With thousands of people now using UOmail, Information Services has begun work on the final and longest phase of the University of Oregon's email consolidation: transitioning Webmail users to UOmail.
"We're particularly excited about this last phase because UOmail is such a big step up," said Jessie Minton, vice provost for information services and chief information officer. "UO students and other Webmail users will get the benefits of a more modern email system with a powerful calendar and seamless integration with the Microsoft Office apps."
The first group scheduled to switch from Webmail to UOmail this December will include 1,100 individuals with roles ranging from emeritus faculty members to postdoctoral scholars, university associates and courtesy appointees.
Associates are people not employed by the UO who belong to an affiliate organization or have a business relationship with a UO department, such as employees of the Duck Store, UO Foundation and UO Religious Directors Association. Courtesy appointments are granted to faculty members, researchers, postdoctoral fellows and others who spend time on campus but aren't otherwise affiliated with the university.
Everyone scheduled to transition to UOmail in December will receive direct email notifications with more information.
This fall Information Services will also begin transitioning about 1,200 departmental role accounts from Webmail to UOmail.
"We know role accounts are critical to the way many departments and groups operate, so we'll be working closely with the owners of those accounts to ensure a smooth transition over the coming months," Minton said.
As announced by Minton in October 2018, moving all students, staff and faculty members to UOmail will create a consistent user experience throughout the university, provide feature enhancements, facilitate collaboration and improve information security and operating efficiency.
More than 18,500 people are already using UOmail. That includes new students and employees who have arrived at the UO since July 2019. About 12,000 existing staff, faculty members and departmental role accounts transitioned from the older Exchange system to UOmail during the 2019-20 academic year.
Students are the largest group remaining on the Webmail system. They can now opt in to UOmail through the Duck ID Self-Service website. Instructions are available in the UO Service Portal.
Starting in a few months, Information Services plans to start scheduling students to transition from Webmail to UOmail in routine batches each month through mid-2023. More information will be provided before that process begins.
The last group planned to transition from Webmail to UOmail will include most retirees.
More information about the email consolidation project is available on the Information Services website.
Anyone with questions, including UO associates and courtesy appointees, can submit a ticket through the email and calendar help page in the UO Service Portal or contact the IT support staff who support their unit or the Technology Service Desk.
—By Nancy Novitski, University Communications