Eighth Story: METNET Poll

Have you ever had an email that was used as the main way for your communications that you felt was unreliable?

The Metropolitan Educational Telecommunications Network (METNET) is a distance learning network for higher education establishments. It consists of eleven Twin Cities’ metro area community colleges, technical colleges, Metropolitan State University and the University of Minnesota. Along with five other higher education telecommunication networks it helps make up the Learning Network of Minnesota.

One service that METNET offers is a free email service that is provided to support the educational mission of its institutions. The only problem is that METNET has is the disclaimer on their website under the Server Maintenance heading that says: "The METNET e-mail server has regularly scheduled maintenance on the second Sunday of each month from 9:30 - 10:30 AM. Users may not be able to access e-mail during this time." However, METNET is down way more than this disclaimer says it will be.

When 30 random Anoka-Ramsey Community College (ARCC) students were asked if they knew about METNET only 83.3 percent said yes, leaving the rest clueless. “I guess I don't know what it is or what it stands for,” said Nancy Winholtz, who has been attending ARCC for only four months and is taking only one class.

Out of the 83.3 percent who knew what METNET was 30 percent liked it. That tied with the 30 percent of students who either disliked it or thought it sucked. Amanda Scott, who has been attending ARCC for two years and accesses METNET almost everyday said, “I like metnet alot, it is a easy and productive way to communicate with teachers.” Another 20 percent thought it was outdated while only five percent thought that it was useful. The other 25 percent thought that METNET was ok or were indifferent about it. “It's like any other email account,” said Alison Kolodge, who has been attending ARCC for four years now.

Rebekah Phillips said: “I have attempted to before, but it is no use. It is so annoying when you need to check to see if you got an important email from a teacher or fellow student but are unable to because metnet is currently "down." It seems like it hasn't been as bad lately, but usually at least once or twice a month.” This was in response to the question do you attempt to log onto METNET while it is down and how often? She has been attending ARCC for two years and METNET is important to a few of her classes so she checks it at least once a day.

34.8 percent of students have also attempted to log onto METNET while it is down. “Hope it stays that way,” said Lucina Mendez who has been attending ARCC for only a semester. However, seven students skipped this question completely. “It's a pain becuase it usually lasts awhile and sometimes means that D2L is down also,” said Tawana Grimes who has attend ARCC only since fall semester 2009, but has been a student at Normandale for two years.

Even though METNET can be down and cause headaches 65.2 percent of students feel that professors have the right to require their students to use METNET. “When I first came to ARCC I would have answered no, they don't have the right. But now that I have been here a while I can see how much easier it is for the professors to be able to send out emails all to the same place. It really seems to save them a lot of time and stress, so I respect that they may want to require their students to use it. I think it's more effective when the professors simply request that the students use metnet, but I don't completely disagree with them requiring it. After all, it is their class:” said Rebekah Phillips who has been attending ARCC for two years now.

Overall, the students who were asked seem to either deal with METNET, forward their emails to another address or ignore METNET all together.

Session 27 Blog