A couple of days ago John Resotko posted a message in this thread with
the following URL that includes info about Goggle's FERPA
compliance:
http://searchstorage.techtarget.com/originalContent/0,289142,sid5_gci1245576,00.html
This article indicates that as part of its FERPA compliance Google
does not scan student e-mail; hence they do not display targeted ads to
students, just faculty and staff (still a large volume of
e-mail).
As for permanent MSU associated e-mail addresses, doesn't the MSU alumni
association already do this with the existing system for their
members? Many departments also do this for non-MSU employees
(volunteers, etc.) who are closely affiliated with their programs.
In the context of this discussion, I do not see a 'permanent' GMail
account as a benefit of sufficient value to help sway the decision either
way.
Bob Kriegel
systems analyst,
Dept of Animal Science, MSU
At 08:58 AM 8/30/2007, you wrote:
The cost of outsourcing mail - is
ads in the mail.
The benefit to the outsourcer is income from scanning for hot words and
putting in ads.
if one puts ads in ten percent and charges $.001 per ad the
outsourcer gets $1000. per million mails.
How many mails does mail.msu.edu pass each day?
Maybe we need to consider adding mails from potential employers or media
companies. Or at least offer the option to students on an opt in basis.
Yes, I know there are a LOT of reasons not to do that. ;-)
One benefit of outsourcing is being left out of the current discussion.
Permanent mail addresses. We can’t offer that at present. Google,
Hotmail, Yahoo, etc. can.
Don Bosman
Information Technologist
Libraries, Michigan State
University