Trojan Net Overview & Navigation Demo

The DSU Trojan Net intranet is Dakota State University’s centralized digital hub for campus information, resources, communication, and collaboration. The Trojan Net was launched in December 2024 with some key faculty and staff content only.  It has now been expanded to include student content and has fully replaced the MyDSU Portal. 

Built using Microsoft SharePoint Online, Trojan Net provides students, faculty, and staff with a modern, easy-to-navigate platform designed to streamline access to important tools and content. It serves as a one-stop destination for campus announcements, departmental information, internal documents, and quick links to frequently used services.

This article explains the foundational structure of the site — including how Hub Sites, Communication Sites, and Pages work together — so users can better understand how to navigate and make use of Trojan Net.

At the center of Trojan Net is the DSU Hub Site/Home Page, which acts as the primary organizing structure for the entire intranet.

Key functions of the Hub Site include:

• Unified Navigation: The hub provides a consistent top-level menu(highlighted in yellow below) that connects related sites across the university, making it easier to browse by department or resource type.
• Shared Branding: Visual elements like logos, color schemes, and headers remain consistent across connected sites, providing a cohesive DSU look and feel.
• Aggregated Content: News posts, events, and updates from connected Communication Sites can roll up into hub-level displays so users can see what's happening across campus in one place.
• Search Centralization: Searching from the hub surfaces content from all sites connected to it, improving the ability to find documents, announcements, and resources regardless of their location.

In Trojan Net, the hub site anchors the intranet and ensures users can move smoothly between academic units, administrative offices, and campus resources.

Most of the departments, offices, or role-specific areas of Trojan Net are structured as SharePoint Communication Sites. These sites are designed for broadcasting information rather than managing team collaboration.

Communication Sites are ideal for:

• Sharing links and forms related to their area
• Posting policies and procedures
• Displaying evergreen content (such as “About Us,” service information, or contact listings)
• Offering resource libraries and downloadable documents
• Highlighting events or news within a department

Examples of Communication Sites within Trojan Net may include:

• Academics
• Business Office
• Student Resources
• Human Resources
• IT Services

Each Communication Site is connected to the Trojan Net Hub so that content — particularly news or updates — can be rolled up for broader visibility.  Screenshot of Academics Communication Site:

Within communication sites, content is structured using SharePoint Pages, which support a flexible, modular approach to presenting information.

Common page features include:

• Web Parts such as hero banners, text, document libraries, images, quick links, calendars, and people cards
• Announcements or news articles formatted as modern SharePoint news posts
• Navigation panels that help organize related content
• Embedded resources such as videos, forms, and documents

Pages ensure that each area of Trojan Net provides clear, structured information that is easy to read and accessible across devices.  Example of “Payment Page” in the Student Resources Communications site:

The DSU Trojan Net intranet is designed to help the campus community:

• Find Information Quickly: The unified structure means fewer clicks and faster access to needed content.
• Stay Informed: Announcements and news posts consolidate updates from across campus.
• Access Resources Anywhere: SharePoint Online provides a responsive, mobile-friendly experience.
• Experience Consistency: Standardized navigation and design help reduce confusion and improve usability.