Class storage

About this article

This article includes a general description of a "class store" network storage space, instructions for faculty on how to request one, instructions for faculty and students on how to access these storage spaces, and an overview of their major features, functions, and academic applications. This article is intended for instructors and students.

What's a Class Store?

An instructor can request that a network storage directory or folder be created for the duration of a course that is only accessible to the instructor and students of that course. Each students has a personal subfolder and there is a shared folder that everyone can use. These files are also accessible via web browser by account owner and secure web browser.

Creating and adding students to Class Store

Students will automatically be added to the class based on the class roster in ISRS. A TA or tutor can be added to a specific class storage as an instructor to get access. Course storage may be requested by Faculty or Staff teaching a course as that course becomes available within the MNSCU tracking system. Faculty members will need to know the year/term of the course along with the department and the 6 digit MNSCU course ID for that course in the given year / term. Upon completion of the course request form, course storage will be created within 2 hours.

Request a class store

Updated class lists (due to drop/add) will occur once daily by IT until the drop/add period is over.

Accessing a class store

Class storage is located on a local network file server.

On a PC, you connect to it as you would your R: (personal) or S: (department) drives. The class storage will be listed automatically as your T directory or ClassStorage(\\winona.edu\dfs\Community)((T:). When you are off campus, you will need a VPN connection and will also need to Click to Map Drives in order to see it on your list of locations in File Explorer.
On a Mac, select the Go menu of the Finder. Then select Connect to Server. Search for smb://files.winona.edu/classes
Each class store will be named according to the year/term and the 6 digit Minnesota State ID of that course. Each course will have a 1 GB storage limit. Access to each course will be determined by the class roster.

Mapping Network Drives

Please refer to Mapping Network Drives when connecting to storage.

Class store is temporary

Your class store will be disabled at the end of the semester. Don't forget to save anything you need from class store to another location.