Student email, calendar and file storage/sharing services are moving from Google Suite (Gmail and Google Drive) to Microsoft 365 (Outlook & OneDrive).
Student email, calendar and file storage/sharing services are moving from Google Suite (Gmail and Google Drive) to Microsoft 365 (Outlook & OneDrive).
TU students already have Microsoft 365 apps like Word, Excel, OneDrive and PowerPoint. This project adds Outlook email/calendaring to their existing accounts and will focus on student use of Outlook for email and OneDrive for storage in addition to decommissioning the university's use of Google Suite.
OTS will migrate student accounts in phases from Google to Microsoft 365 based on the timeline below. Students can select an early opt-in migration date or be migrated after the spring 2023 term ends. OTS, Student Computing Services and the Microsoft 365 project team will communicate specifics to students through TU Today and direct emails. Your email address won’t change.
When/Tentative Planned Date (*Subject to Change) | Who/accounts being migrated |
---|---|
Jan. 10 | OTS student employees. |
Jan. 24 | Other TU student employees who opt-in for this early migration date. |
Jan. 30 | Spring term begins |
Feb. 8 | New accounts created will be in Microsoft (no new Google accounts) |
Feb. 10 | Students who opt-in for this first early migration date by Feb. 5. Sign up now. New accounts created Jan. 13 - Feb. 10 will also be migrated. |
March 3 | Students who opt-in for this second early migration date by Feb. 26. Sign up now. |
March 17 | Students who last attended in 2022 and aren’t taking classes in 2023 |
March 18-26 | Spring break |
April 7 | Students who opt-in for this third early migration date by April 2. Sign up now. |
May 23 | Spring term ends |
May 26-28 | Remaining current/active students enrolled for Winter or Spring 2023. Once migration is complete, TU Google accounts won’t be accessible. |
Yes. OneDrive is currently available to all enrolled TU students and can be accessed through:
See TU's Microsoft 365 webpage for more info on using OneDrive.
Not until you've been migrated, but you can opt-in to get early access. Already made the move? Access Outlook through:
See TU's Microsoft 365 webpage for more info on using Outlook.
If you signed up for an account using your TU email address, you should be fine since your email isn't changing. If you clicked the option to sign up with Google, you'll need to login into that account and change it prior to migration.
No, not as part of this project. TU currently uses Webex for meetings and chats. But if your TU organization or department needs a functionality provided by Microsoft Teams that Webex doesn’t offer, you can include it in a submission to the university’s technology planning process.
To connect with the technology planning conversation in your college, faculty should contact their CCLT Coordinator. Student organizations can contact the Academic Technology Engagement Program (ATEP) to discuss technology needs.
Yes. Each account gets 5 TB of storage. Contact SCS if you need more help.
Opting-in gives you early access to Outlook, plus additional time to explore Microsoft features and get help if needed. Plus, you can choose the pre-determined date that’s most convenient for you. If no date is chosen, you'll be migrated at the end of the spring 2023 term.
Once your account is migrated, you won’t be able to get back into your TU Gmail account. There is a limited access window during which Student Computing Services can help retrieve files from your account. Contact SCS for help.
It’s always wise to regularly back up important and extra-large files, but there aren’t any required steps for you to take. You’ll be notified by OTS/SCS with a heads up that your account will be migrated and OTS will handle all aspects of migrating emails, contacts and files.
No. You’ll be able to get into your TU email at any time. Continue using Gmail until you get the confirmation message from SCS that your migration is complete, then you'll start using Outlook from that point on.
No, but the form spreadsheet and data will be migrated. Use Microsoft Forms to create forms after your migration.
Download the individual apps including Outlook and OneDrive, or using a browser, login through m365.towson.edu or myTU.
Yes, to better protect students, there will be text at the top of emails coming from external sources to remind you to use caution when interacting with the email. Faculty and staff already have this in place.
No. No additional subscription is needed unless you want to create an additional private Microsoft 365 account. Learn more.
Yes, you can access your Microsoft account for 18 months after the spring term ends.
Visit the Microsoft 365 Self-Help Resources webpage. Student Computing Services can help before, during and after the migration.
Because students will be using the same email and file storing/sharing service, faculty and staff will be able to schedule student meetings in Outlook and continue to share documents directly with them using OneDrive. Need help with setting up things like file sharing with a class? Contact the OTS Faculty/Staff Help Center or submit a TechHelp service request.