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To my knowledge, a "free-busy aggregator for calendaring" isn't included in this upgrade, is that correct? -t On Sep 17, 2008, at 8:55 AM, Michael Surato wrote: > This sounds great, and was put forward for serious consideration. > However, the needs of the University are too diverse to allow for a > cohesive solution as this case study presents. Therefore, the > university > is pursing a "least common denominator" solution and leaving it up to > the individual units to provide something else if desired. This has > the > advantage of customizing to the needs of the individual unit with the > disadvantage of requiring trusts between systems for some of the items > you have listed below. Given the correct systems are put in place > centrally (say a free-busy aggregator for calendaring), this is a > workable solution and can provide for most requirements the university > is looking for. However, this will require several changes to both > methodology and culture to make happen. > > In the meantime, this is a good step forward for what we have > currently. > -- > > +-------------------------------------------+ > | Michael Surato | > | College of Arts and Letters | > | Michigan State University | > | 320 Linton Hall | > | East Lansing, MI 48824 | > | Voice: (517) 353-0778 Fax: (517) 355-0159 | > +-------------------------------------------+ > >>>> On 9/17/2008 at 8:37 AM, Laurence Bates wrote: >> I was surprised to find this morning that a new email system has been > announced. Yes, I know, it’s only a new web interface but it will be > perceived as a new email system and so we may as well acknowledge > that. > A part of my confusion is that I was under the impression that ATS was > investigating the use of Microsoft Exchange for faculty and staff. If > that is the case then college administrators should know about this > plan > before deciding what to do about the new web front end to Mail. > > > > And here comes the difficult part since I don’t want to be either > unkind or to ignore fiscal limitations, but the second part of my > confusion is the quite frankly klunky nature of the proposed web > interface for Mail. I understand the problems in building an add-on > to > a home brewed system, and I am not necessarily opposed to local > development of some systems. They have their place, but the bar has > already been raised for email and calendaring systems and expectations > are necessarily high. > > >> > > For what it is worth, I am moving towards the view that, rather than > concede email and calendar development to Google, which this new > interface effectively does, MSU should be aggressively seeking to > build > a full-fledged MSU community with real-time unified communications * > i.e. state of the art point-of-presence, email and calendar pushing to > iPod Touch devices (for example), Pre-filled calendar class schedules > for students, pre-built class email lists, readily available web > conferencing, and multi-point video conferencing between students and > faculty. > > > > These tools are available today, and no, they are not cheap, but then > neither is a less than optimally effective and motivated student > body or > a less-than-committed alumni group. If MSU has set its goals on > becoming a world integrating community, then community building, in my > view, had best begin at home. > > > > <http://www.wainhouse.com/files/papers/wr-case-sfsu.pdf> >> > > > > <http://www.wrplatinum.com/Downloads/8808.aspx> > > > > The last URL requires registration but all .msu.edu email addresses > have automatic access to Wainhouse Research Platinum Pro material > until > June of 2009. >> > > > > > > Laurence A. Bates >> > > College of Education > > Michigan State >> University >> > > >> 217E Erickson Hall > > East Lansing > > >> MI 48824 > > 517-355-2178 > > [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]> > > > > >> -- Troy Murray Systems/Database Administrator Michigan State University Biomedical Research and Informatics Center (BRIC) 100 Conrad Hall East Lansing, MI 48824 Phone: 517-432-4248 Fax: 517-353-9420 E-mail: [log in to unmask]