Class Storage

Summary

Faculty members may request that Winona State University Information Technology Services (ITS) provision class-specific storage on the WSU network file server for the duration of an academic term. This storage is securely accessible only to the course instructor and enrolled students.

Each class storage directory includes:

  • Individual subdirectories for each student, accessible only by the respective student and instructor.
  • A shared subdirectory accessible to all students in the course for collaborative file sharing.

Access to class storage is available via the web to authorized users using VPN. Student access is automatically managed based on the official course roster, with real-time updates reflecting course adds and drops throughout the term.

Information Applies to

Faculty, Current Students, New Students

Request Class Storage

Instructors may request class storage once their courses are available in Minnesota State’s official student record system (ISRS). All the courses you are scheduled to teach that term will be displayed. If you do not see a course listed, contact your department chair to ensure that you are entered in ISRS as the teacher of record for that course.

How to request class storage:

  1. Visit the Class Storage Request Page

  2. Sign In
    Log in using your StarID credentials:

    • Username: Your StarID (e.g. ab1234cd)
    • Password: Your StarID password

  3. Select the Academic Term
    Click the Change Term tab to ensure the correct term is selected.

  4. Submit Your Request
    Go to the Storage Requests tab and click Create.
    All courses you are scheduled to teach for the selected term will be listed.

Accessing a class store

Class storage is hosted on a local network file server and is accessible from both Windows and macOS devices. 

PC users - before Summer 2024

If you received a Windows PC before the summer of 2024, please follow these instructions:

 All your local network storage folders should appear in File Explorer automatically if you connect to the campus network with a wire (e.g. when using a desktop) or to campus wireless (Warrior or WAZOO).

  1. Select the icon on your taskbar at the bottom of your screen to open File Explorer. If you don't have this pinned to your taskbar, search your computer for "file explorer." Scroll down to the bottom of the list of locations on the left. Your local network storage folders should be listed under the This PC heading. You may need to expand that list to see them.

This PC

  1. If you do not see your folders listed, select the Click to Map Network drives tile on the Start Menu or search for Click to Map Network Drives. A black command window will open on your screen. Wait until the command window closes on it's own, it may take a few minutes. Check File Explorer again. 

Select Start and Click to Map Network Drives.  Click to Map Network Drives

PC users - after Summer 2024

If you received a Windows PC after the summer of 2024, please follow these instructions:

  1. Open File Explorer and select “This PC” on the left menu bar.
  2. Right click on “This PC”
  3. Then select “Map network drive…”

Map Network Drive

  1. A new window will appear. The letter “Z” will automatically appear in the “Drive” dropdown menu. From the dropdown menu select “T.”
  2. In the box labeled “Folder” copy the following path: \\winona.edu\dfs\Community\ClassStorage

Mapping the drive​​​​​​​

  1. Then select finish.
  2. A new window will appear. Enter your StarID@winona.edu and your StarID password.
  3. Select the “Remember my credentials” box and then select “ok.”

Username and password

Mac users​​​​​​​

  1. In Finder, select Connect to Server from the Go menu. You can also press and hold the <Command> key, then tap the <K> key to bring up the Connect to Server window.

Connect to Server

  1. Enter one of the following server locations: smb://store.winona.edu/users/ (personal), smb://store.winona.edu/department/ (department), or smb://files.winona.edu/classes (class). Select the + icon to save the server location as a favorite.
  2. Select Connect on the You are attempting to connect window.

Select connect

  1. Select Connect As Registered User. Enter your StarID username and password and select the Remember this password in my keychain checkbox. Select Connect.

Sign in​​​​​​​

  1. The server location will appear as an icon on your desktop, indicating your connection.

Additional Information

  • 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.
  • A TA or tutor can be added to a specific class storage as an instructor to get access. Updated class lists (due to drop/add) will occur once daily by IT until the drop/add period is over.
  • Class storage 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.
  • When you are off campus, you will need to connect to campus VPN to connect to this drive. 

Learn More

Need additional information or assistance? Contact WSU Tech Support by email or call 507.457.5240, option 1.

Need additional information or assistance? Contact WSU TLT by email, phone (507.457.5240, option 3), or Zoom.

Need additional information or assistance? Visit the Digital Learning Commons in Library 105.

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