While students and staff are pleased with the transition to Gmail for Microsoft Outlook, a policy for the new system is still in the works.
“(The policy) is still being reviewed,” Vice President for Information Technology Mike Carpenter said. “We have another meeting scheduled for next month, we want input before putting into place.”
Adjunct instructor Lee Tasey waits for resolution to the changes that have cut his off from the Crete Doane community.
“(They have) not followed up on emails,” Tasey said, referring to his request last semester to be able to send group e-mails inviting Doane students to his religious symposiums at the Crete and Lincoln campuses.
While Tasey waits for a policy that allows him to reach the entire Doane community, others have delved in.
“Both students and faculty complimented the product,” Carpenter said. “I think once we got through the initial transition people are very pleased with it. On any given day there are 3000 active users.”
The new system has myriad applications that Carpenter said he believes can make the Gmail even more effective.
“The improved access and functionality has been helpful,” Carpenter said. “There are some features, like the threaded discussions that took some getting used to.”
“I just use the mail,” junior Levi Gerlach. “I like how if you reply it builds on itself,” he said.
The threaded discussions were a small part of the changes the move to Gmail brought.
“There were very transitional elements you had to think differently about,” Carpenter said. “Different groups had different issues.”
Sophomore Bailey Peyton’s biggest challenge was the folders and labels.
“It was hard to organize mail and prioritize it,” she said.
In addition to the folders, labels and threaded discussion Gmail brought with it a calendar and ‘Groups’. Groups allow an individual to establish a group that allows information to be exchanged, similar to some aspects of Blackboard.
“I think the bonus for faculty and students was the other apps, not just mail. The calendar allows you to see multiple calendars and to share calendars,” Carpenter said.
Students not currently using the additional applications be introduced to them as the ( ) department rolls out plans to market them across campus.
Bailey said she would be more interested in using the calendar with more information. Some classes are already using Google Docs in their classes, Carpenter said.
“We also have a handful that has tried ‘Groups’,” Carpenter said. “We may be ready to try marketing the other apps.”
Students who prefer to have email delivered to their mobile device have taken Google up on their flexible platform and are using Gmail on the go said Carpenter.
“I like it,” Gerlach said.
While Gerlach likes the move, Tasey will continue to promote his symposiums through Facebook although his audience there is not as good as it was through email.
“There were more people at symposiums from the emails before, but not one student since this new [policy] went into effect,” Tasey said. “The mail reached 2000 people, I reach maybe 24 on Facebook. 24 versus every Doane student.”
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