George Mason University students are provided with general use computer labs on each campus. These labs, open extensive hours, offer Internet connectivity, standard software packages and software specific to course work, and printing capabilities. Additionally, the Fairfax Campus offers “e-mail express” stations in high traffic areas for accessing e-mail and the Internet. The university provides wireless network connectivity in some classrooms, as well as in student unions and meeting spaces.

George Mason University offers assistive technology devices and software to help any student with an identified disability access computer stations on campus. There is an extensive assistive technology computer lab available to all students. In addition, there are designated computer stations located in the library on each campus that are available to students. Students with disabilities can also request to have the assistive technology, loaded in any computer lab on campus as needed. See the web site for a list of available assistive technology on campus.

Students are entitled to use the university’s e-mail system during their tenure as a student. Access to the e-mail system is enabled upon acceptance to the university.

E-mail is considered an official medium of communication for the university.

Students may create personal web pages. George Mason’s home page includes a “Web Development” link, which includes introductory information about designing web pages. The Student Technology Assistance and Resource Center (STAR) is composed of three groups that focus on student support and assistance. STAR*T provides hands-on technology training for students (Johnson Center, Room 344). Web.STAR (Johnson Center, Room 311) helps student design and create web sites, and STAR*Works (Johnson Center, Room 311) assists students in learning office productivity and presentation tools.

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There is a “Mason Directory” option on Mason’s home page, which allows anyone to search for a faculty, staff, or student. For faculty and staff, the information includes office location, phone number, and e-mail. For students, the information lists the e-mail and intended major.

The university provides an online calendar of daily campus events. Information about all student services is accessible via the web through a student web page. University Life, the university unit that provides services for students, also maintains a web site. All sites provide information about the services provided, but students can also find the full text of some educational or self-instructional guides and events of the day online. Access to internship, co-op, and full-time job listings, career information, and information about choosing a major is available at the Career Services web site.

A listing of student media is available online. An interactive version of the student newspaper, Broadside, is available on the same day the print version comes out; the student radio station, WGMU, has been broadcasting on the web for several years; the student literary journals put some or all of their publications online; and the newest student journal is an online publication. Students can also contribute to the print publications via e-mail.

GMUsports.com offers schedules and stats on Patriot sports, e-mail links to Mason coaches, a place to purchase tickets online, and live broadcasts of Patriot games. In addition, an independent site provides resources for fans of Patriot basketball, including audio archives of the Coach Larranaga Show.

George Mason’s web site has a special page of resources for students. This page includes a section on student organizations and activities. There is also a Student Activities web site that has a link to student organizations. In August 2003, more than 200 student organizations and clubs on campus were recognized, including organizations based on academic interests, cultural and national heritage, religious affiliation, athletics, and social activity.

The university has Townhall, which offers online conferencing and collaboration for instructional use utilizing the Web Crossing ® software. This web-based software only requires users to have access to a web browser such as Netscape or Internet Explorer to access Townhall. No knowledge of HTML is required to post messages. Individual courses have their own folders and subfolders. Although an account is required, guest accounts are available.