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Topic 4: Information Technology

Your GMU Email Account
As a GMU student, you are required to activate your Mason email account and monitor the account on a regular basis. SPP and the university will provide official information to you using the Mason email system and you are responsible for the content of university communication sent to your account. Visit the MasonLive login page to activate your Mason email account.

Responsible Use of Computing Policy
Members of the Mason community are required to adhere to the Responsible Use of Computing Policy (RUC). The provisions of this policy can be found here.

Patriot Web
Patriot Web is a self-service interface created for Mason students, faculty, and staff. As a Mason student you will use Patriot Web to do the following:

Register for courses and make schedule adjustments
Waitlist for courses
Check your registration status and view your class schedule
View your account balance and post tuition payments
Review your financial aid status and awards
View your final grades and degree progress
Update your address and contact information

The SPP Student Guide to Patriot Web provides step-by-step instructions for navigating various Patriot Web functions:

Blackboard
Blackboard is a web-based system used by some SPP faculty to post course readings and assignments and to facilitate class discussions. If your professor is using Blackboard, he or she will provide you with access to the class folder in Blackboard. Your Blackboard login is your GMU e-mail user name without the "gmu.edu." The password is the same as your email password.

Blackboard Student Quick Guide
Blackboard FAQs

Microsoft Excel and Microsoft PowerPoint
Basic Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint skills may be necessary for some of your coursework. If you do not feel confident in using these software programs, free tutorials are available to you as a Mason student through Skillport, an online training resource. You can access these tutorials by following the steps below:

Go to the Skillport login page
Log in (Username: Entire Mason Email address, Password: G-number including "G")
Click on the "Catalog" menu button
Select the MS Office 2007 folder
Select the appropriate Excel or PowerPoint tutorial

Continue to Topic 5: Graduate Research and Writing
Return to PhD 101 Menu

SPP tuition for in-state students is approximately half the cost of the tuition at private competitors in the D.C. area.

Employer information sessions are offered each semester with public, private, and nonprofit organizations such as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, RAND, Third Way, and the Department of Treasury.

More than 70% of SPP students are employed while pursuing their degrees -- classes are offered in the late afternoon and early evening to accommodate full- and part-time students.