Students: expect email service transition in November
By: Daniel Reynolds
-Staff Writer-
An email was sent en masse to students alerting them to a change in the email service provider at STLCC on Oct. 6.
Student email service will transition from Windows Live to Outlook Live, and students will start logging in to the new service Nov. 11. Between then and Nov. 28, students will be asked to take a few steps to manage the new system, said Khoulous Hawasli, project manager and STLCC manager for technology and educational support systems.
“The Outlook sign on experience looks slightly different but remains essentially the same,” Hawasli said.
These steps include, but are not limited to, verifying the content of their mailboxes on both the new and old system and compare them, set up any distribution lists and email forwarding, connect Outlook Client to Outlook Live, if they use it, and transfer any data from their Hotmail calendar to their new Outlook Live calendar if students choose to.
Hawasli said students must monitor their email and look for an email titled “Welcome to Outlook Live! ACTION NEEDED” on Nov. 10.
The project is being handled by Cosand Center TESS staff.
According to Hawasli, the new service will provide students with anywhere access and up to 10GB mailboxes. Ten gigabytes is equal to 2,500 five-minute songs, or 12,500 minutes worth of music, or more than eight and a half days of music.
Along with 10GB mailboxes and ability to access, share, and collaborate through SkyDrive, there are also productivity services which allow students to create, view, edit, and share Microsoft Word, Excel PowerPoint, and OneNote files online with SkyDrive.
“The student email is moving to an Exchange system which can be configured very easily on mobile devices such as iPhone and Androids,” Hawasli said.
An Exchange system is an email-based collaborative communications system for businesses, according to Microsoft Office website http://office.microsoft.com.
Though not much will change in regards to the navigation of the new email system, the new Outlook Live should prove easier for students to navigate, according to Hawasli.
If any student should find the transition confusing, Hawasli said the email website will provide additional information. Students’ email websites will also be updated.
Hawasli said there will be no email delays and student should be able to manage their mail as usual.
“Students and professors will continue communicating using the existing services throughout the project,” Hawasli said.
