To mitigate cybersecurity and data privacy risks and avoid new costs for data stored, Missouri Western State University will no longer offer @missouriwestern.edu accounts to people after they graduate, no longer attend the institution, separate from employment, or retire.

Missouri Western State University (MWSU) provides access to more than 90,000 Gmail accounts for individuals who have moved on from the University over the years. Due to the growing challenges with protecting information in the 21st century and the number of cybersecurity incidents targeting colleges and universities, effective January 16, 2025, the University will begin to deactivate Gmail accounts unless the user is in one of the following categories:

• Currently enrolled student or current applicant for spring, summer or fall 2025

• Student who last attended within the prior twelve (12) months

• Current faculty, staff, Board of Governor, or authorized third party (vendor)

• Faculty or staff who have retired within the prior six (6) months

• Retired Faculty Emeriti

Deactivation of email accounts means all individuals, unless they fall within one or more of the above identified categories, will lose access to everything that lives under that account, including Goldlink, email, contact lists, Google Drive folders and documents, and calendars. 

For account deactivation purposes, the date a student actually completes their degree requirements will be used. Accounts for any student who hasn’t completed their degree will remain active for one calendar year. After one year, their account will be deactivated. If the student reapplies and is readmitted to the University after this point, their account will be reactivated or a new account created. Six months following an employee’s retirement, their account will be deactivated unless they have been recognized as Faculty Emeriti.

At this time, if you continue to use your MWSU issued Gmail and/or have documents stored to Google Docs associated with this account, you are advised to create a new Gmail or other email account and migrate your critical documents. Once your accounts are deactivated, you will not have access to any information or documents associated with the MWSU Gmail account.

This is a common practice among universities, and one that MWSU must make standard to safeguard the information of our current students, faculty and staff. 

If you are a former student who has not attended in the prior 12 months but wish to reapply to re-enroll at the university, please contact the  Office of Admission.