FAU student email is transitioning to Office 365!

Overview


As a result of Google limiting student workspaces to 5GB of storage, FAU will be transitioning student email to Office 365. As an FAU student, you already have access to most of the features of Office 365. Soon, an Outlook email account will now be included as well. A full Office 365 account gives you free access to communication and productivity applications such as Word, PowerPoint, Excel, now Outlook and much more.  Along with Microsoft Outlook email and calendar access, the switch to Office 365 will also allow students to start utilizing Microsoft Teams for virtual meetings and instant messaging capabilities.

Did you know? These applications can be accessed online through a web browser or as installed software on laptops, desktops, and mobile devices!

Other great features include:

  • 5 TB of storage, which is a big increase to Google’s new 5GB.
  • Makes it easier to collaborate with faculty and staff who are on the same platform.
  • Advanced cybersecurity protection.

What's Next?


Starting November 16th, all newly admitted students will automatically get an Outlook 365 email account instead of Google. By end of November, current students can volunteer to convert and get early access to their Outlook 365 account. By the end of May 2023, all current students (except for those graduating in May) will be converted to Office 365 and Google Gmail and Calendar will be deactivated. Students will still have access to the Google Workspace set of applications, such as Google Drive and Google Slides, after the deactivation.

We understand that this is a big change and will take some getting used to. We will be providing optional training on the Office 365 tools prior to opening the voluntary sign-up period in November. The Google to Office 365 Move website also has lots of useful information such as a table showing the equivalent tools in Office 365, steps on how to transfer your Google Drive data to OneDrive, and much more.

 

FAQs

Where can I find more information on the Microsoft Tools?
Can I continue to use Google at FAU for storage and document collaboration

Yes! You can still use Google Apps, including Drive, Docs, Sites, Slides, Sheets, and Meet with your Google at FAU account. There will now be a 5 GB quota per account.

What happens is I go over my quota?

Your Google Workspace (FAU Owl Apps) storage is shared across Google Drive, Gmail, Google Photos, and the other Google Apps. When your account reaches its storage limit, you will not be able to create or store new files and those with Owl Mail (Gmail) will be unable to send or receive emails. If you remain over quota, your Google Workspace account will be suspended.

What data gets move by the Data Transfer tools?

The Tools only help you move data in the Google Drive, which does not include Google Photos, Sites, Forms, Slides, etc.

Do I get to retain my email if I only attended but did not graduate FAU?

Previous students that did not graduate are not entitled to their FAU Owl Apps account (Gmail, Google Drive, etc.) and will permanently lose access by the end of the year. Please take action immediately to move your data to a personal account.

What do I do about my Google Shared Drives?

The mover and google takeout tools are unable to move shared drives. You can download the files and manually move using Google Drive for desktop and the OneDrive App on your desktop. If you have a very large amount of data and need help moving your data, please contact your IT support for assistance.

What will be my email address?

Your email address will remain the same FAUNetID@fau.edu.

Will I lose access to Google Workspace Apps?

No, all students/faculty/staff will still have access to the google workspace platform with the 5GB limited storage.

How will I access my Office 365 email?

You can login directly at Outlook.fau.edu or visit MyFAU and click on your email Icon.

What happens to my existing email when I opt-in or are converted to Office 365?

It will be copied over to your new Office 365 mailbox.