Background Information

e-Communications Infrastructure Strategy

Background Information | Benefits | FAQs

Email migration has been an on-going process for the past 2 years.
As of August 1st 2010, some functions of the Email Migration may no longer be available.

Please review the main Migration Headquarters for the most up to date information after the August deadline.

OISE is currently in the process of implementing a new strategy for email, online learning and other technology-based communication tools. The first phase will target migration to University of Toronto email services for all OISE faculty, staff and students. These groups of users will be expected to have an active UTORmail or Exchange Server account by August 2010.

Background Information

Overview

OISE’s new e-Communication infrastructure strategy was recently confirmed by the senior administration, including Deans and Department Chairs. This strategy represents the culmination of extensive community consultation and provides an exciting view of new directions for use of technology as an enabler throughout the OISE community.

These include:

Adoption of centrally supported UTORMail as OISE’s email solution
Use of the centrally supported Blackboard system as the primary solution for teaching/learning
Use of listserv, web-based and Blackboard tools for research and administrative communications
Implementation of new OISE Home space for filestorage/filesharing.

Updates and Information

Additional details and documentation is available throughout this web site. Departmental information sessions have also been scheduled to help members of our community understand the implications for their teaching, research and administrative activities.

See: Detailed Summary of Recommendations

The anticipated benefits include a reduction of redundant licensing and support costs; leveraging of centrally supported services; and provision of a more coherent experience for student, faculty and staff users of eCommunication tools through common access points and single UTORid sign-on.

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the members of the eCommunications working group for their ongoing contribution:

Clare Brett, ITE Technology Collaborative Committee
Lara Cartmale, CTL
Bessie Giannikos, CTL
Grettell Atahue, Con. Ed.
Kari Dehli, Chair SESE
Joe Flessa, TPS
Lori May, TPS
Glen Jones, TPS
Garfield Gini-Newman, Initial Teacher Education
Ian MacLeod, Registrar's Office
Christina Parker, GSA
Mark Hume, Manager Solutions Development – EC
Dennis Thiessen, Associate Dean Academic
Robert Cook, Former CIO (OISE)

Benefits

Migration to centrally supported services will result in many benefits to users, including:

Single Sign-On using UTORid
Increased storage space for email
Ability to synchronize email and calendaring with handheld devices such as Blackberries, iPhones
Improved web mail services
Integrated teaching and learning environment

By avoiding duplication of service through locally hosted applications, OISE will reduce the dollars spent on licensing fees and local infrastructure needs. Our goal is to achieve significant cost savings for the institution, while at the same time allowing us to direct Education Commons' resources to provision of other services that are not available centrally, but which will have "value add" to our OISE community.

Your UTORid (username and password) is your key to a number of services:

OISE Computer Access: Local computer logon and computer lab access (description)
Portal: the new University portal - Blackboard (description)
UTORexchange: institutional email and calendar service for faculty and staff (description)
Campus Wireless Network: UTORcwn (description)
UTORmail: University of Toronto institutional e-mail for students (description)
MyUtoronto: news and announcements (description)
UTORweb: personal webpages (description)
UTORprotect: free Symantec anti-virus software (description)
My.Access: off-campus access to library electronic resources (description)

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why are we phasing out FirstClass/OISENet?

A: We are migrating users to the centrally-supported UTORmail and UTORexchange systems in order to:

Reduce the number of e-mail accounts (and user ids and passwords) that users need to remember.
Reduce duplication of central services so that EC infrastructure and staffing costs can be re-directed to provide value-added technologies and services specific to OISE, and which aren't already being provided centrally.

Q: Will I be able to keep my OISE.UTORONTO.CA e-mail address?

A: Yes! All Faculty and staff with existing @OISE.UTORONTO.CA e-mail addresses will be supported indefinitely.
Students will not retain their @oise address after August 2010.

Q: What happens to FirstClass after August 2010?

A: First Class OISEnet will no longer be available as an active eCommunication service after August 1, 2010. An archive of the data (conferences, inbox, files) will remain available to users for reference only for a period of one year. You will only be able to access the First Class content to save as a local file to your computer; no email communication, forwarding or new file upload will be available. This access will be available as for reference purposes only until First Class is fully decommissioned next year.

Q: I have a lot of e-mail and folders in my OISENet mailbox. Will I be able to move it all over to UTORmail?

A: We recommend that you take this opportunity to clean up your mailbox as much as possible to delete any unwanted e-mail messages and attachments. We are also recommending that users archive their email to their local hard drives rather than trying to move it onto the new server.

Q: Where can I get more information on the new UofT Microsoft Exchange server?

A: You can get more information about it here: http://exchange.utoronto.ca

Q: What will my new e-mail quota be on UTORmail/UTORexchange?

A: The disk quota for UTORmail is 100MB. For UTORexchange, it is 350MB.

Q: I am a University of Toronto Alumni member - can I have a UTORmail account?

A: Yes, you can get an Alumni account here: http://alumni.utoronto.ca

If your question was not answered here or you have aditional questions or concerns, please contact the OISE Client Care Portal.