Google FAQ

Not right away. At some point the Faculty and Staff may desire to switch, but this move would require Faculty Senate and Staff approval.

No, all email addresses will remain the same (username@student.smc.edu). You can continue to use your Yahoo, or other email until the end of the Spring semester. After this point-- @student.smc.edu becomes the official means of communication between SMC and Students.

No, after the migration there will be a 90 day period during which students will be allowed to perform copy/paste operations on the content/contacts and/or save attached files for archival purposes, but not send/forward or receive email from using the old system. After 90 days, the old email system will be completely shut down.

$0 - Google Apps is free for colleges and universities.

No. Microsoft Office applications will not go away.

It’s okay if you already have a personal Gmail account. Any of your personal Google accounts will not, in any way, be affiliated with your new SMC Google Apps account.

On April, 13th 2010, students who currently use their SMC accounts will begin receiving new email messages in their SMC Google Apps account (new mail will no longer be sent to the old email system). At the same time, SMC Information Technology will place the old email system in to archive mode and allow students to perform copy/paste operation on the content in their mailbox. Students are encouraged to forward email to a third party email system (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc.) well in advance of this date to avoid the manual conversion process.

Think of this process like changing cell phone providers. Your cell number remains the same, but you get a really cool new cell phone with super high-tech features. In the case of your SMC email, the account name and email address (username@student.smc.edu) remains the same, but you also get access to a powerful collection of applications.

This isn't recommended. Students are held responsible for the receipt of email sent from the college. We can't guarantee the delivery of forwarded email--and this could have a negative impact on your academic pursuits at SMC.

The key is to be aware of the impact on you. If you currently use another email provider, then the impact is minimal. If you forward your email, you'll need to set that up again in the new system (If you don't know what forward means, then you don't need to worry about it).

If you're using a Yahoo or other email address, you can continue to use that address until June 16th, 2010.

If you're currently using an @student.smc.edu account,--be ready to switch to Google Apps Email on April 13th, 2010. You can proactively forward email to any other email system (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc.) until the April 13th cutover, but after that you will only be able to perform copy/paste operation on the content/contacts in your read only mailbox.

Think of this process the same way you change cell phone providers. Your cell number remains the same, but you get a really cool new cell phone with super high-tech features. In the case of your SMC email, the account name and email address (username@student.smc.edu) remains the same, but you also get access to a powerful collection of applications.

Students log into Corsair Connect (formally Student Self-Service) and clickon the Google Apps icon.

In short, you will not need a password. Google Apps is Single Sign-On enabled and is accessed in Corsair Connect (SMC's New Student Portal scheduled to go-live on April 13th, 2010). It's easy, just click on the SMC Email icon and your email opens automatically.

All students will receive 7+ GB of storage, or about 800 times more than the current system.

No, Google will not read your email.

SMC Gmail will be free of advertisements.

SMC Google Apps is part of a suite of applications called Google Apps for Education, which is available for free to colleges and universities. Google decides which services are included in this suite.

Yes. NEVERTHELESS, students will be held responsible for the receipt of email sent from the College to their SMC Google Apps Email account. SMC does not guarantee the delivery of forwarded email. The forwarding of email could have a negative impact on your academic pursuits at SMC and beyond. Instructions to forward email.

Probably. Go to http://www.google.com/mobile/ to see the Google services that work with your device.

Always sign out of Google Apps at the end of your session. If you do not click the button to sign out, the next person who uses the computer may be able to access your information.

Your SMC Google Apps account is subject to the SMC Computer Use Policy, and Google’s terms of service and privacy policies.

This website and Google’s Online Help should be your go-to help resources. SMC Information Technology will host a series of meetings to educate students about the move. Of course the IT Knowledgebase is always available to take your technical questions.

No, not all applications are supported. IT will facilitate SMC Email (powered by Google), but does not officially support other Google Apps. Google has a wealth of information and help resources available.