.
 YES     NO  I possess strong written communications skills.
 YES     NO  I am comfortable expressing myself using phone, e-mail, and chat rooms and do not necessarily require face-to-face meetings with the instructor and other students.
 YES     NO  I am confident enough with computers, printers and software to ask technicians for assistance when needed.
 YES     NO  I am capable of downloading software from the Internet and installing it on my computer on my own or with assistance from K-State.
 YES     NO  I have access to the Internet, e-mail and a computer on a regular basis.
 YES     NO  I need to take university courses for a degree, job or career advancement or other important reasons.

If you answered "YES" to the majority of the questions, then you are a good candidate for success through distance education courses. You are self-motivated, knowledgeable and experienced with computers and the Internet, possess strong written skills and you have strong reasons for seeking higher education opportunities.

If you answered "NO" to the majority of the questions, you might want to reconsider enrolling in distance education courses and realize that you may have to make adjustments in your life in order to be successful in the coursework. If you answered no to a technology question you may want to consider computer training prior to undertaking a distance education course.

Is K-State Online fully accredited?

K-State Online is a course management and delivery system designed at Kansas State University, a land-grant university fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. K-State Online is used for both on-campus and distance education courses and the courses are taught by the same faculty that teach on the K-State campuses.

Where do I go if I have general questions about K-State's distance education?

To learn more about distance education, visit the K-State Division of Continuing Education Web site at http://www.dce.ksu.edu.


Getting Started

How do I participate in a course?

The first step is to find and enroll in the course(s) you wish to take. Go to the Course Search page and check the search parameters you wish to use and click Search. You will see a listing of all the courses that fit your search description. Click on the title of a course to see further details about that course. Under the Register Here section on the right, you can click on the desired credit option and register for the course.

After the instructor has added you to the course roster, you may access the course by logging in to K-State Online with your eID. All admitted and registered Kansas State University students have a K-State Online account. If you have forgot your eID or password or cannot sign in with an existing eID or password, call the IT Help Desk at (785) 532-7722 or go to http://eid.k-state.edu.

How do I get a K-State Online account?

Anyone with a K-State eID automatically has a K-State Online account. If you would like to register for a K-State eID, go to http://eid.k-state.edu. If you have forgot your eID or password or cannot sign in with an existing eID or password, call the IT Help Desk at (785) 532-7722 or go to http://eid.k-state.edu.

Do I have to use a computer on campus to access K-State Online?

No. Any computer with access to the Internet can be used provided it meets the minimum Web browser requirements.

How do I know if my computer will work with K-State Online?

K-State Online requires different applications and software. To check if your computer is ready for K-State Online, take the Readiness Test.

What Web browsers work best for K-State Online?

The most current version of Firefox or Internet Explorer is highly recommended for both instructor and student users. K-State Online has been tested with Firefox 0.8 and above, Internet Explorer version 4.0 and above and with Netscape Navigator 4.7 and above. Netscape version 6.0 should not be used. Apple Mac users should use the most current version of Firefox or Safari. Internet Explorer for the Mac is not recommended. To download the latest version of Firefox or Internet Explorer, click here.


Privacy and Security

Should I be concerned with the privacy of information I supply to K-State Online?

Any information submitted to K-State Online is used by instructors only for communication and official university purposes. The information is not shared with other students or persons outside of Kansas State University.

What kind of security measures are in place?

Security and privacy issues are important to Kansas State University. K-State Online security solutions comply with rigorous industry standards and are compatible with the widest range of platforms available.

This site has security measures in place to protect against the loss, misuse and alteration of the information under our control. The application is located on secure and dedicated servers.

How does my eID affect K-State Online?

In order to access your K-State Online account, you must have a K-State eID and password.

With the integration of the K-State eID, all users automatically have an account with K-State Online. First time users sign in with their eID and password.

If you do not know your eID or you have forgotten your password, call the IT Help Desk at (785) 532-7722. If you do not have an eID or if you have further inquiries about eID, go to http://eid.k-state.edu.


Technical Support

What do I do if I am having technical problems?

If you experience technical problems while using K-State Online, please call (800) 865-6143 or (785) 532-7722 or go to the IT Help Desk Website at http://support.online.ksu.edu.

What do I do if I have forgotten my password?

If you forgot your eID or password or cannot sign in with an existing eID or password, call the IT Help Desk at (785) 532-7722, toll free (800) 865-6143 or go to http://eid.k-state.edu.

What do I do if my popup blocker is blocking content?

Rather than turning off your pop-up blocker, the best solution is to set all K-State sites as exceptions in your pop-up blocker settings.

Internet Explorer Users: On your browser, under Tools select 'Pop-up Blocker' and then 'Pop-up Blocker settings'. In the textbox type *.ksu.edu and click the Add button.

Firefox Users: On your browser, under Tools select 'Options'. Click the Content icon and then the Exceptions button for Block pop-up windows. Type *.ksu.edu to allow all K-State related sites.

If you have a tool bar downloaded on your browser from a third-party (Google, Yahoo!, etc.), it may also be blocking content. See the help files of the individual tool bar for further instructions.

What happens if my computer crashes or I close the browser while using K-State Online?

If your computer crashes or you close the browser window, try signing in again to continue. If you still have trouble contact the IT Help Desk immediately at (800) 865-6143 or (785) 532-7722 or go to http://support.online.ksu.edu.

What should I do if the system is taking a long time to load?

First, be patient. Some computers and connections are faster than others depending on a computer's specific capabilities and connection speeds. Try closing the browser and signing in again. If problems persist contact the IT Help Desk at (800) 865-6143 or (785) 532-7722 or go to http://support.online.ksu.edu.

I use a Macintosh. Is there anything I need to know before I start using K-State Online?

The recommended browser for viewing K-State Online with a Mac is the latest version of Firefox.

Where can I get information or assistance on making my course accessible to people with disabilities?

Contact Disability Support Services
Web: http://www.k-state.edu/dss
E-mail:
Phone: (785) 532-6441

Where can I get help on creating audio and/or video to put online?

Contact iTAC's Media Development Center. You can also check out equipment such as digital still cameras, digital video camcorders, tripods and IC recorders from the MDC.
Web: http://main.itac.ksu.edu/mdc/
E-mail:
Phone: (785) 532-7422

Where can I get K-State Online training?

Contact iTAC's Technology Training. They offer many face-to-face and online training sessions throughout the year.
Web: http://main.itac.ksu.edu/training/
E-mail: or
Phone: (785) 532-7722

Can I use K-State Online to have live online meetings or lectures with my students or colleagues?

Yes. Using Horizon Wimba through K-State Online you can meet with anyone on your course roster in a live online classroom. Click the Wimba Live link in your course to begin using Wimba. For more information about Wimba contact Bryan Vandiviere of the Office of Mediated Education at (785) 532-2508 or e-mail .

Who do I contact if I have questions or need technical assistance?

Contact the IT Help Desk
Web: http://support.online.ksu.edu
Email: help@online.ksu.edu
Phone: (800) 865-6143 or (785) 532-7722