GEM upgrade begins Feb. 3
MJ Oritz
Issue date: 1/28/10 Section: News
Students will experience the complete transition of the JSU e-mail system to a new interface by the late hours of February 3.
The system that has been switched already for faculty and staff accounts, is to replace GEM; a platform already categorized as "an aging old system" by the Information Technology department.
GEM is now powered by Zimbra collaboration suite and it includes features such as: mail, calendars, briefcase, document collaboration, preferences, searching, tags, tasks, briefcase, RSS feeds and even view-by-conversation e-mail displays.
Sean Ponder, Director of Academic Computing and Network Support, explained that Zimbra is basically "just better."
"It is a system that is more manageable for our IT and that is a full e-mail for students" he said, "I have been looking forward to students using it; I really think they will be pleased."
According to Ponder, students will not be required to attend workshops to learn how to manage the new e-mail system, "I think they will pick it up fast" he stated.
According to the Information Department, after the transition has taken place, the new user names and passwords to access the new system will be the same ones currently being used for MyJSU accounts; old e-mail accounts and passwords can only be used to access old JSU e-mail accounts which will be available for a short period of time as view-only.
"The new email system will have the same password as their MyJSU accounts" said Ponder. "We are trying to make it into a one password system eventually; passwords can be changed on MyJSU."
As for the current users, Pam McGhee, secretary to the CCBA Associate Dean said that she likes it "just fine" when asked about the new email system compared to the old one.
"I didn't notice losing any kind of information, so I think it was a very smooth transition" said McGhee who also explained she had worked with the old GEM since 2001.
It is expected that the system will have a downtime of about 24 hours or less while it is in transition. No e-mail access will be available during this time.
Ponder said he is aware that a lot of people are not willing to switch their main email providers but that he is sure that many will think it twice once they take a look at the new platform.
The switch, which is to affect every JSU email user, is to take effect at 8 p.m.
The system that has been switched already for faculty and staff accounts, is to replace GEM; a platform already categorized as "an aging old system" by the Information Technology department.
GEM is now powered by Zimbra collaboration suite and it includes features such as: mail, calendars, briefcase, document collaboration, preferences, searching, tags, tasks, briefcase, RSS feeds and even view-by-conversation e-mail displays.
Sean Ponder, Director of Academic Computing and Network Support, explained that Zimbra is basically "just better."
"It is a system that is more manageable for our IT and that is a full e-mail for students" he said, "I have been looking forward to students using it; I really think they will be pleased."
According to Ponder, students will not be required to attend workshops to learn how to manage the new e-mail system, "I think they will pick it up fast" he stated.
According to the Information Department, after the transition has taken place, the new user names and passwords to access the new system will be the same ones currently being used for MyJSU accounts; old e-mail accounts and passwords can only be used to access old JSU e-mail accounts which will be available for a short period of time as view-only.
"The new email system will have the same password as their MyJSU accounts" said Ponder. "We are trying to make it into a one password system eventually; passwords can be changed on MyJSU."
As for the current users, Pam McGhee, secretary to the CCBA Associate Dean said that she likes it "just fine" when asked about the new email system compared to the old one.
"I didn't notice losing any kind of information, so I think it was a very smooth transition" said McGhee who also explained she had worked with the old GEM since 2001.
It is expected that the system will have a downtime of about 24 hours or less while it is in transition. No e-mail access will be available during this time.
Ponder said he is aware that a lot of people are not willing to switch their main email providers but that he is sure that many will think it twice once they take a look at the new platform.
The switch, which is to affect every JSU email user, is to take effect at 8 p.m.
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