March 9, 2009

Contact:
Liz Babiarz, 404-413-1356
University Relations

New Web portal launched for GSU students, faculty and staff

ATLANTA –Want to be more organized, get information faster and stay connected to people with similar interests?

Now students and university employees can, thanks to Georgia State University’s newly-launched portal called PAWS, Panther Access to Web Services.

Look for the PAWS icon on the upper-right corner of the university’s Web, or visit https://paws.gsu.edu. Sign in with your campus ID and password.

Once logged in, you will find a virtualized campus environment with convenient access to information specific to your role at the university.  The portal combines services, resources and information from the GSU Web site in one convenient location.

“Instead of worrying about where to find information, we’re bringing it to you,” said Kristian Serrano, PAWS administrator in the PAWS Office, part of Enrollment Services.

On PAWS, students can access registration, financial aid and personal information, while checking their e-mail, learning about events on campus and researching an assignment, for example.

“It allows you to tap more into the university and have a better understanding of what’s happening,” said Fallon Proctor, a recent GSU graduate now working in the Dean of Students Office.

Faculty and staff will likely find PAWS useful as well. They will have quick access to Banner, GoSOLAR and other commonly-used systems on campus, such as e-mail, the IT Help Desk, the Library, Human Resources and parking information. Employees can also communicate with students in a new way by posting news in their respective channels on PAWS.

In the future, the PAWS Office will continue to expand the portal to bring users more personalized information and more interaction through groups. Within groups, members can send out messages, post on message boards and upload photos.