Why the Move?
The era of 'low-cost' or 'no-cost' online file storage has ended. Both Google and Microsoft have made significant changes to their online storage cost models for higher education institutions, including Illinois Tech.
Google historically offered educational institutions free and unlimited storage. This changed in 2022 when Google unilaterally changed their terms and conditions. It is no longer free, and the expense scales with usage. For a university with ambitious growth plans, goals to expand in the global market along substantial storage needs, the cost is significant. Further, Google expenses are duplicative of the university’s existing and ongoing enterprise relationship with Microsoft.
Beginning Jan 2023, OTS asked community members to move Google Drive contents to Microsoft 365 environment to reduce our storage consumption. After carefully considering cost, security, scalability, capabilities, and complexity, we have made the difficult decision to transition to a feature rich platform by phasing out of Google to Microsoft 365. As part of this move, we will also transition our Alumni population to an email forwarding service to stay connected with Illinois Tech.
What is Changing?
We will be moving from Google Workspace to Microsoft 365. The Microsoft environment will become our new platform for email, scheduling, collaboration, and much more.
- Email and calendar features will move to Microsoft to fully utilize the Microsoft 356 suite
- Google Drive content will be moved to OneDrive and Team drives
- Email domain will reflect our new identity as Illinois Tech
Moving to Microsoft 365
- Microsoft Outlook will be used as the native email platform instead of Gmail
- Microsoft Outlook will replace Google calendar functions
- Microsoft OneDrive will replace Google Drive
- Microsoft Teams will replace Google Shared Drive
Email Domain Changes: From @iit.edu and subdomain.iit.edu to @illinoistech.edu
- In conjunction with rebranding to Illinois Tech a universal email domain across all colleges will be enabled
- All students will use the @hawk.illinoistech.edu domain
- All faculty and staff will use the @illinoistech.edu domain
- Your usernames (the part before the @ symbol) will remain the same
- You will only be able to receive on your username@iit.edu or username@subdomain.iit.edu
Storage Quotas
- Given the storage limitations, quotas will be enforced on all accounts
- A process is being developed to request additional storage based on the business use case which will be communicated to the user community in advance of the enforcement of quotas
- We are still in the process of determining quotas which will be communicated at a later date
Implementation Timeline
We will provide more information on this timeline once it is available. Our project team is working on finalizing a transition plan with Microsoft.
Training and Support
OTS is committed to providing the necessary support and training throughout this transition. Hence, we are partnering with the Center for Learning and Innovation, Academic Technology Services, and Paul V. Galvin Library to offer training. Check back here for more information and answers to frequently asked questions!
How Can I Prepare?
There is nothing you need to do right now, but here are some things you can do that will make the transition easier when the time comes.
- Access: Make sure you can access the Microsoft 365 office portal app from access.iit.edu
- Get acquainted with Microsoft 365: Current students, faculty, and staff have access to most of the applications in Microsoft 365. You can use the apps online or download the software to your devices.
- Preview training materials:
- Clean up your files: Delete what you do not need from Google, and you will have a cleaner fresh start in Microsoft.