Outlook Student Email Upgrade 2009

Student email has moved to Microsoft Outlook

Student email services have been successfully moved over to Microsoft Outlook Webmail. This is a great new service with many benefits for our students.

Please download the Outlook Quick Start Guide (PDF, 1.3Mb) for a summary of the main features of the new system.

On this page: New email address format | Migration of exisiting accounts | Training and support | Documentation and online user guides | FAQs | Further Information

Features

This new, modern and more user-friendly system features:

• A Microsoft Outlook WebMail user interface including access to calendars, contacts lists and collaboration tools
• Improved SPAM filtering
• 10 GB of online mailbox storage space (100 times the previous 100Mb limit and double the standard Live Mail quota)
• 20 Mb message size support (including file attachments)
• Ability to share address book contacts and calendar information
• No banner advertising – unlike ordinary free email accounts.
• Web-based administrative tools
• Support for 25 languages
• "Email for Life" – ACU student email accounts will continue to be available for use after graduation, making it easier to stay in contact with classmates, colleagues and teaching staff.

New email address format

The format for ACU student email addresses will be created using an algorithm of your name and a unique identifier.

Because these email addresses are intended to be available for use for life, a number will be required to distinguish between accounts with identical names.

Migration of exisiting accounts

Data from existing student email accounts will not be automatically migrated across to the new system. It is recommended that students move important emails, calendar and contact information into the new email account. 

Students will also continue to have the option of automatically redirecting/forwarding your student email to another account.

Training and support

The new email system will be demonstrated in all orientation sessions at the beginning of each semester. IT support staff are available to assist students as needed.

Documentation and online user guides

An Outlook Quick Start Guide (PDF, 1.3Mb) is available for download which outlines the main functions and how to complete basic tasks such as creating emails, distribution lists, and calendar appointments.

Auto-forwarding Instructions

An additional doument explains how to auto-forward your Outlook student email to another email account (PDF, 783kb).

Video Tutorials

On-line training videos are available on the Atomic Learning training website for the Outlook 2007 email client.

FAQs

Q: Why can't I log into my student email?

A: Have you reset your ACU network password? Resetting your ACU password synchronises you email and network password. If you are having any problems logging on to your email try resetting your ACU network password in the first instance. If you are on campus then press 'Ctrl Alt & Del' and select 'Change Password' if you are off campus you can reset you password at www.acu.edu.au/loginselfservice but you will need to enrol with the system first.

Q: Can I continue to use the old ACU student email system?

A: The old ACU email system will be turned off; meaning that mail can not be sent or recieved by the system, but access to the mailbox will continue to be available until 2010.

Q: Will the new system work on Mac and Linux as well as Windows?

A: Yes, the new email system will work through most Internet browsers.

Q: What is the recommended Web browser for using the new ACU email system?

A: The recommended Web browser for the new email system is Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 (on Windows). Macintosh users can use Firefox or Safari. Opera is also supported for all operating systems.

Q: What is the file size limit for email attachments?

A: The size limit on file attachments is 20Mb per email sent.

Q: If I change my account password in a lab, how long will it take for it to be updated on the new email system?

A: The time taken to synch passwords with MS email is generally immediate but if there is an access issue, allow 10 minutes before trying again.

Q: Why did ACU choose Microsoft for the student email service?

A: There are a plethora of no charge email services available but the two biggest providers are Google and Microsoft. ACU took a great deal of time to review both Google and Microsoft services and in the end there was a good case to implement either for student email. Given the difficulty in deciding which was best for our users we took the simple step of asking them. A pilot group survey of ACU students was conducted on both services and following the feedback from the pilot Microsoft was the clear winner with ACU Students. Pilot survey results

A number of other Universities such as the University of Queensland have opted for the Microsoft solution so there appears to be a trend in favour of the Microsoft service. For ACU there are also strategic benefits that we hope to gain further value from the Microsoft solution for our students and staff by adding further integration and collaboration services in the future.

More FAQs

Further Information

Download the Outlook Quick Start Guide (PDF, 1.3Mb) for a summary of the main features of the new system.

Additional information about Microsoft's "Live-at-edu" student email service can be found at: http://www.microsoft.com/australia/education/solutions/liveatedu.mspx