The University is in talks with Google to switch to Gmail as the official e-mail server for students.
Contracts between the University and Google have been drafted and are awaiting signatures, according to Sheri Thompson, Information Technology Planning and Communications officer.
The University currently uses Out Blaze to host student e-mail accounts. The Out Blaze contact expires June 30, 2009.
The 2007-08 fiscal year contract between Out Blaze and the University cost $223,200, according to the Student Technology Fee project approval list.
Thompson said the official decision to change to Google was made by the Student Tech Fee Oversight Committee.
“Students pay for Out Blaze,” Thompson said. “Google provides free service so we decided to explore it.”
Thompson said students should expect more efficiency from Gmail.
“We’ve had some issues with e-mail,” Thompson said. “There will be an increase in quality, and most students have a Gmail account so it has a proven track record of success.”
Thompson said it will take a year for the switch to Google to be complete.
“[Gmail] will probably be ready by the middle of the fall semester,” Thompson said. “So people who want to switch will have the option. We want to have these early adapters to work out any bugs or kinks that might arise.”
Students enrolling in the University in January will automatically receive Gmail accounts.
Students not enlisted with Gmail by June 2009 will automatically be switched to Gmail.
Student e-mail addresses will not be changed and will maintain the lsu.edu ending.
Thompson said the only costs of Gmail would be the initial cost of the “people who provide support and set up the environment.”
These costs will be covered by the University, Thompson said.
The new e-mail accounts will be referred to as Tiger Mail, according to Thompson.
Student Government Senator Andy Palermo said students will notice the benefits of Gmail.
“There will be a definite increase in speed of receiving e-mails,” Palermo said. “There will be other features with Gmail, but the delivery time is what is important. This way we’ll have an e-mail system that’s really quick.”
Palermo said the switch will also free up some student fees.
“We won’t have to spend money on e-mail anymore,” Palermo said. “That’s money that can go toward another student initiative.”
The University has been in contract with Out Blaze since 2004, according to Thompson.
—-Contact Katie Kennedy at [email protected]