Students prepare for e-mail switch

During semester break, the MyMail system that serves as the primary campus e-mail for students will be dumped in favor of Outlook Web Access, and some students are not very happy.

"I think it's a bad idea," said Bobbie Zapor, a history graduate student.

Zapor is worried that the e-mails currently saved in her inbox will not transfer to the new system.

"It's very inconvenient for a student," Zapor said.

An advertisement specifying the details of the switchover has been running in the Statesman. The switch will take place Jan. 5. Students' new email address will be their Sycamore login, sycamorelogin@indstate.edu. The system can be accessed through the MyISU portal, which will remain in existence after the switch.

As Zapor feared, e-mails stored on MyMail accounts will not automatically transfer to Outlook. Students will have until March 15 to move mail to their new account; after that date the MyMail system will be deactivated.

The process of choosing a new e-mail system began with looking at a "variety of the more popular and common options used for student e-mail, including outsourced solutions," said Yancy Phillips, director of user services for the Office of Information Technology.

"The list of possible solutions were narrowed to Zimbra and Exchange/Outlook Web Access," Phillips said. "While both were tested, Exchange was deemed to be cost prohibitive due to licensing cost."

In April, OIT teamed up with SGA to gauge student feedback of Zimbra. In September, OIT learned that the use of Exchange/Outlook Web Access "could be included under the campus agreement that students help pay for through their technology fee," Phillips said.

Thirty-one students were then provided with accounts on both systems, Phillips said, but no clear preference emerged between the two. Zimbra was found to be user friendly, but students said they expected to use Exchange/Outlook in the workforce after graduation.

Ultimately, licensing costs and the ability to integrate with other university systems convinced OIT to go with Exchange/Outlook, Phillips said.

"Although there will be differences between Exchange/Outlook Web Access and MyMail, students will find that it is very similar to other Web e-mail systems," Phillips said.

Senior nursing major Christy Bluhm, who was also concerned that old e-mails would not transfer to the new system, felt that OIT gave students "very short notice" on the change.

"I think we need more information on what's going to happen," Bluhm said.

( Nick Hedrick is a freshman communication major. He can be reached at sascamed@isugw.indstate.edu)