Campus email system preparing for changeover with student concerns in mind

First it was WINGS, then textbook rental; now it's time for the change in email. The last year has brought plenty of transition and change to UW-La Crosse, and with the recent decision to switch email systems, there is more to come.
Following last week's all-campus email regarding the change from Microsoft Exchange to Google, some questions were left unanswered. One major concern is the timeline of the transition.
John Tillman, UW-L's Chief Information Officer, does not have a specific answer to this question yet. He explained that with the transfer of systems, a need for new servers is being addressed. The maintenance contract for the current servers ends May 21. Tillman stated that completing the changeover before this date would be ideal but unlikely. He predicted that the task would be completed by January 2011 at the latest.
For students, the changeover means bigger and better opportunities, but also the potential for a little headache. Tillman explained that the switch could be completed behind the scenes, such as over a weekend, and then students would have new accounts when they checked their mail on Monday. However, this is not the usual implementation used by universities. Instead, it is more likely that an opt-in process will be used. This means that an account will be created for each student, but that they will be responsible for getting themselves into the account.
With the changeover, students and staff will not lose any of the files saved in their current email accounts. And for those who love their 8.4 and don't want to learn a new one, don't worry. The 8.4 system will be retained for the time being. However, it may become problematic down the road because with Google, your account can be maintained long-term. Eventually the system will run out of available names and a new method will have to be configured.
At this point, students should be aware that the changeover is for their benefit. Tillman continued that in the current system, students can store up to 100 megabytes of information. The Google system provides much more space, allowing up to 7.4 gigabytes. 
Tillman considers this size increase one of the most significant benefits of the system. Not only will there be more room for storage, but also, "Students will be able to transfer larger files," Tillman added.
Another upside that Tillman pointed out is the fact that this switch to Google is "more than email." By using GoogleAps, students will have more of what Tillman calls "opportunities for collaboration." Not only will GoogleDocs be available for group work, but students will also have access to such features as webpage building. Tillman mentioned that someday in the future the system might encompass D2L as well.
In general, the reason for the changeover is simple. The previous system, Microsoft Exchange 2003, was outdated. Tillman said, "The actual email system has run well," but there has been trouble with a related Microsoft program called Active Directory that keeps track of 8.4s.
When considering the switch, several new systems were evaluated. One option, used by the UW System's two-year campuses, was Live.edu. This is basically an educational Hotmail account. Another option, Zimbra, was also considered due to a recommendation from UW-Milwaukee.
In the end, Google was chosen for its affordability and additional applications. Based on a campus survey, this system will best meet the needs of the UW-L community.
Despite the progress that has been made recently on the project, there is plenty of work ahead for Tillman and the IT Task Force. Tillman said, "I have more questions than answers at this point."