Mastering the Move to Google Mail
After migrating its entire campus to Google Mail, Santa Clara University shares its experience and offers advice to schools considering a similar move.
Santa Clara University (CA) recently completed a four-month, phased migration of all student, faculty, and staff e-mail accounts to Google Apps for Education. While the main focus was obviously e-mail, electronic communications across campus received an upgrade, too. IT managers also overhauled their identity-management system, offering users the added benefit of a simpler sign-on. Here, SCU administrators share their school's migration story with CT.
How would you describe SCU's experience migrating to Google Mail?
Courtesy of Santa Clara University |
"The migration tools worked very well, contrary to what we'd heard from some schools that had made the move before us. But, like any large project, we had a few learning experiences." --Ron Danielson, vice provost for information services and CIO
What were the main migration issues for your campus?
Courtesy of Santa Clara University |
"The largest issue that we had was handling all the 'special case' accounts that had been created over years that are outside of policy and practice for the campus." --Todd Schmitzer, manager of networking and telecommunications
What advice do you have for other institutions planning a similar move?
Courtesy of Santa Clara University |
"The phased implementation really saved most of the campus from experiencing any problems. We communicated like crazy.... Another very beneficial decision was to staff up with temporary help." --Ron Danielson
About the Author
Mary Grush is Editor and Conference Program Director, Campus Technology.