Wayne State U Implements Hosted Collaboration Suite

Wayne State University (WSU) in Wayne, MI, has announced the campus-wide implementation of MeritMail, a hosted collaboration tool that includes e-mail, calendaring, address book, document sharing, and integrated instant messaging.

"We were really able to bring the campus greater value and efficiency with calendaring and collaboration across departments," said Daren Hubbard, information technology director for WSU. "We've had a tremendous response from our users. It's been very reliable, and we've received positive feedback from our students, faculty, and staff."

Among the MeritMail features that appealed to WSU were archiving and disaster recovery and protection against spam, malware, and viruses. The school also said it appreciated the ease and convenience of institutional branding, choosing to call its campus system Wayne Connect and immediately adding its own school logo and color palette.

Joseph Sawasky, associate vice president for computing and CIO for the public university, added that an important part of the decision to use a hosted e-mail solution related to security. "By NetSourcing our e-mail system with Merit Network, we are using a trusted provider that will maintain the integrity and privacy of our data, while delivering a full-featured e-mail solution to our users."

Hubbard also pointed out how quickly the MeritMail staff was able to migrate WSU to the new system. "We worked closely with the Merit support staff to seamlessly move over our users. We found Merit to be a very helpful partner for making this happen."

About the Author

Scott Aronowitz is a freelance writer based in Las Vegas. He has covered the technology, advertising, and entertainment sectors for seven years. He can be reached here.

Featured

  • AI-inspired background pattern with geometric shapes and fine lines in muted blue and gray on a dark background

    IBM Releases Granite 3.0 Family of Advanced AI Models

    IBM has introduced its most advanced family of AI models to date, Granite 3.0, at its annual TechXchange event. The new models were developed to provide a combination of performance, flexibility, and autonomy that outperforms or matches similarly sized models from leading providers on a range of benchmarks.

  • interconnected cubes and circles arranged in a grid-like structure

    Hugging Face Gradio 5 Offers AI-Powered App Creation and Enhanced Security

    Hugging Face has released version 5 of its Gradio open source platform for building machine learning (ML) applications. The update introduces a suite of features focused on expanding access to AI, including a novel AI-powered app creation tool, enhanced web development capabilities, and bolstered security measures.

  • close-up illustration of a hand signing a legislative document

    California Passes AI Safety Legislation, Awaits Governor's Signature

    California lawmakers have overwhelmingly approved a bill that would impose new restrictions on AI technologies, potentially setting a national precedent for regulating the rapidly evolving field. The legislation, known as S.B. 1047, now heads to Governor Gavin Newsom's desk. He has until the end of September to decide whether to sign it into law.

  • abstract design with shapes resembling open books and knowledge pathways, intertwined with circuit-like patterns

    New AAC&U Institute to Explore Challenges and Opportunities of AI in Teaching and Learning

    The American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) a new Institute on AI, Pedagogy, and the Curriculum designed to "help departments, programs, colleges, and universities respond effectively to the challenges and opportunities artificial intelligence (AI) presents for courses and curricula."