- E-mailing and Internet communication at KU are becoming easier.
Starting this summer, Academic Computing Services began implementing
a new groupware system, Microsoft Outlook, that combines e-mail,
calendar and collaboration capabilities into one program. The
system has been a top priority for Chancellor Robert Hemenway
and has received strong administrative and financial support
from Provost David Shulenburger.
Marilu Goodyear, vice chancellor for information services, said
a groupware system was needed to ease e-mail communication at
KU. Currently there are a half dozen or more different e-mail
programs in use on campus.
Among Outlook's advantages are a built-in address book with more
than 20,000 entries, including everyone using Outlook, as well
as everyone with a shortened "ukans" address, said
Thelma Simons, groupware coordinator. Users can simply type in
the name of the person they want to e-mail, without knowing the
person's e-mail address. The new system also will allow those
on vacation or on sabbatical to stay wired to the campus. Currently,
Simons said, some campus e-mail programs do not allow users to
view their e-mail away from their office computer. However, Outlook
messages can be accessed on any computer that has Internet access
and a Web browser.
The groupware system also provides other options not available
on current e-mail systems at KU, Simons said. It gives users
a calendar connected with e-mail. Users can use the calendar
to schedule meetings: Outlook generates special e-mail invitations,
which have RSVP buttons allowing recipients to accept or decline.
Simons said that when people accept invitations, the events are
automatically entered in their calendar.
The collaboration features are the most exciting part of the
new software, Simons said. The ability to create shared folders
allows users to hold threaded discussions, create drop folders
for student assignments, or create shared folders for departmental
or committee use. Users in the program's Exchange system can
create a folder and set access to that folder, ranging from everyone
on the system to only the members of a particular committee.
Since this fall, various departments have received Outlook and
been trained in its use. The schools of education, fine arts
and journalism, and several offices in Strong Hall and Carruth
have successfully converted their e-mail systems.
With word spreading around campus about the new software, Simons
has been busy giving demonstrations. Her own Microsoft Outlook
calendar is booked with appointments until the end of January.
The goal for the groupware program is to have the entire university
on the new software, Goodyear said. By fall 2001, it is hoped
that all students will have been converted to Outlook.
"The power of this software is so exciting we anticipate
that it will seduce anyone who tries it," Goodyear said.
For more information on the implementation of Microsoft Outlook
at KU go to the KU Exchange Project website at www.ukans.edu/exchange.
To schedule a demonstration for a department or unit, contact
Thelma Simons at 864-0269 or tsimons@ukans.edu.
|
|
