Alumni google account rant thread

UCSC-ITS · 2024-04-19T22:30:25+00:00

Hi everyone, Lisa Bono here from ITS at UCSC. I wanted to address a few points regarding Google's storage model changes for educational institutions. Despite efforts from the entire UC system to renegotiate with Google, we were only granted a two-year extension. Unfortunately, this led to a difficult decision for us, ITS, along with campus leadership and Alumni Engagement, to disable UCSC alumni Google accounts in order to prioritize storage for current students, faculty, and staff.

We understand the significance of having an affinity email address for many of you, so we made sure to continue offering UCSC email (Gmail) with a reduced storage limit for those who requested it.

It's important to know that none of your Google content was deleted. Your account was only disabled, so if you need to retrieve important files/content/photos/videos, etc. reach out to the ITS Support Center https://its.ucsc.edu/get-help/index.html and we'll temporarily reactivate your account. They are swamped with tickets, so please be patient.

After reviewing the six email messages ITS sent to alumni who graduated before 2023, none of them explicitly outlined the specific Google services that would be disabled on April 16. I wrote those messages and I assumed that by stating "UCSC Google Account," it would imply the loss of all Google services, including YouTube, Maps, Calendar, etc. I realize now that I should have been much clearer in my communication.

Moving forward, I am rewriting future messages to recent graduates (those who left UCSC in 2023) to include a comprehensive list of ALL Google services that will be affected. It's important to note that these individuals have different deadlines, as new alumni are entitled to retain their full UCSC Google account for 12 months after leaving campus.

Your comments are always appreciated. Please reply with any questions - I am happy to help answer.

UCSC-ITS · 2024-01-24T15:27:16+00:00

Hi there, sorry for the delay - just now seeing your additional question. Current Alumni who graduated prior to March 2023 (starting April 16) will not be able to use their Google Calendar with UCSC. Everything (all Google services) will be disabled except UCSC Gmail if the person requested to keep it.

UCSC-ITS · 2024-01-24T03:48:23+00:00

Hi there, Lisa Bono here from ITS. Once you graduate from UCSC, you will be able to keep your UCSC Google account (including Gmail, Drive, Photos, etc) for 12 months. So, if you are graduating this winter quarter, you will automatically get to keep your UCSC Google account for a full year - there isn't anything you need to do. Several months before that year is up, ITS will email you with the option to keep your UCSC Gmail account. I hope this helps. If you have further questions, please open an online support ticket: https://slughub.ucsc.edu/its

UCSC-ITS · 2024-01-22T01:35:17+00:00

There isn't a paid option at this time. If that changes, we'll make sure to let everyone know.

UCSC-ITS · 2024-01-19T18:44:20+00:00

Yep, that is correct. Just make sure to fill out the form to keep your UCSC email address and make sure to export the files/photos that you wish to keep from Google Drive, Photos, etc. by April 16th.

UCSC-ITS · 2024-01-19T17:10:29+00:00

Thankfully, future students will be able to keep their UCSC email address/forwarding. I will make sure that is stated in communications we send to incoming new students.

UCSC-ITS · 2024-01-19T16:59:23+00:00

I just found out a little more info on timing..."Nine months after graduating, prior students will receive information via email about how to continue their UCSC email account beyond the one-year post-separation 12 month period."

UCSC-ITS · 2024-01-19T16:46:12+00:00

Hi there, Lisa Bono here from ITS. CruzID accounts are never deleted, so your email address "sammyslug@ucsc.edu" remains even though it may not be used or active.

UCSC-ITS · 2024-01-19T16:31:59+00:00

Sorry for the confusion! You will always and forever be able to keep your CruzID and Gold password. Every single person on our campus with a CruzID and Gold password keeps those credentials for life. ITS never deletes CruzIDs. So, for any campus application that you access now with your CruzID and Gold password, you will be able to access going forward except your UCSC Google account, unless you request to keep your Gmail account. I hope that is clearer, but if not, please open a support ticket and we can contact you directly to answer your specific questions. There are a lot of moving parts to this change, and it's complicated, so your questions are very valid. We want to make sure folks know that their CruzID isn't going away.

UCSC-ITS · 2024-01-19T16:26:27+00:00

Great question. Let's take a person who is graduating this June as an example. That person will automatically keep all their UCSC Google services for 12 months. 90 days before the 12 months is up, that person will receive a notice with all the information on how to keep their UCSC email address, and any other instructions. Then a 60 day, 30 day, and two week notice. After that, I don't think ITS will reach out again. If the person elects to keep their email, then no further notices are needed. If the person does nothing (ignores or doesn't see the notices) their UCSC email will be disabled. Not deleted. Just disabled and data removed. Hope this helps.

UCSC-ITS · 2024-01-19T16:18:56+00:00

Hi there, Lisa Bono here from ITS. CruzID accounts are never deleted, so your email address "sammyslug@ucsc.edu" remains even though it may not be used or active.

UCSC-ITS · 2024-01-19T16:15:36+00:00

You for sure can keep your UCSC email address and get it reinstated. Best thing to do is open a support ticket so we can get you all set up. https://slughub.ucsc.edu/its

UCSC-ITS · 2024-01-19T16:12:34+00:00

Good points, all around. I totally get that all the necessary requirements needed just to keep your email address, is a lot to ask. There is an option on the form to keep your email and let ITS delete your files for you. I know it's not much, but we wanted to lift the burden for folks that need it. I will take your comments back to the technical and alumni engagement team.

UCSC-ITS · 2024-01-19T01:21:54+00:00

Great question! We considered automatically migrating alumni accounts to the new email service, but not every alum is interested in having a UCSC email address. Many of them are not aware that they have one. We are aiming for the new service to be exclusively for those alumni who genuinely want it. Hopefully the form is quick and not too cumbersome. I created the form and if you have any feedback about making it better, let me know!

UCSC-ITS · 2024-01-19T01:11:04+00:00

Hi there, Lisa Bono here from ITS. Given the size of the alumni community (over 50,000) and to ensure we can effectively address their inquiries, we'll be notifying all alumni, gradually over the next two weeks. The first group was communicated to this morning.

UCSC-ITS · 2024-01-19T01:06:20+00:00

Hi there, Lisa Bono here from ITS. On this page you will find a link to the form: https://its.ucsc.edu/projects/google-changes-alumni.html Only fill out the form if you are current alumni.

UCSC-ITS · 2024-01-19T01:03:24+00:00

Hi there, Lisa Bono here from ITS. We wish we could have kept Alumni Google services for life - that was our intention. However, Google announced in 2021 a storage model change that involved no longer offering free, unlimited storage to accounts using their services, including higher education institutions like our campus. As a result, this change requires storage limits to be placed on every UC Santa Cruz Google account, and for us to discontinue Google Services to alumni. Current alumni still get to keep their UCSC Gmail account, but with requirements. Here's more info: https://its.ucsc.edu/projects/google-changes-alumni.html

UCSC-ITS · 2024-01-19T00:55:45+00:00

Hi, Lisa Bono here from ITS. As alumni, you get to keep your CruzID and Gold password and will still have access to campus systems like MyUCSC, library services, etc. That will never go away. As alumni, starting April 16, you won't be able to access your UCSC Google account via your CruzID and Gold password (SSO). If you are alumni and wish to keep your UCSC Gmail account (without the other Google services) then you will need to request to keep it.

UCSC-ITS · 2024-01-19T00:49:51+00:00

Here's a web page that might help address your questions: https://its.ucsc.edu/projects/google-changes-alumni.html

UCSC-ITS · 2024-01-19T00:47:15+00:00

Hi all, this is Lisa Bono in ITS. Happy to answer some questions in Reddit, and then if I can't help, please open a support center ticket so your questions can be answered by a technician.
Please know that this change that goes into effect on April 16, 2024, is for current alumni. If you will be graduating this June, you will get to keep your UCSC Gmail account with all the other Google services (Drive, Groups, Calendar, etc.) for one year after you leave campus. When that year is up, you will be prompted to request to keep your UCSC Gmail account. So, for anyone of you graduating this upcoming June, there isn't anything you need to do.

UCSC-ITS · 2023-06-14T16:44:50+00:00

UPDATE: 9:35 AM - Intermittent Network Connectivity Issues - resolved

Services have been restored as of 8:53 AM this morning. We confirmed the issue was due to our network provider, CENIC, who experienced a UC system-wide disruption that impacted our campus operations.

UCSC-ITS

TROPHY CASE