Alumni and friends of Mississippi State now can make contributions to the university in complete confidentiality over the Internet.
A new secure server at the Mississippi State Alumni AssociationÕs World Wide Web site is enabling the Starkville school to be among the first universities in the country with such a capability.
J. Mark Hutchins, director of annual giving, said the electronic connection allows supporters to use their credit cards to make gifts. Persons visiting the web site quickly can complete a form indicating the amount and the designation of the contribution, along with credit card information allowing their gift to be charged.
ÒThe secure server then will conduct an encrypted transaction," Hutchins said. "The user has no fear of an intermediary obtaining the credit card information."
The alumni association will acknowledge the gift when it is received and the transaction will be indicated on the donorÕs credit card billing statement.
Mississippi State alumni and friends can continue to make annual gifts through traditional methods as well, Hutchins said.
The web site server is accessed at http://msuinfo.ur.msstate.edu/alumni/. Users then may follow the links to ÒGiving Opportunities" and ÒThe Annual Giving Program.Ó
Contributors to the universityÕs Annual Giving Program automatically become active members in the alumni association.