I spoke with an IT person at one of the schools from the list of SUNY schools that appeared to have made the switch to Google Apps.
Here’s an interesting update. The switch was put on hold and will take effect soon, because…and this is the exciting part…in the next few weeks there will be a SUNY wide contract with Google Apps! This is VERY exciting.
It won’t force Google Apps on any SUNY school. The purpose of the contract is to cover any SUNY school that decides to make the switch to Google Apps. My guess is that there are a few privacy issues that schools generally would want commitments in writing from Google before jumping on board. This SUNY wide contract would eliminate the need for each SUNY school to work out separate contracts with Google.
This is good stuff. This means that SUNY Fredonia, if willing, can make the switch to Google Apps without the hassle of working out a separate contract.
Sweet!
You could bring this up during a Student Association’s General Assembly meeting to really get this info out to the student body. I’m sure if the masses knew of these options (read: free netbooks) the push on the administration to switch over would be so much greater.
The SA president is Anthony Faraco, I’m sure he’ll give you some soap box time to state your ideas to the General Body.
Andy,
After talking to you about this today, I dug this up (in case you were ever doing anything and needed/wanted a student perspective):
http://www.jonnale.org/2009/01/why-colleges-should-consider-using-google-apps/