2008 Woodie Awards
Student e-mail to see system switch
By: Adam Louis
Issue date: 4/3/08 Section: Campus
Last week, when University students attempted to log into their WebMail accounts, they found an unexpected additional step in the process.
Students had to choose between logging onto the University's old WebMail system or the new Outlook Web Access system.
Right now students can choose to log into either system, said Communications Coordinator Cindy Fuller, but by June 30, all of the University's e-mail accounts will be on the new OWA system.
Users can log onto OWA after filling out an Exchange Volunteer Form on MyBGSU, Fuller said. By filling out this form, they can sign up for a date when their e-mail account will be transferred to OWA. Screen names and passwords will remain the same, and old e-mails, new e-mails and the address book will transfer.
If users choose not to fill out the form at this time, their e-mail data will be automatically transferred to OWA on June 30.
OWA, according to the Chief Information Officer's Web site, will be the University's new e-mail system because of several features requested by users. Similar to the current e-mail programs like Outlook and Entourage, the new WebMail includes a calendar program, file storage and sharing, the ability to access a spam folder, better control of deleted messages and access to e-mail through mobile devices.
Users have complained that the current software is out of date, said Assistant Director of Enterprise Systems Brian Rellinger. The current system, Sendmail, is being discontinued, making updates impossible.
The new, up-to-date system has a set of features aimed at providing a more organized system. Previously, the calendar system, e-mail server and file storage were all from separate software companies and did not integrate well, Rellinger said.
With the new software integrating more efficiently, e-mail, calendar entries and stored files are easier to access from any computer or mobile device since it will all be online, Chief Information Officer Bruce Petryshak said.
Students had to choose between logging onto the University's old WebMail system or the new Outlook Web Access system.
Right now students can choose to log into either system, said Communications Coordinator Cindy Fuller, but by June 30, all of the University's e-mail accounts will be on the new OWA system.
Users can log onto OWA after filling out an Exchange Volunteer Form on MyBGSU, Fuller said. By filling out this form, they can sign up for a date when their e-mail account will be transferred to OWA. Screen names and passwords will remain the same, and old e-mails, new e-mails and the address book will transfer.
If users choose not to fill out the form at this time, their e-mail data will be automatically transferred to OWA on June 30.
OWA, according to the Chief Information Officer's Web site, will be the University's new e-mail system because of several features requested by users. Similar to the current e-mail programs like Outlook and Entourage, the new WebMail includes a calendar program, file storage and sharing, the ability to access a spam folder, better control of deleted messages and access to e-mail through mobile devices.
Users have complained that the current software is out of date, said Assistant Director of Enterprise Systems Brian Rellinger. The current system, Sendmail, is being discontinued, making updates impossible.
The new, up-to-date system has a set of features aimed at providing a more organized system. Previously, the calendar system, e-mail server and file storage were all from separate software companies and did not integrate well, Rellinger said.
With the new software integrating more efficiently, e-mail, calendar entries and stored files are easier to access from any computer or mobile device since it will all be online, Chief Information Officer Bruce Petryshak said.
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